# John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum: Winter Birding & Bald Eagle Family Trails > Place to go for families in the Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington area (PA / NJ / DE / MD). Times are Eastern Time. - When: Refuge trails and boardwalks open daily sunrise to sundown; Visitor Center open Wed–Sun… - Where: John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, 8601 Lindbergh Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19153 - Ages: All ages; flat gravel paths and wooden boardwalks are stroller-friendly; free loaner binoculars available at Visitor Center for kids - Price: Free admission to all trails, observation blinds, and Visitor Center; free loaner binoculars and fishing gear; free parking - Schedule: Refuge trails and boardwalks open daily sunrise to sundown; Visitor Center open Wed–Sun 9:00 AM–4:00 PM - Organizer: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Official page: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/john-heinz-tinicum - Last checked: Wed, Nov 4 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/philadelphia/activities/john-heinz-national-wildlife-refuge-at-tinicum-winter-birding-and-bald--listing-9b12ee09df1b780e091f9442 ## About Established in 1972 as America's first urban national wildlife refuge, John Heinz at Tinicum protects 1,000 acres of freshwater tidal marsh right next to Philadelphia International Airport. Winter is prime wildlife-watching season here, as resident bald eagles court and reinforce their nests while thousands of migratory waterfowl, including pintails and mergansers, rest in the open impoundment waters. The flat, gravel Wetland Loop and accessible wooden boardwalks are completely flat and ideal for strollers. Stop inside the LEED-certified Visitor Center to borrow free child-sized binoculars and birding scavenger hunt sheets from the rangers. Multi-story wildlife observation blinds let kids peek safely at waterfowl without disturbing them. ## Similar picks in Philadelphia - [Fairmount Park Winter Trails & Belmont Plateau: Panoramic Philadelphia Skyline Walks](https://grassyknees.com/philadelphia/activities/fairmount-park-winter-trails-and-belmont-plateau-panoramic-philadelphi--listing-1f968077e4530da0161d1900) — Open daily sunrise to sunset; best visited in morning or late afternoon for clear winter… · Belmont Plateau, West Fairmount Park · All ages · Free · checked Nov 4. 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Read a nature storybook, then hike the trails with family. - [Knee High Naturalists at Coverdale Farm Preserve: Winter Sessions](https://grassyknees.com/philadelphia/activities/knee-high-naturalists-at-coverdale-farm-preserve-winter-sessions--listing-9acb7c9cc343dc9e454e7ac7) — Fri, Nov 13 (+3 more dates) · 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM · Coverdale Farm Preserve, Greenville · Ages 3–5 · From $15 · checked Oct 20. At Coverdale Farm Preserve in Greenville, the Delaware Nature Society's Knee High Naturalists sessions bring preschoolers and a grown-up outdoors with Teacher Naturalists for… - [Wissahickon Valley Park: Historic Forbidden Drive Winter Nature Walks & Valley Green Duck Pond](https://grassyknees.com/philadelphia/activities/wissahickon-valley-park-historic-forbidden-drive-winter-nature-walks-a--listing-22b2f0cbf8de3d90bfaafb06) — Daily sunrise to 8:00 PM winter curfew (December 1 – March 31); Valley Green Inn open… · Wissahickon Valley Park · All ages · Free · checked Nov 4. 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