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Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

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reddish egret

National Wildlife Refuges

Birders delight during the winter months at our National Wildlife Refuges in Florida, the birthplace of the National Wildlife Refuge system

Key Deer

The birthplace of the National Wildlife Refuge System with the creation of Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903, Florida has one of the highest concentration of refuges in the country. It helps that our state is along some of the major flyover routes for migratory birds, and is the winter home for certain species. Birders find our refuges fabulous spots – especially in winter – to fill out their life lists.

Some of our refuges are species-specific, such as Crocodile Lakes NWR and Florida Panther NWR. One, Lake Wales Ridge NWR, is there to protect endangered plants and reptiles found only along that ridge. Another – Okefenokee Swamp NWR – lies mainly in Georgia but slips over the state line. Some of our refuges have limited or no public access. More than half have hiking, biking, or paddling trails, including some extensive trail systems.

Florida's National Wildlife Refuges

Barrier Island Center Archie Carr NWR

Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge

Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge
Summer storm on the marshes at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge

Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge

Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
Informational kiosk at Crocodile Lake NWR

Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Ding Darling NWR

Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge

Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge
Florida Panther NWR

Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge

Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge
Blue waters and sea grape along beach

Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge

Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge
Lake Woodruff NWR

Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge

Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge
River flowing through salt marsh to the Gulf

Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge

Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge
Dummett Cove Merritt Island

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Key deer

National Key Deer Refuge

National Key Deer Refuge
Pelican Island

Pelican Island NWR

Pelican Island NWR
St Marks NWR

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

You can also explore trails in the following National Wildlife Refuges in Florida.

  • Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge: Atsenie Otie Key, Seahorse Key
  • Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge
  • Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge: Three Sisters Springs Boardwalk
  • Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge
  • Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge: Florida Panther Trail, Leslie Duncan Memorial Trail
  • Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge: Hobe Sound Nature Trail
  • Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge: Centennial Trail, Bird’s Impoundment Trail, Pete’s Impoundment Trail
  • St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge
  • Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge: Marsh Trail

Resources

50 Hikes in Central Florida 50 Hikes in North Florida book cover 50 Hikes in South Florida book cover Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide book cover South Florida Explorers Guide book cover

Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us continue to provide public information on this website.

Favorite National Wildlife Refuge Trails

Although our refuges have some of Florida’s oldest and shortest interpretive trails, one refuge – St. Marks – is also home to 45 miles of the Florida National Scenic Trail. These hikes at National Wildlife Refuges are among our favorites.

Barrier Island Trail

Barrier Island Sanctuary

Barrier Island Sanctuary
Blue Hole at National Key Deer Refuge

Blue Hole

Blue Hole
Pelican Island Centennial Trail

Centennial Trail

Centennial Trail
Interpretive sign at boardwalk to island

Dennis Creek Trail

Dennis Creek Trail
Shepherd Spring

Florida Trail, Shepherd Spring

Florida Trail, Shepherd Spring
Boardwalk through cypress strand

Loxahatchee NWR Cypress Trail

Loxahatchee NWR Cypress Trail
Boardwalk between palms and oaks

Oak Hammock Trail

Oak Hammock Trail
Boardwalk under oaks with a bench along it

Visitor Center Boardwalk

Visitor Center Boardwalk

ALL National Wildlife Refuge Recreation

Impoundment at St Marks NWR

National Wildlife Refuge Fees

Fees apply at some of the National Wildlife Refuges in Florida, most notably the main entrances to St. Marks NWR and Ding Darling NWR. Your Golden Eagle / National Parks pass provides access. Fourth grade students (and their families) as well as active military are eligible for free passes. Seniors may purchase discount passes good for their lifetimes. Passes are a great bargain if you plan to visit more than a few parks and refuges in a year.

National Park Passes

National Wildlife Refuge Articles

Articles about Florida’s National Wildlife Refuges, including our own journeys to the refuges, tips for visiting, updates, and information about wildlife and plants. Scroll through to see all.

Palm Hammock Trail Merritt Island

Hiking in Florida

February 15, 2020//  by Sandra Friend & John Keatley

New to Florida? Florida is different. If you don’t know much about our outdoors, start here to learn what’s unique about hiking, backpacking, and camping in Florida.

Buck Lake Ocala

Celebrate National Public Lands Day

September 13, 2019//  by Sandra Friend

The last Saturday of September is National Public Lands Day, celebrated across America with fee-free entry to Federal public lands and volunteer activities at the state, local, and national level.

Palm Hammock Trail Merritt Island

Back to the Hammock

June 11, 2015//  by John Keatley

Hiking the Hammock Trails in Merritt Island NWR this weekend brought back memories of hiking and camping in these woods as a young Boy Scout in the 1960s and 70s

Green sea turtle nesting (FWC)

Sea Turtle Walks in Florida

June 6, 2014//  by Sandra Friend

Watching a sea turtle come ashore to lay its eggs is an incredible experience. Here are some of the places where you can join sea turtle walks in Florida.

Loggerhead turtle nesting (FWC photo)

Step softly! Sea turtles nesting!

May 28, 2014//  by Sandra Friend

Early summer is sea turtle nesting season in Florida, where precautions should be taken on the beaches and near shore to avoid disturbing these gentle giants.

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FIND A TRAIL OR PARK

NORTHWEST FLORIDA
Apalachicola. Apalachicola National Forest. Blackwater River State Forest. Blountstown. Bonifay. Bristol. Cape San Blas. Carrabelle. Chattahoochee. Chipley. Crawfordville. Crestview. DeFuniak Springs. Destin. Ebro. Eglin Air Force Base. Fort Walton Beach. Freeport. Gulf Islands National Seashore. Madison. Marianna. Milton. Monticello. Mossy Head. Navarre Beach . Niceville. Panama City Beach. Pensacola. Ponce De Leon. Port St. Joe. Quincy. Sopchoppy. South Walton. St. Marks. St. Marks NWR. Tallahassee. Vernon. Wakulla. Wewahitchka

NORTH FLORIDA
Alachua. Amelia Island. Baldwin. Branford. Bunnell. Cedar Key. Chiefland. Crescent City. Dowling Park. Ellaville. Fernandina Beach. Flagler Beach. Gainesville. Green Cove Springs. High Springs. Jacksonville. Keystone Heights. Lake Butler.Lake City. Live Oak. Mayo. Macclenny. Micanopy. Olustee. Orange Park. Osceola National Forest. Palatka. Palatka-Lake Butler Trail. Palm Coast. Perry. Salt Springs. St. Augustine. Starke. Steinhatchee. Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. Suwannee Springs. Talbot Islands. Timucuan Preserve. Trenton. Welaka. White Springs. Williston

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MULTI-REGION
Big Cypress Swamp. East Coast Greenway. Everglades National Park. Florida National Scenic Trail

CENTRAL FLORIDA
Apopka. Belleview. Brandon. Brooksville. Bushnell. Canaveral National Seashore. Christmas. Chuluota. Clearwater Beach. Clermont. Coast to Coast Trail. Cocoa Beach. Cross Florida Greenway. Crystal River. Dade City. Daytona Beach. De Leon Springs. DeBary. Deland. Deltona. Dunedin. Dunnellon. Frostproof. Geneva. Inverness. Kenansville. Kissimmee. Lake Mary. Lake Wales. Lakeland. Largo. Leesburg. Longwood. Melbourne. Melbourne Beach. Merritt Island. Merritt Island NWR. Mims. Mount Dora. New Port Richey. New Smyrna Beach. Ocala. Ocala National Forest. Ocklawaha. Orlando. Ormond Beach. Osteen. Oviedo. Palm Bay. Ridge Manor. Sanford. Silver Springs. Spring Hill. St. Cloud. St. Petersburg. Tampa. Tarpon Springs. Titusville . Walt Disney World. Weeki Wachee. Winter Springs. Withlacoochee State Forest. Withlacoochee State Trail. Yeehaw Junction

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Bradenton . Charlotte Harbor. Ding Darling NWR. Englewood. Estero. Fort Myers. Immokalee. Naples. Pine Island. Port Charlotte. Punta Gorda. Sanibel Island. Sarasota. Venice

SOUTH FLORIDA
Arcadia. Basinger. Big Cypress National Preserve. Big Cypress Seminole Reservation. Clewiston. Everglades City. Fisheating Creek. Lake Okeechobee. Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail. Lake Placid. LaBelle. Lakeport. Moore Haven. Okeechobee. Pahokee. Port Mayaca. Sebring. South Bay

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA
Big Pine Key. Biscayne Bay. Biscayne National Park. Boca Raton. Boynton Beach. Coral Gables. Davie. Delray Beach. Northeast Everglades Natural Area. Florida Keys. Fort Lauderdale. Fort Pierce. Hobe Sound. Hollywood. Homestead. Islamorada. Jensen Beach. Jupiter. Juno Beach. Key Biscayne. Key Largo. Key West. Marathon. Miami. Ocean to Lake Greenway. Overseas Heritage Trail. Palm Beach. Port St. Lucie. Redland. Sebastian. Stuart. Vero Beach. West Palm Beach

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