Field trip: GoHike: Beginner Hiking Course
March GoHike Pacing Hike: 2 to 4 miles, 0 to 750 feet of elevation gain - Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
GoHike Pace Hikes are low-stress hikes to help you determine where you are in terms of gear, the pace (1.5 - 2 mph) and distance you can complete comfortably. These trips are designed to assist you in developing your goals for conditioning and hiking trips, so that you can determine what level of hikes and pace would be the best fit for you to sign up for - no pressure, no judgment!
Contacts
- Sat, Mar 21, 2026
- Foothills Hiking Committee
- Day Hiking
- All Who Qualify, Adults
- Easy
- Easy
- Mileage: 3.0 mi
- Elevation Gain: 15 ft
- Pace: 2.0-2.2 mph
- 3 (8 capacity)
- FULL (2 capacity)
- Fri, Feb 6, 2026 at 8:00 AM
- Thu, Mar 19, 2026 at 5:00 PM
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
- iCal Google
Let's meet at 9 a.m. and have fun and enjoy our first GoHike time together!
Trail: This is a flat trail following the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail. This trail starts at the visitor center and is accessed by walking one-half mile on the Twin Barns Loop trail. After half a mile of hiking along an old boardwalk that sits just above the wetlands, hikers will reach a fork for the Twin Barns Observation Platform. Jutting far out into the delta, the boardwalk runs a full mile, taking hikers above the water when the tide is in. When it's out, folks will be treated to mudflats peppered with shorebirds searching for food.
Pace: We will enjoy a comfortable ~3-mile hike, pacing as a group (averaging 2.0 mph) - no walker will be left behind. We will gather at trail junctions to make sure we are all together and no one gets lost.
Breaks: We will not take a long break, but will find a location 1/2 way for a 15-minute water/snack break and to check in on pace.
We will hike rain or shine unless there are torrential downpours, high winds, or lightning.
A HELLO HIKER email will be sent at 6 pm 3/10, with more details. Life happens, so if you need to cancel, please do so by this time to allow others on the waitlist to join.
9:00am at the North end of the Visitor Parking West lot, near Twin Baarns Loop trailhead.
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is on the southern end of Puget Sound between Olympia and Fort Lewis. Take Exit 114 from I-5 and follow the signs to the refuge. The refuge is open daily during daylight hours. The daily entrance fee is $3, waived if you have one of the many passes they honor. About 100 parking spots are available.
Required Equipment
You will receive a Hello Hiker email from your trip leader prior to your selected hike that will provide you with details for the hike that you selected. Be sure to have your 10 essentials, along with some snacks.