Facilities and Activities:
| Day-Use | Fishing | yes | | | Hunting | yes | | | Hiking Trail, miles | yes |
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National Park Event Calendar:
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Nearby Parks:
Leadbetter Point State Park
Pacific Pines State Park
South Beach State Park
Palix State Wildlife Recreation Area
Grayland Beach State Park
Loomis Lake State Park
Grayland Access State Park
Twin Harbors Beach State Park
Smith Creek State Wildlife Recreation Area
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| National Park Overview: |
 | Willapa National Wildlife Refuge is located on the shores of Willapa Bay near the Pacific Ocean. The bay is one of the most pristine estuaries in the United States. From the protected bay, Chum, Chinook, and Coho salmon move to refuge streams to spawn.
The bay's shallow water and mud flats support vast beds of eelgrass and shellfish, providing spawning habitat for fish. During spring migration, more than 100,000 shorebirds are present. Isolated sandbars provide pupping grounds for harbor seals and rest sites for migratory birds.
Seabirds, such as brown pelicans, stream into the bay from the ocean in summer and fall. Other coastal habitats include sand dunes, sand beaches, and mud flats to grasslands, saltwater and freshwater marshes, and coniferous forest, including an old-growth stand of western red cedar-western hemlock forest.
Important species include the threatened marbled murrelet, bald eagles, great blue herons, and Brant. Grasslands and neighboring forests are home to bear, elk, bobcat, woodpeckers, flying squirrels, spotted owls, silver-haired bats, and Pacific tree frogs. |
| Nature of the Area: |
| The Long Beach Peninsula protects the bay and its wildlife from storm winds and waves. Heavy rains swell the streams that carry nutrient-rich water and sediment to the bay. Chum, chinook, and coho salmon spawn in refuge streams. The bay's shallow water and mudflats support vast beds of eelgrass and shellfish. Eelgrass provides spawning habitat for fish and is the staple food of brant. During spring migration, more than 100,000 shorebirds are present. Isolated sandbars provide pupping grounds for harbor seals and rest sites for migratory birds. Seabirds, such as sooty shearwaters and brown pelicans, stream into the bay from the ocean in summer and fall.
Leadbetter Point, at the northern tip of Long Beach Peninsula, is a constantly-changing world of sand covered with patches of dune grass, lupine, wild strawberry, sand verbena, sea rocket, and beach pea. The bay side of the point contains some of the most significant saltmarsh habitats remaining in Washington.
Long Island's 5,400 acres of dense western hemlock, Sitka spruce, and western red cedar forest contain a 274-acre remnant of old growth lowland coastal forest. Some western red cedars in this grove have been growing over 900 years. The largest trees support nests of the threatened marbled murrelet. Bald eagles and great blue herons also nest here. Vast beds of eelgrass on the west side of the island provide important nurseries for Pacific herring, salmon, sea perch, and sole. Brant concentrate here in the spring.
The diked tidelands in the Riekkola Unit at the south end of the bay shelter and feed Canada geese, ducks, and shorebirds. These grasslands and neighboring forests are home to bear, elk, and bobcat. Standing dead trees contain nesting cavities for pileated woodpeckers, flying squirrels, and spotted owls. Roosting silver-haired bats and Pacific tree frogs find cover in the loose bark of old trees. The Lewis and Porter's Point Units provide freshwater marsh habitat for waterbirds, amphibians, anadromous fish, and aquatic mammals. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
| Be the 1st to Review Willapa National Wildlife Refuge. You can rate it, post a comment on it, or do both. |
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| Fishing and Hunting: |
| Hunting :
The Leadbetter Point Unit is open for waterfowl hunting. Please check State regulations for season dates and regulations. zWaterfowl hunters can hunt geese from assigned blinds in the Riekkola Unit in late fall and early winter. Check State regulations for season dates and regulations. Call the refuge office for specifics about blind selection and hunting days. One barrier-free blind is available.
Free-roam waterfowl hunting is allowed in the west Lewis Unit and the neighboring saltmarsh on the refuge. Hunting maps are available at refuge headquarters. Check State regulations for season dates and regulations.
Archery hunting is allowed on Long Island for black bear, elk, deer, and grouse. Consult the State regulations for season dates and regulations, as well as refuge headquarters for registration information. No firearms are allowed on the island. |
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| Area Accommodations |
|  | Shelburne Inn - Seaview, WA
Shelburne Inn was built in 1896. Four-star dining and a cozy pub distinguish this world-renowned inn. Rooms are decorated in relaxing period style. One of the West's Best Inns says Sunset Magazine.
Price Range: $125 - $239
Web Site: http://www.theshelburneinn.com |
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| | Cottages and Cabins | |  | Oregon Beach Vacations - Lincoln City, OR
Oregon Beach Vacations chooses our Oregon vacation rentals very carefully. Each home is personally screened prior to acceptance, and we work closely with the property owners to ensure that every Oregon coast rental continues to meet our high standards. Each rental has certain amenities to make it special. You may never want to leave!
Web Site: http://www.oregonbeachvacations.com |
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...vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental, etc read more.... |
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| Related Links: |
| Willapa National Wildlife Refuge - Pacific Region NWRS Home Search HC 01, Box 910 Ilwaco, Washington 98624-9707 (360) 484-3482 DIRECTIONS Refuge office is located 13 miles north of Ilwaco on U.S. Highway 101. Long Island accessible ... | | Director Steve Williams Remarks at Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Earth Day Event - U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Speech ... Director Steve Williams at Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Earth Day Event April 24, 2002 Thank you, Anne. It is an honor to be here today to celebrate ... | | long beach wa : long beach peninsula visitors bureau - Long Beach Peninsula Visitor's Bureau -THE information source for the Long Beach Peninsula, located ... Adventures Leadbetter Point, the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, Fort Canby State Park ... | | Bird Checklists of the United States - ... 8/98) Whidbey Island Naval Air Station -- WA Wildlife of Northeast Washington -- Colville, WA Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and the Columbia River Estuary (Printed 6/91) Willapa National ... | | Checklists of the United States - Amphibian and Reptile Checklists of the United States Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and the Columbia River Estuary Ilwaco, Washington AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES Willapa National Wildlife Refuge ... |
| Directions: |
| The refuge is located 13 miles north of Ilwaco, Washington, on Highway 101.
From Interstate 5, take the Longview exit. Take Highway 4 west to Highway 101. Proceed south on Highway 101 about 5 miles to refuge headquarters. |
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