Picnicking at Okefenokee

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge offers picnicking opportunities for our visitors at the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area and Okefenokee Adventures also provides a wonderful food service to our visitors. If you are planning to boat or paddle for the day on the refuge's water trails, bring a sack lunch and a cooler and plan to picnic on one of the refuge's day-use shelters like Minnies Lake or Coffee Bay. 

Do not feed wildlife. Feeding wildlife will cause them to depend on humans for food which may lead to aggressive behaviors. Visit our Wildlife Watching page to learn more.

Entrance fees apply for all visitors to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. Learn more on the Visit Us page. 

Reservations for Group Events

Before making a reservation, please review the information below. Refuge Rules and Policies apply all group events.

Reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance by emailing Okefenokee@fws.gov or calling the Richard S. Bolt Visitor Center at 912-496-7836. You must be 21 years of age or older to make a reservation. Include your name, organization, phone number, email address, group size, reservation request date, arrival and departure time, and a description of the activities you are requesting to conduct. Reserved hours include set up, clean up, and removing all activity gear. If the pavilion is not a reserved, it is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please check at the Richard S. Bolt Visitor Center before setting up. The reservation is not complete until payment has been processed. 

Decorations

Only environmentally friendly decorations are allowed. You must not dig holes or penetrate the ground in any way, release wildlife or balloons; or throw, scatter, or distribute bird seed, rice, confetti, glitter, or other items that could create litter or could harm wildlife. Decorations must not damage structures or leave permanent marks. You must not attach decorations to any surface with staples, nails, push pins/tacks, or tape that will remove paint. You may use painter’s tape or washi tape.

About the Picnic Pavilion
  • Fee: $35/day
  • Reservation hours: Mar to Oct - 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, Nov to Feb - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
  • Seating and Capacity: Four concrete tables and two benches will seat approximately 30 people. You may bring your own tables and chairs on the day of the event and remove them immediately following the event.
  • Open flames and bonfires are prohibited. Two grills are available at the pavilion, or you may bring your own portable grill.