Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve — Attraction in Wells

A bird watchers dream! Bring binoculars! You have a good chance to see some rare birds, especially if you go at the right time of year. Please be respectful, stay in your boat or on a trail and try not to disturb the ecosystem. (Don't walk through the grasses in the Estuary please)

My best friend and I were kayaking and paddled up through the channels into the Estuary and it was beautiful. Be careful to pay attention to the tide though! The water can drop as much as 8-10 feet in a matter of a few hours causing many of the channels to drain completely into mud flats or just become too shallow for your boat. I recommend getting there a couple hrs before high tide and following the current into the Estuary. Make sure you're out of the Estuary or at least into the deeper water of Wells Harbor around 1&1/2 - 2hrs after the tide turns and starts going out! This is a vulnerable ecosystem and you don't want to end up dragging your boat through the mud and across the grasses! This is the spawning ground for fish and nesting habitat for birds and you wouldn't even notice the nest you probably crushed with your feet or boat.

Once the mud flats are revealed my the low tide, you will see dozens or hundreds of birds foraging in the mud. So, bring binoculars and you can check out all the wildlife from the shore!

Ps. There are publicly available tide charts that you can Google to make sure you're there at high tide for kayaking or low tide for trying to find specific birds to check off your list! Enjoy our beautiful state and help us keep...

Beautiful! Well maintained trails and buildings !Excellent signage. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Bathroom was in decent shape. Walking trails are not hard on the feet. One path is an elevated wood walking bridge through a forest that leads to an outlook to the ocean. Picnic tables and benches available. I would recommend bringing comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, water and a rugged stroller. Bug repellent optional. We didn't encounter any mosquitoes. Admission is five for adults, one dollar for kids. Cash only. Parking is free. If you like nature walks, I recommend a visit. Seven miles of trails with one leading to the beach. Signs to the Estuarine say that GPS may not lead you to the correct address. Google maps did. Update: Sunday afternoon, November 2020; Took my daughter, son and friend. We only did the Laird Norton Trail. People are still visiting. No one is collecting entrance fees but a collection box is there. I paid the fee. Bring cash. Christmas 🎄 tree has been placed. Facemasks required. Bathrooms are in the same area and only one family at a time. My friend said she...

On top of its merits as an educational hub for learners interested in coastal ecosystems and environmental conservation, the reserve boasts an absolutely gorgeous bit of land that is open to the general public and perfect for leisurely, uninhibited strolls — no pets, no bikes, no motorized vehicles, no drones whizzing by overhead — when you need to step sideways from your lot in life.

There are fees involved with accessing the grounds from Memorial Day through mid-October, but the reserve is open year-round from 7am - sunset, so if you make frequent use of it, it more than evens out. When you go, be sure to trek down to Laudholm Beach and/or Barrier Beach for great vistas of the Atlantic and up-close views of the Little River estuary. And, naturally, allow your interests to be piqued by checking out all of the educational programming the reserve has to offer by browsing...