Getting Lost in Nature, Just Off the Runway

While it seems like an unlikely spot for a wildlife refuge, John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum sits in the shadow of Philadelphia International Airport. Here at American’s First Urban Refuge, you will find open water, a freshwater tidal marsh, woodland, and mudflats, all of which entice hundreds of species to stop and rest in their migration, or even to make it a permanent home.

Tinicum Marsh is the largest tidal marsh in the commonwealth. It provides nesting grounds for 90 species of birds, and hundreds more have been seen passing through. Visitors can explore the refuge via a ten mile network of trails, including the 3.5-mile Wetland Loop Trail, which encircles the Emergent Wetland. Here it is almost impossible to miss seeing a number of waterfowl and turtles. All told, the refuge offers ten miles of easy trails, including the one-mile Big Boardwalk Loop, which is wheelchair-accessible. (The boardwalk is also a great place to see several species of bird – you may even be lucky enough to get an up-close “fly-by.”)

The Refuge is open to the public from sunrise to sundown. Parking is free, as is admission to the Visitor’s Center (open Wednesday to Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm). In addition to obtaining informational brochures and maps, visitors can borrow binoculars and fishing rods, free of charge. The refuge can also be explored via kayak or canoe, though it’s important to pay attention to the tides; the creek is fully accessible for only a portion of the day.

The Refuge welcomes volunteers in a number of ways, such as joining the Weed Warriors to help control the invasive plant population. This group meets monthly to remove these unwanted invaders and to plant native plants. The Refuge also asks that anyone who catches a Northern Snakehead report it to a ranger and to not re-release any into refuge waters. This is to protect the native fish, turtles, and frogs that call the refuge home.