National Wildlife Refuges

Resources

Resources for exploring our National Wildlife Refuges
 
Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.

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, Florida Panther, and National Key Deer.

Lake Wales Ridge exists to protect endangered plants and reptiles found only along that ridge. While access to Okefenokee Swamp is in Georgia, the vast refuge slips over the state line.

Some of our refuges have limited or no public access. But more than half have hiking, biking, or paddling trails. St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge contains almost fifty linear miles of the Florida National Scenic Trail.

Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge Stretching from Melbourne Beach to Sebastian, this refuge protects sea turtle nesting grounds along the Atlantic Ocean

Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge At the edge of Boynton Beach, where historic farmlands have given way to subdivisions, Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is a 145,000 acre buffer between suburbia and the Everglades

Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge Expansive marshes fringing the Gulf of Mexico provide shelter for marine species and bird life in estuarine shallows south of Crystal River.

Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge Protecting more than 6,700 acres of Key Largo to provide prime habitat for the endangered American crocodile, Crocodile Lake NWR has a small visitor complex where you can learn about species conservation at the refuge.

Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge Integral to the town of Crystal River, this water-based refuge protects wintering grounds for Florida manatees.

Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge Preserving more than half of Sanibel Island for the sake of its bird life, Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge is one of the top places in the United States to view rare bird species.

Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge The longer of two loops at Florida Panther NWR guarantees a wet walk through panther habitat of wet pine flatwoods and cypress domes

Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge Straddling both sides of the Indian River Lagoon between Hobe Sound and Tequesta, this refuge provides both sea turtle nesting grounds and Florida scrub-jay habitat.

Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge Six miles of trails meander through wide open spaces preserved for wintering waterfowl at 21,500-acre Lake Woodruff NWR along the St. Johns River.

Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge One of Florida's more remote National Wildlife Refuges, the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge spans two counties, protecting a sweep of more than 53,000 acres and 30 miles of coastline along the Big Bend

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge With recreational activities ranging from hiking to biking, boating, fishing, and bioluminscent kayaking, Florida's top destination for birding is also home to Kennedy Space Center.

National Key Deer Refuge Established in 1957 to prevent the extinction of the diminutive Key deer, National Key Deer Refuge spans 84,351 acres across 25 islands in the Lower Keys.

Pelican Island NWR The birthplace of the National Wildlife Refuge system, Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge protects more than 5,400 acres along and in the Indian River Lagoon off Sebastian

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Stretching across 70,000 acres in Florida's Big Bend, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge protects one of Florida's longest wild shorelines, more than 43 miles in three counties.

Additional National Wildlife Refuges in Florida include:

• Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge
• Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge
• Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge Complex
• Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge
• St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge
• Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge

National Wildlife Refuge Fees

Fees apply at some National Wildlife Refuges, particularly those with heavy visitation or beach access. Sometimes a fee is only charged for access to a particular unit, scenic drive, or trailhead.

Your Golden Eagle / National Parks pass is good at all locations, as are Federal duck stamps, which can be purchased at National Wildlife Refuge visitor centers.

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 a few parks in a year. They are honored at National Wildlife Refuges and National Forest Fee Areas as well.

Florida’s Best National Wildlife Refuge Trails

These are our picks for trails you shouldn’t miss at our National Wildlife Refuges in Florida.

Atsena Otie Key The original Cedar Key isn't where you think it is. It's offshore, within sight of the current historic waterfront, an island called Atsena Otie Key, part of Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge.

Black Point Wildlife Drive Winding along a narrow dirt road, Black Point Wildlife Drive offers from-your-car birding in the marshes and mud flats of Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Calusa Shell Mound Trail A wheelchair-accessible boardwalk near the end of Wildlife Drive in Ding Darling NWR, the Calusa Shell Mound Trail provides a peek into the ancient history of Sanibel Island.

Centennial Trail Designed the first Federal Bird Reserve in 1903, Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge celebrated its century mark by creating this short, scenic, accessible trail for birding

Chassahowitzka River Trail Wildlife abounds within jungle-like landscapes along the spring-fed Chassahowitzka, a remote river on Florida’s Nature Coast.

Dennis Creek Trail At the Shell Mound Unit of Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge, the Dennis Creek Trail immerses you in classic habitats of the Gulf Coast along a 1-mile loop

Jack C. Watson Wildlife Trail Rare pine rockland and rockland tropical hammock are key habitats for Key deer along this immersive interpretive loop on Big Pine Key.

Kings Bay River Walk Discover a variety of unexpected perspectives on coves, springs, and the expanse of Kings Bay along a marked walkway stretching around downtown Crystal River.

Leslie M. Duncan Memorial Trail At Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, the Leslie Duncan Memorial Trail is a short, accessible exploration into the habitats of the Big Cypress Swamp

Loxahatchee NWR Cypress Trail Following the boardwalk behind the Visitor Center at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, you'll enter a jungle-like wonderland along the Cypress Trail into a habitat lush with ferns and bromeliads

Oak Hammock Trail The wildlife-rich interpretive Oak Hammock Trail at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge provides an easy introduction to the hammocks of the island

Ten Thousand Islands Marsh Trail On the Marsh Trail, immerse yourself in the mangrove maze of the Ten Thousand Islands on a trail that takes you to places you'd normally only see from a boat.

Tower Pond Trail At St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, the Tower Pond Trail loops a mile through vast impoundments and marshes along the Gulf of Mexico, providing scenic panoramas and great birding.

Visitor Center Boardwalk The only fully-accessible trail at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, the Visitor Center Boardwalk offers many overlooks for wildlife watching and birding

Recent National Wildlife Refuge Articles

Hiking in Florida (2/15/2020) 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.

Celebrate National Public Lands Day (9/13/2019) 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.

Back to the Hammock (6/11/2015) 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

Sea Turtle Walks in Florida (6/6/2014) 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.