RAISED WOODEN WALKS meander through swamps, freshwater and saltwater marshes, forest and an estuary at the Theler Wetlands in Belfair. The 135-acre refuge is a haven for birds and other critters and a quiet place for humans to relax and observe nature. Many interpretive signs on the trails and an interpretive center on the grounds add details.

CAMPING

Details on locations, prices, amenities and additional activities available can be found in The Journal's Visitor's Guide to Mason County (it's printed but also on the Web at www.masoncounty.com ), or call the agency running the campground.

Olympic National Park

Staircase Campground: 56 campsites, a few for small trailers. Ranger station phone, 877-5569.

Olympic National Forest Brown Creek Camp: 20 campsites, 12 accommodating small trailers. LeBar Horse Camp: 13 campsites with room for horse trailer and camper. Lena Creek Camp: 13 campsites accommodate trailers. Hamma Hamma Campground: 15 campsites, all accommodate trailers or RVs to 22 feet. Big Creek Campground: 23 campsites, all accommodate trailers and RVs to 30 feet; also has two walk-in campgrounds.

Washington State Parks Belfair State Park: 184 tent sites, 47 with trailer hookups. Jarrell Cove State Park: 22 campsites, no trailer hookups, boat pumpout station. Potlatch State Park: 19 tent sites (two of them primitive hike-in sites) and 18 trailer hookups. Minerva Beach Resort sites also available starting this spring. Twanoh State Park: 25 tent sites and 22 spaces with utility hookups. Schafer State Park: 43 tent sites, six trailer sites with water and power (no sewer hookups), two bike sites, one group site, day use only October-April. Call 1-888-226-7688 for reservations at state parks. Former Lake Cushman State Park, now privately run as Camp Cushman, has 89 campsites (29 serviced for RVs) plus a group site, reservations strongly recommended; call 877-6770.

Washington State Forests Camp Spillman: Ten campsites. Tahuya River Horse Camp: Eleven campsites by permit (call 360-825-1631 or e-mail jill.mead@dnr.wa.gov ). Twin Lakes: 10 walk-in sites. Lilliwaup Creek: Eight sites near stream in forest (season late April to September 15). Kammenga: Three sites. Melbourne Lake Campground: Six sites near lake (season late April to September 15). Aldrich: Six lakeside sites open late April to September 15. State Web site: www.dnr .wa.gov/base/recreation.html.

Dewatto Park The Port of Dewatto has a one-acre park on the Dewatto River with 60 sites and room for RVs.

County fairgrounds Fairgrounds near Shelton have 170 RV sites with hookups and 150 "dry" sites for self-contained vehicles or tent camping.

RECREATIONAL VEHICLES

The county has a dozen privately run resorts and RV parks to accommodate people taking their homes with them on vacation. They are listed in the Visitor's Guide .

EXERCISES IN FOOTILITY (HIKING)

The county offers hikes from easy jaunts to strenuous climbs up Olympic peaks. Some trails will open late this year because of winter storm damage. For information about hiking in Olympic National Park, contact the wilderness backcountry information line, 360-565-3100. For hiking in the Olympic National Forest, call the Quilcene Ranger Station at 360-765-2200. Some trails require a Northwest Forest Pass, available at Forest Service offices and some businesses. Or, for park and forest information, call the Hoodsport Visitor Center at 877-2021 or find www.sheltonchamber.org on the Internet.

Following are brief descriptions of a few walks and more strenuous hikes. More details can be found in the Visitor's Guide .

Olympic National Park Walks: Shady Lane Nature Trail, three miles near Staircase Campground. Staircase Rapids Trail, two miles near Staircase Campground featuring Skokomish River.

More strenuous: Flapjack Lakes and Mount Gladys Divide, 3.7 miles from Staircase to junction with North Fork Skokomish River Trail, 7.8 miles to Flapjack Lakes, another two miles to Mount Gladys Divide. North Fork Skokomish River Trail, 12.5 miles from Staircase to First Divide, where the trail connects to Duckabush Basin trails, trail rises to subalpine meadow at 4,688 feet. Wagonwheel Lake, primitive, steep trail rises 3,400 feet in 2.8 miles from Staircase to lake.

Olympic National Forest Walks: Living Legacy Interpretive Trail, 1.2 miles near Hamma Hamma Campground. Hamma Hamma Beaver Pond, trail to pond to watch wildlife. Elk Lake Trail, good for fishing, wildlife observation, birdwatching and camping. Big Creek Campground Loop Trail, 1.1 miles in loop is flat, a longer trail nearby ascends toward Mount Ellinor. Brown Creek Nature Trail, begins at Brown Creek Campground, good for viewing wildlife.

More strenuous: Lena Lakes, 3.0 miles from trailhead to Lower Lena Lake, 4.0 steep miles more to Upper Lena Lake at 4,549 feet (this trail intersects with The Brothers Trail, which leads to a 6,866-foot peak for experienced climbers). Putvin Trail, 3.0 miles to alpine meadows and mountain views, trail continues to Lake of the Angels in national park. Mildred Lakes Trail, 4.4 miles, provides access to Mount Skokomish Wilderness Area. Mount Rose Trail, 6.4-mile hike goes to summit and back. Dry Creek Trail, 7.0 miles, flat to steep trail goes from forest to ridgetop and meanders along Lake Cushman. Mount Ellinor, choose one of two trailheads, from 3,700 feet to 5,944-foot peak or from 2,800 feet. Mount Washington, for more experienced climbers, trailhead on same road as Mount Ellinor trailheads. Lower South Fork Skokomish Trail, moderate grade following river, significant washout damage last winter.