Visit Us

Refuge Hours

The Headquarters Area (including the A, B, and C Impoundments) trails, boat ramps, and other outdoor facilities are open daily from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm. The Headquarters Area is closed to public use from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am daily. The Hillsboro Area and 20 Mile Bend Area are open 24 hours.

Visitor Center

  • Address: 10216 Lee Road, Boynton Beach, FL 33473
  • Hours: Open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas days
  • Volunteers at the front desk can provide helpful information like brochures and maps, and answer questions about the refuge
  • The visitor center offers interactive and educational displays and exhibits including the Everglades at Night, a virtual airboat ride, Everglades Attitudes, a replica tree island with a crawl-through alligator hole, and more
  • Watch the 16-minute refuge video
  • Learn about recent wildlife sightings
  • Discover opportunities for hikingbikingboatingcanoeinghuntingfishingwildlife photographybirdingwatching wildlife, and more
  • Entrance passes are available at the visitor center
  • A water-bottle refilling station is available to keep you hydrated. 
  • Educational books, postcards, and other souvenirs are available at the Friends of Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee NWR nature store
  • The 0.4-mile Cypress Swamp Boardwalk starts and ends behind the visitor center
  • View butterfly gardens that provide homes for pollinators both behind and in front of the visitor center

Events and Programs

Guided walks, tram tours, and more are offered throughout the year by staff and volunteer naturalists. Learn more on our Events page.

Fees and Entrance Passes

The refuge is a federal fee area and entrance passes are required for all visitors. Fees collected are used to directly assist with providing safe and meaningful experiences to refuge visitors. A variety of passes can be purchased in-person at the visitor center from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm daily, seasonally at fee booths, or you can purchase a daily of annual refuge pass online at Recreation.gov.

  • Entrance fees are waived for visitors entering the refuge on foot, bicycle, or horseback, and during posted Fee Free Days.
  • The refuge accepts payment in the form of cash or a check. Make checks payable to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
  • All passes admit the pass-holder and any accompanying passengers in a single, private non-commercial vehicle.
  • If you aren't greeted at the fee booth (Headquarters and Hillsboro Entrances), please purchase your daily pass at the self-pay fee station near the fee booth.
  • Remember that passes are non-refundable and non-transferable. This means that the person who signed the pass must be in the vehicle.
  • Passes marked with an asterisk (*) can be purchased online from the USGS Store and a physical pass will be mailed to you. Plan ahead, you must have the physical pass to enter the refuge.
Pass Options

Daily Pass - $10.00 for a vehicle. Valid only at Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. Daily passes may be purchased from the visitor center, self-pay stations at all three entrances, or online at Recreation.gov.

Annual Pass - $25.00 for a vehicle. Valid only at Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. Annual passes may be purchased from the visitor center, self-pay stations at all three entrances, or online at Recreation.gov.

Federal Duck Stamp - $25.00. Valid for one year, July 1 to June 30, at all National Wildlife Refuges.

Lifetime Senior Pass* - $80.00 per person age 62 or older. Also provides a 50% discount for pass owner on some expanded amenity fees such as camping. The Lifetime Senior Pass provides access to recreation sites managed by six federal agencies: National Park Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation.

Annual Senior Pass* - $20.00 per person age 62 or older. Valid for 12 months from the time of purchase. Also provides a 50% discount for pass owner on some expanded amenity fees such as camping. The Annual Senior Pass provide access to recreation sites managed by six federal agencies: National Park Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation.

Access Pass* - A free lifetime pass for disabled persons. Also provides a 50% discount for pass owner on some expanded amenity fees such as camping. The Access Pass provide access to recreation sites managed by six federal agencies: National Park Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation.

Military Annual Pass* – A free annual pass available to active duty U.S. Military and dependents. 

Military Lifetime Pass* – A free lifetime pass available to U.S. Military Veterans, and Gold Star families.

Interagency Annual Pass* - $80.00 - valid for 12 months from the time of purchase – provide access to recreation sites managed by six federal agencies: National Park Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation.

Every Kid Outdoors Pass - A free annual pass valid for the duration of the 4th grade school year though the following summer (September 1 – August 31). This pass is available for U.S. 4th graders (including home-schooled and free-choice learners 10 years of age). Voucher required.

Commercial Bus - $25.00 for up to 25 passengers, and $50.00 for 26 or more passengers. Please contact staff at armloxahatchee@fws.gov at least two weeks in advance to avoid conflict with other groups.

2024 Fee Free Days

  • January 15 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
  • February 10 (Everglades Days Kick-Off)
  • February 17 (Everglades Days Service Project Day)
  • June 19 (Juneteenth)
  • September 28 (National Public Lands Day)
  • October 13 (first Sunday of National Wildlife Refuge Week)
  • November 11 (Veterans Day) 

Restrooms

Restrooms are available both inside and outside of the visitor center. Portable toilets are available at every boat ramp.

Know Before You Go

To get the most out of your visit, be sure to come prepared. View refuge regulations and check for alerts, information, and closures here on our website and our Facebook page before you visit.

Give wildlife plenty of space. Alligators, venomous snakes, biting insects, toxic plants, and sensitive habitats exist at the refuge. How close is too close to wildlife? When in doubt, use the "rule of thumb" by making a "thumbs up" signal towards an animal near you. Your thumb needs to cover the entire animal to be at a safe viewing distance. If an animal changes it's behavior, you're too close. Be aware of your surroundings, walk in the center of trails, and avoid areas with tall vegetation. Never swim anywhere on the refuge. Pets on a leash are only allowed in designated areas.

Plan for your needs. Always check the weather conditions before leaving home and dress appropriately for the day. This might include wearing a hat, sunglasses, long sleeves, long pants, and walking shoes. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a first aid kit.

Activities

There is a wide variety of recreational opportunities at Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. Whether you like hiking, biking, canoeing, hunting, fishing, wildlife photography, or birdwatching, Loxahatchee has opportunities for everyone!

Trails

Know Before You Go

  • Hiking, biking, pet walking, horseback riding, and paddling are allowed in designated areas. Some trails are multi-use and visitors will be sharing the trails with other users, including service vehicles. Be respectful when approaching other trail users. 
  • For trails that allow biking, a mountain or hybrid bike is recommended.
  • Respect wildlife and their habitats by observing and obeying all refuge rules and policies. Do not feed or harass wildlife. If an animal changes its behavior, you’re too close and need to back away. Learn more about Wildlife Watching Etiquette.
  • Pet walking and horseback riding is allowed only on the Perimeter Levee, accessible from any boat ramp parking lot. 
  • For trailheads listed below, the decimal degrees can be copy and pasted into your preferred navigation map. 

Cypress Swamp Boardwalk Trail

  • View Map of Cypress Swamp Boardwalk Trail
  • Trailhead: Visitor Center, Decimal Degrees: 26.49925, -80.21259
  • Trail Users: Foot traffic, suitable for wheelchairs
  • Pets Allowed: No
  • Information: Take a stroll along an elevated wooden boardwalk in a cypress swamp to see what Florida habitats uses to look like many years ago. The cypress swamp acts like nature’s sponge by catching and slowly filtering rainwater on its way south. Depending on the time of year, visitors may see or hear owls, pig frogs, pileated woodpeckers, raccoons, wading birds, river otters, or even an occasional alligator.
  • Length: 0.36 mile loop, approximately five feet wide
  • Surface: The boardwalk is mostly flat with one gentle slope. Can be slippery when wet. 

Marsh Trail

  • View Map of Marsh Trail
  • Trailhead: Marsh Trail Parking Lot, Decimal Degrees: 26.49709, -80.21343
  • Trail Users: Pedestrians and bicyclists
  • Pets Allowed: No
  • Information: With canals on either side, visitors may see wading birds, alligators, turtles, frogs, butterflies, dragonflies, and many other species in this area. Fishing is allowed.
  • Length: 0.96 mile loop
  • Surface: Mostly flat levee road with crushed gravel and/or grass.

C-Impoundment Trails

  • View Map of C-Impoundments Trails
  • Trailhead: Marsh Trail Parking Lot, Decimal Degrees: 26.49709, -80.21343
  • Trail Users: Pedestrians and bicyclists
  • Pets Allowed: No
  • Information: These impounded wetlands provide foraging, loafing, and potential nesting habitat for Everglades wildlife and wildlife viewing opportunities for visitors. Visitors may see wading birds, alligators, turtles, frogs, butterflies, dragonflies, and many other species in this area. Fishing is allowed unless posted as closed.
  • Length: 6.85 miles total
  • Surface: Mostly flat levee road with crushed gravel and/or grass.

A-Impoundment Trails

  • View Map of A-Impoundment Trails
  • Trailhead: Lee Road near Bus Parking Lot, Decimal Degrees: 26.49849, -80.21345
  • Trail Users: Pedestrians and bicyclists
  • Pets Allowed: No
  • Information: Wildlife viewing, wetlands and canals, cypress swamp, bank fishing areas
  • Length: 3.3 miles in sections
  • Surface: Mostly flat levee road with crushed gravel and/or grass, some exposed tree roots.

Canoe Trail

  • View Map of Canoe Trail
  • Trailhead: Lee Road Boat Ramp, Decimal Degrees: 26.49882, -80.22185
  • Trail Users: Non-motorized watercraft
  • Pets Allowed: Yes, in your own watercraft
  • Information: Bring your own canoe or kayak and embark on a paddling trip through the Everglades. Visitors may see alligators, wading birds, turtles, snakes, and other wildlife. Habitats include a mixture of wet prairies, sawgrass ridges, sloughs, tree islands, and cattail communities of the Everglades.
  • Length: 5.5 miles, marked every mile
  • Surface: Water

Perimeter Levee Trail

  • View Map of Perimeter Levee Trail
  • Trailhead: The Perimeter Levee can be accessed from any boat ramp parking lot. View the Motorized Boating page for boat ramp locations.
  • Trail Users: Pedestrians, pet walking, bicyclists, horseback riders, service vehicles
  • Pets Allowed: Yes
  • Information: The Perimeter Levee encircles the Refuge Interior. The entire length is approximately 58 miles, but only 36 miles are open to trail users. Visitors may see deer, alligators, wading birds, turtles, snakes, and other wildlife. Habitats include a mixture of wet prairies, sawgrass ridges, sloughs, tree islands, and cattail communities of the Everglades.
  • Lengths:
    • Lee Road north to S362 pump station: 11 miles one way
    • Lee Road south to Hillsboro: 12.6 miles one way
    • Hillsboro northwest to S-6 pump station: 12.7 miles one way
  • Surface: A flat levee road with crushed gravel and shell rock. Some loose material.

Related Documents

View brochures, maps, and other resources.

Other Facilities in the Complex

Rules and Policies

Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is actively patrolled by Federal Wildlife Officers. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations are applicable on refuge system lands and waters.

For emergencies, call 911

For assistance or to report a refuge law enforcement violation please call FWC dispatch at (561) 357-4200, provide your location, and request a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officer to respond.

Alternatively, the National Wildlife Refuge System TIPs hotline is an effective means of reporting violations occurring on any National Wildlife Refuge.

By phone: 1-844-FWS-TIPS (397-8477)

By email: nwr_tips@fws.gov

Locations

Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
10216 Lee RoadBoynton Beach,FL33473
Headquarters Area (You must type in the full refuge address to navigate to the Visitor Center)
10216 Lee RoadBoynton Beach,FL33473

The Headquarters Area is located in Boynton Beach, FL. The Visitor Center is open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on select days and is closed on Christmas and Thanksgiving Days. Visitors enjoy walking the 0.4-mile Cypress Swamp Boardwalk, access to hiking and biking miles of flat levee trails in the A, B, and C-impoundments and perimeter levee. Wildlife viewing opportunities are available along roads and trails, and from observation towers and a photo blind. Paddlers can bring their canoes and kayaks to paddle the 5.5-mile canoe trail. Anglers can bank fish in the impoundments, launch boats to fish in the 58-mile perimeter canal, or fish from a pier near the boat ramps. Restrooms are available at the Visitor Center and a portable restroom is available near the boat ramps.

Driving Directions

From Interstate 95 Exit 57 or Florida Turnpike (toll) Exit 86, go west on Boynton Beach Blvd. At US-441/State Rd 7, take a left. Continue about 2 miles and turn right on Lee Road. Continue to follow Lee Road. Address is 10216 Lee Road, Boynton Beach, FL 33473.

Hours
Headquarters Entrance
Year-round
5:00 am - 10:00 pm
Visitor Center
Open Daily
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Thanksgiving and Christmas days
Closed
Administrative Office
Monday - Friday
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Hillsboro Area
Parkland,FL

The Hillsboro Area is located in Parkland, FL. This is a popular area for fishing with access to the perimeter levee trails for hiking, biking, pet walking, and horseback riding. Anglers can fish from the bank or launch a boat to fish in the perimeter canal and deeper waters on the southern end of the refuge interior. A portable restroom is available near the boat ramp parking lot.

Driving Directions

From Interstate 95 take Exit 42 or Florida Turnpike (toll) take Exit 71, go west on FL-869/Sawgrass Expressway South. Take Exit 18A and merge onto US-441 N/N State Rd 7. Turn left onto State Hwy 827/Loxahatchee Rd. Continue on Loxahatchee Road to reach the parking lot.

Navigating by GPS Coordinates

Alternatively, you can copy and paste the latitude/longitude of 26.35614 -80.30005 into your navigating device to reach the Hillsboro Area.

Hours
Hillsboro Area Hours
Year-round
Open
20 Mile Bend Area

The 20 Mile Bend Area is located in Loxahatchee, FL. This is a popular area for fishing with access to the perimeter levee trails for hiking, biking, and pet walking. Anglers can launch boats to fish in the perimeter canal, bank fish, or fish from a pier. A portable restroom is available near the boat ramp parking lot.

Driving Directions

From Interstate 95 Exit 68 or Florida Turnpike (toll) Exit 97, go west on Southern Boulevard/FL-80/US-98. Turn left on E Canal St S. Take an immediate left at 20 Mile Bend Boat Ramp Road. Continue on 20 Mile Bend Boat Ramp Road to reach the parking lot.

Hours
20 Mile Bend Entrance
Year-round
Open
Strazzulla Marsh

In 2018, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service exchanged the 1,327-acre Snail Farm parcel (Compartment D) west of the Refuge for the 2,586 Strazzulla Marsh property owned by the State of Florida.

The Strazzulla Marsh is located on the eastern side of the refuge along the L-40 canal and levee and was originally the meeting point of the Everglades and the north-flowing swamp known as the Loxahatchee Slough. This slough served as the headwaters for the Loxahatchee River.

The Strazzulla Marsh provides habitat for a variety of wildlife species, including Federally Endangered Everglade snail kites, State Threatened Florida sandhill cranes, and secretive marsh birds. These lands and waters also provide habitat connectivity for species that require larger, unfragmented tracts of land for survival, and acts as a buffer between higher water stages to the west and agricultural lands to the east.

The Strazzulla Marsh is home to the only remaining cypress habitat in the eastern Everglades and one of the few remaining sawgrass marshes adjacent to the coastal ridge. The vegetation communities transition from cypress in the east to sawgrass marsh in the west and wet prairie towards the center. The cypress swamps are home to pond cypress and bald cypress in the overstory with understory vegetation consisting of pond apple, wax myrtle, pop ash, cocoplum, and leather fern.

Directions to Strazzulla Marsh

Strazzulla Marsh is a remote area without developed trails, parking lots, restrooms, or drinking water. Visitors should expect to travel several miles on foot, bicycle, or boat to reach the area. From the Lee Road Boat Ramp in Boynton Beach, visitors can walk, bike, or travel by boat about 3.25 miles north on the L-40 levee or canal to reach the south end of the Strazzulla Marsh.