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Woodard Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area
Woodard Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area is a natural reserve in Olympia, Washington protected under the Washington Natural Areas Program. Once an important processing facility for the logging industry, it has been designated as the Weyerhaeuser South Bay Log Dump Rural Historic Landscape. Today the area is a renowned sanctuary for a variety of birds, harbor seals, river otters, bald eagles, and a colony of bats, as well as serving as an important great blue heron rookery. A recent conservation program in the area between the State of Washington and the Nature Conservancy is the first of its kind in the country.HistoryAmerican Indians use of the area dates back over 5,000 years when the present coast line stabilised. Euroamerican settlement began in the 1850s with Puget Sound's logging era. Early in the history of the area, the Woodard family built the railway for hauling logs down to the waterfront. From there they would load it on ships at the end of the peninsula.In the 1920s the site was bought by the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company, which brought up to 1 million board feet of timber here annually by rail from all over Thurston and Lewis counties until it closed the site in 1984. A former logging railroad crosses Woodard Bay on a wooden trestle and a narrow peninsula. It runs out onto a pier in Henderson Inlet across the mouth of Chapman Bay. Here logs were dumped in the water, gathered into rafts and floated to mills in Everett, Washington.Plan to visit Woodard Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area and other customer-reviewed, writer-recommended Olympia attractions using our Olympia trip itinerary maker.
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Plans in Olympia by other users
8 days in Olympia
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
May, culture, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, historic sites, hidden gems
PREFERENCES: May, culture, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, historic sites
ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems
PACE: Medium
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ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular
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PACE: Slow & easy
35 days in United States
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PREFERENCES: June, relaxing, historic sites, shopping
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular
PACE: Slow & easy
25 days in United States
BY A USER FROM NETHERLANDS
October, outdoors, beaches, historic sites, popular & hidden gems
PREFERENCES: October, outdoors, beaches, historic sites
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems
PACE: Medium
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BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
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1 day in Olympia
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ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular
PACE: Medium
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24 days in United States
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June, teens, kids, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, historic sites, hidden gems
PREFERENCES: June, teens, kids, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, historic sites
ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems
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7 days in Washington State
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May, kids, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, museums, shopping, popular & hidden gems
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Reviews
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David R
It wasn't easy down and back Trail. You have the option of taking a dirt trail that is heavily wooded or you can walk the paved trail. more »
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p0pcycle
This is a wonderful 1.5 mile walk through a beautiful enchanted forest leading to a great view of the bay. There is a shorter flat walk along a paved route, but the forested route is a big part of the... more »
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Doug H
The sign in the parking lot had a map and brief description of the area and trails. I hiked the 1.5 mile forest loop trail that consist of boardwalks, stairs, and ground. It is well maintained. Lookin... more »
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