The Natural Year -- Wild Sites -- Here's Where To Get Up Close To Nature At Its Best In The Northwest

It's not hard to get close to nature in the Pacific Northwest, but timing can be everything. You won't likely spy gray whales from a beachside bluff in August. And don't search for alpine wildflowers in ski season. You need to know when to look.

Here's help.

For most of this past year, Northwest Weekend has published Nature Watch, a monthly feature offering tips on what to look for and where to get a glimpse of the flora and fauna of Washington.

Today, we pull all of that information together in a special calendar, spanning the next two pages, along with some handsome color photography of nature's best.

On this page you'll find information on some of the best sites for viewing wildlife. Best wishes for a new year full of wonderful weekends.

-- Skagit Wildlife Area is probably the best place to view snow geese. The birds migrate from Russia's Wrangel Island in Siberia to the 12,000-acre reserve, five miles south of Mount Vernon. The delta's marshy land and channels also provide food and comfort zones for thousands of other birds, including ducks, trumpeter swans, tundra swans and raptors. Information: 360-445-4441.

To go: Take Exit 221 from Interstate 5 and head west through Conway on Fir Island Road. Turn left on Wiley Road to the wildlife area headquarters, where you'll find maps and information.

-- The six-mile, picturesque Dungeness Spit is the largest natural sand spit in the United States and attracts more than 200 species of birds each year. The area is part of Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge in Clallam County. There is a user fee of $3 per family that allows you onto the spit and to use the trail to the lighthouse. Information: 360-457-8451.

To go: From Highway 101 in Sequim, take Kitchen-Dick Lane north, following signs to the Dungeness Recreation Area. Check the tide tables first if you plan on walking out on the spit.

-- Oak Creek Wildlife Area is a winter habitat for the Yakima herd of Rocky Mountain elk. There are steep hillsides and some canyons in this rocky 84,000-acre terrain just west of Yakima. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife manages the site, located in the foothills of the Yakima Valley. There are several feeding stations, where the elk congregate during winter afternoons. Information: 509-575-2740.

To go: From Yakima, go west on Highway 12 for 20 miles, and then head south toward White Pass. Exit on Oak Creek Road.

-- The Toutle elk herd can be found at the Mount St. Helens Wildlife Area. It's startling to see the animals munching on new grass growing where life had been totally wiped out in 1980 by the deadly volcanic blast. Congress created the 110,000-acre National Volcanic Monument in 1982 to let nature takes its course. There are four visitor centers, operated by the U.S. Forest Service. For information about road conditions, call the Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center at 360-274-2131.

To go: Take Exit 49 from Interstate 5 to Highway 504 (Spirit Lake Highway) to the park's various visitor centers.

-- The Tacoma Nature Center and Preserve at Snake Lake is a wildlife gem. This 54-acre woodsy spot attracts ducks, geese and herons. There are wetlands, forest and trails. (See Page XX for more trail details.) Information: 253-591-6439.

To go: Take Exit 132 from Interstate Five and head west toward Bremerton on Highway 16. Exit to South 19th Street eastbound. Turn right on South 19th and then turn right on South Tyler Street. The entrance is on the left.

-- There are nearly 4,300 trees and plants at the 230-acre Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle, including some rare Japanese maples. Despite its proximity to city life, the arboretum offers a lovely rest spot for trees, shrubs and humans. Information: 206-543-8800.

To go: From Highway 520 eastbound, take the Montlake Boulevard exit. Go straight across Montlake Boulevard to Lake Washington Boulevard. (From Highway 520 westbound, take the Lake Washington Boulevard exit and turn left onto Lake Washington Boulevard.) Turn left on Foster Island Road and turn right on Arboretum Drive East.

-- Be prepared to shout "Thar she blows" at Lime Kiln Point State Park, on the west coast of San Juan Island, where orca whales and porpoises live swimmingly here during the summer. The park is nine miles west of Friday Harbor and has several trails including one that leads to a lighthouse. Information: 360-755-9231.

To go: From Anacortes, take the Washington State Ferry to San Juan Island. The ferry docks at Friday Harbor, where you can drive to the park or take public transportation. It is extremely crowded on the ferries during the summer so it is best to call for schedules and fares or check the Web site. Washington State Ferries: 800-843-3779, Web site: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries

-- The 500-acre Bowerman Basin near Hoquiam is a bird-watcher's dream location. The basin is home for the Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge and one of the top bird staging areas in North America. Over 1 million birds use the basin as a pit-stop before continuing their journey to their summer homes in the Arctic. Information: 360-753-9467.

To go: From Interstate 5, go west on Highway 12 (Olympic Loop Highway) until you reach Hoquiam. Then head west on Highway 109. Turn left on Polson Road and right on Airport Way.

-- Another excellent place to see birds is Red Top Mountain in the Wenatchee National Forest. Centrally located, Teanaway Ridge is a favorite for hawks, eagles and ospreys. Call the Cle Elum Ranger District at 509-674-4411.

To go: From Interstate 90, take the exit for Highway 970 north to Highway 97. Take Forest Road 9738, following signs to Red Top Mountain. In less than two miles, take the left fork, which is Forest Road 9702. There is a parking area at the top.