Bartlett River Trail
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
This is active brown bear habitat — carry bear spray, make noise on the trail, and be especially alert near the estuary and lagoon where bears feed on salmon in late summer.
Tidal changes can flood sections near the lagoon and estuary. Check tide tables before heading out, and don't linger on exposed tidal flats if water is rising.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Time your hike around low tide to catch the intertidal lagoon at its most exposed — that's when shorebirds and bears come out to forage on the flats, and the estuary views open up dramatically.
The trail has long stretches of saturated ground between the boardwalk sections, so waterproof boots or at minimum gaiters will keep this from becoming a miserable slog. Trail runners are a mistake here.
Bring binoculars and park yourself at the estuary for twenty minutes instead of just snapping a photo and turning around. Seals, eagles, and bears all use this corridor, and patience pays off more than any telephoto lens.
