PAWA Paints Nisqually Wildlife Refuge 2026

Facilitator: Ineke Berhitoe

email: [email protected] mobile: 360-754-9807

Come ready to paint at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually Wildlife Refuge for our first plein air paint out of 2026! The views of the estuary are expansive with woodland and wild grasses, eagles, heron and geese, and the vast skies above. The Nisqually River is about 80 miles long, flowing directly from the Nisqually Glacier on Mt. Rainier, a reminder of the wondrously varied nature of our northwest landscape.

Bring a backpack for your gear or a cart with wheels--it is about 1/2 mile out to the Twin Barns from the visitor center. We often paint between the visitor center and the barns, but some may go further. The path out on the estuary is about four miles.

Meeting location: Meet outside the Visitor Center, March 28, 2026, 9:30 AM. If you arrive later most painters will be found on the gravel road going towards the twin barns.

Lunch: Bring a sack lunch.

Lunch will be between 12:30 and 1:30 PM. People will either have lunch where they are painting or we’ll meet in the vicinity of the barns.

After lunch, we’ll stay in the same general location—there are many pathways that allow for slightly off-trail painting with multiple vistas.

There may be many visitors to the Refuge. Please give consideration to other visitors and leave the viewing platforms for others.

Directions: Take Exit 114 from North or South I5, cross over the freeway to Browns Farm Road and follow it to the Billing Frank Jr. Nisqually Wildlife Refuge Parking Lot.

Recommended lodging/camping : Closest lodging is at the I5 111 Exit on Marvin Road and the I5 Exit 118 on Center Drive.

Parking and Payment:

Daily fee is $3.00 per four adults. An Interagency Annual Pass (old Golden Eagle), Senior Pass (old Golden Age), or Access Pass, Federal Duck Stamp, or an Annual Refuge Pass will admit the pass holder and 3 additional adults (over age 16). Children 16 and under enter free. Each of these passes are available for purchase at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Administration Office and Visitor Center. All proceeds from entrance fees and passes go back into Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR programs.

The procedures for paying may be confusing for the general public. Please take a blue envelope from the kiosk by the walkway to the Visitor Center. You do not need to fill out any information on the envelope. Put $3.00 dollars in the envelope, tear off the sleeve at the perforation and keep that with you on the trails, and seal the envelope and put it in the fee canister by the kiosk. If you have a pass for the refuge, please keep it with you and don't leave it in your vehicle. If you are bringing more than four adults in your vehicle and they don't have any of the passes, please contact us at the refuge for more information.

For attendees signing up for free paint-outs, if you find you can't attend after all, please cancel on Eventbrite so that the facilitator may have a proper head count, thanks!

All paint-outs are for Plein Air Washington members. It is easy to join PAWA online.

It is a good idea to print out this Eventbrite page and bring with you to be able to refer to this information.

Thank you for signing up and HAPPY PAINTING

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