Thursday, October 1, 2026
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For many years as I drove from Bremerton to Olympia, I took the non-toll bridge route, State Highway 3, through Belfair and Shelton. And every time I passed the Theler Wetlands Nature Trails sign in Belfair I drove right passed it. That changed earlier this week.
What my son and I found was a delightful natural preserve with trails and boardwalks — a bird watching location that is well worth a visit. This is the estuary where Union River meets Hood Canal. If your image of an estuary is our local Nisqually delta, as mine is, then your first thought might be that this one is pretty shrimpy.
But that reduced size is what I liked the most about visiting here. The 1-mile estuary loop trail takes the visitor right out into the wetlands and close to the birds. A small flock of green-winged teal were resting and grooming on a patch of grass immediately below the boardwalk and a killdeer was patrolling the grass nearby.
At another spot we walked by (almost under), a bald eagle nest with one of the pair perched nearby to maintain its ownership claim of the nest site. And, perhaps enjoying the sunny winter afternoon weather, there were spotted towhees greeting us at nearly every bend of the trail.
The Theler Wetlands Trails are primarily the result of the amazing foresight of Sam and Mary Theler. In 1935, these folks purchased 500 acres from the failing Puget Mill Company and platted the land into lots of varying sizes. These land parcels make up a portion of contemporary town of Belfair. The Thelers also included land donated for churches and schools.
In his 1968 will, Sam Theler bequeathed 70 acres to the North Mason School District, to be “used for educational, recreational and tourism needs.” He even included financial support for ongoing stewardship of the land. Ultimately, the Theler Community Center and Wetland Trails are the result of these actions.
It is apparent when visiting here that the Theler Wetlands and associated lands are a much-appreciated community asset. In addition to the trails, land has been set aside for a community garden and to provide a home for the Hood Canal Salmon Center. Both contribute to the overall educational goals of the Theler Trust.
This trail network is well cared-for by a large network of community volunteers, and receives regular community visitors. We encountered folks of all ages, most admiring the area’s natural variety and abundance. One couple, Belfair residents, related how most weeks they came there for the exercise, but also for the enjoyment of watching the passing seasons.
The Theler Wetlands are a case study in the importance of partnerships. Parts of the Theler Trust land is leased to the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW), and are managed together with estuary and some of the uplands owned by WDFW. This is a good example of how public and private funds, working together, can provide lasting benefit.
The WDFW lands were purchased using proceeds from hunting tags and waterfowl hunting stamps. The trail and boardwalk were funded initially by Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account (ALEA).
ALEA was created by the 1984 the Washington Legislature to earmark revenue from the state’s aquatic lands to be used for grants to fund acquisition, improvement, or protection of additional aquatic lands for public purposes. Public access trails are one of the major uses of ALEA funds.
The Theler Wetlands Trails is a good year-around birding location, and a place to appreciate the value of collaboration for environmental preservation. It’s about an hour’s drive away, and potentially one stop on a longer day trip that includes several other sights in Belfair and around southern Hood Canal.
George Walter is environmental program manager at the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s natural resources department; he also has a 45+ year interest in bird watching. He may be reached at george@theJOLTnews.com
Photos for this column are provided by Liam Hutcheson, an 18-year-old Olympia area birder and avid photographer.
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OlyBlues
Excellent article! Thank you George. The Theler Wetlands is a real hidden gem. Anyone who enjoys the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge will love this place. Not a bad drive from Olympia and it makes a nice day trip with a few restaurants in Belfair or to pack a lunch and enjoy it at the wetlands. There are benches and tables to relax at.
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