Harris Neck
Townsend, GA 31331-9625
Plan Your Visit
Established in 1962, Harris Neck has serves as a premier nesting, foraging, and wintering habitat for many species of wildlife. Signature species include wood storks, which nest in a large colony on Woody Pond, and the colorful painted bunting, which favors nesting habitat in the refuge's maritime scrub areas. The refuge encompasses six man-made freshwater ponds as well as extensive salt marsh, open fields, forested wetlands, and mixed hardwood/pine forest. This diversity of habitat makes the refuge an important resource for migratory birds.
Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge offers a variety of opportunities to explore and enjoy the great outdoors from sunrise to sunset every day. The 4-mile wildlife drive makes visiting the refuge easy and accessible for all. Unless otherwise posted, the refuge is open to hiking, biking, wildlife observation and photography, and saltwater fishing (freshwater fishing in refuge ponds is prohibited). It is also open certain times of the year to hunting (see "Hunting" activity page for details).
Important Reminders
- Due to staffing cuts, the visitor contact station is closed until further notice. Restrooms, drinking water, and shelter from inclement weather are not available.
- Dogs and other pets are not allowed outside of your vehicle.
- Automobiles must remain on the wildlife drive
- All areas immediately adjacent to Woody Pond, including the trail that runs along its eastern side, are closed from March 1 thru nesting season to limit disturbance to wood storks and other nesting birds.
Harris Neck Refuge is located on Harris Neck Road, seven miles east of Interstate 95 (Exit 67, U.S. 17/South Newport) in McIntosh County Georgia. From I-95 off-ramp, go south on U.S. 17 for approximately 1 mile. Turn left on Harris Neck Road and continue for approximately 7 miles to the entrance on your left.
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Activities
Featured Species
About
Established in 1962, Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge (2,824 acres) is one of seven refuges administered as part of the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex. The refuge serves as an important link in the chain of refuges along the eastern seaboard and is the inland base for two neighboring barrier island refuges, Blackbeard Island and Wolf Island.
The land that comprises Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge has been home to a variety of different communities throughout history. From the Indigenous people that inhabited this land for thousands of years, to the enslaved people that suffered through the plantation era, to the free African Americans that built a thriving community, to the soldiers who served at the World War II Army Airfield, to the wildlife and plants conserved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today.