Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge

‘Ello chaps!
Arthur R. Marshal Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is a nature enthusiasts dream land.
Bountiful with lush everglades vegetation, reptiles, birds and all the area has to offer, this is sure to provide a great experience for anyone who enjoys «getting away from it all».
Located just a short drive West of Boynton Beach, this park is very easy to get to. They have many walking trails, bike trails and offer bike rentals as well as canoe/​kayak rentals.
There are bathroom amenities on site, located throughout and at the Visitor’s Center.
Keep your cameras handy as you’re bound to spot some gators, snakes, birds and insects.

rode our bikes here and went along some of the trails.
Wind was a little too much will definitely come back and ride some more.

Very lovely nature center with beautiful native trees and ferns.
I came here with a group of two total adults and 4 kids and we had a nice and relaxing fun time!
Check out the gift shop inside the information center and help support the center.
Also, they have a few and awesome interactive activities inside the visitors center… to help cool off.

If you’re looking for a place to reconnect with mother nature, Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is a great spot!
The first time we stopped by to check it out, we drove slowly all the way through and were treated to an alligator hanging out in the water right along the road. We stopped and took photos from the car of course until someone came up behind us. Pretty neat. We went back this past weekend to do a little fishing off the pier.
If you drive all the way back there is a pretty large parking lot and a steep (ish) hill to climb. On the other side, it’s Everglades as far as the eye can see. There is a place to the right to rent kayaks and canoes to explore a little closer. We’ve passed on that so far because each time we’ve gone, we’ve seen a HUGE alligator hanging out near the pier. I mean HUGE! Apparently, according to the guard guy, he’s a permanent resident named George. He hung out the entire time we were there.
If you’re into fishing, the pier is a good spot to catch large mouth bass. This past time my husband caught not only a couple fish but also the attention of another alligator a little further out in the water. He came closer in hopes to snag some fish — no dice for him. We stayed until we ran out of bait. Until next time!
If you want to see some neat wildlife and get outdoors, check this place out!

Beautiful and serene, this place is a great respite from the hustle and bustle of South Florida.
Whether you’d like to walk the trails for sport or for walking meditation, it’s perfect for both. Great info disseminated unobtrusively for those who are interested along the path and the small information center is a treat for kids and grown ups alike.

Wonderful experience at the Loxahatchee Refuge! We started out at the visitors center which we spent a good hour inside, it was very informative and many of the displays were interactive and my children enjoyed them a great deal. I enjoyed the Virtual Air Boat Tour and the Night Sounds of the Everglades room. Our favorite part was the Boardwalk behind the Visitors Center that goes through a Cypress Swamp, we actually walked it twice since we enjoyed it so much. It is a very peaceful place and a relaxing walk. From there we moved on to the gravel trails that led us to a lookout tower. We saw several birds and one small alligator. After this we drove down to the fishing pier where we met a nice couple who were regular visitors to the refuge. They told us all about the massive alligator there named «George» (who is an approximately 14 feet.) He hangs out by the fishing pier all day, he is so big he no longer moves fast enough and waits by the fishing pier for his meals, his brain may be the size of a Lima bean but he is one smart gator! We stayed at the Loxahatchee Refuge for a total of four hours and I feel that we have only scratched the surface of what there is to see here. The reserve is 145,800 acres-​!!! That is an Astounding amount of land to explore. One thing is for sure, we will be back.

In all the years we’ve visited this area this was our first time at Loxahatchee refuge. As soon as we entered the visitors center we felt welcomed and they were all happy volunteers.
We hiked the cypress walk and Bruce was our guide also. He was well informed about the history of the swamp, the native people who inhabited the area and medicinal benefits of the plants. He was very interesting and a personable guide. We will definitely be back to kayak and do more exploring.

We were staying locally and found this nature center.
New Year’s Day 2015
We had a great cypress swamp tour by volunteer– Bruce. Learned about the medicinal benefits of many of the swamp plants.
Also visited giant alligator in Everglades.
Recommend a visit!

Imagine being out in the wild, away from demanding humans, snapping spouses, loud bass from the next door neighbor, annoying honking cars, the daily accident-​prone I-​95, smog and pollution, alarm clocks, rushing, deadlines, etc. Instead, you will hear the occasional cry of a Gallinule, and the rustling in the bushes of a snake. Other than that, an incredible feeling of peace will overwhelm you. All of that can be found here, at the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, the most northern remnant of the Everglades wetland. And, that mini-​vacay will only cost you $ 5 ($ 1 if you’re a pedestrian). Go ahead, throw your cellphone into the marsh and relax — after you have checked in on Unilocal,that is (okay, bad idea perhaps, that is polluting… just leave it somewhere out of sight).
I found out about the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge thanks to a fellow wildlife photographer who comes out here often, and his son, who is also a photographer. The Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is comprised of 143,874 acres, made up of fresh water storage in the form of canals and levees. As you arrive, if this is your first time, you will want to check out the visitor center. It is here that you will get your map of the property, and they will tell you about all the spots where you can find the wildlife (if you plan to return, make it a point to keep your map). The boardwalk path behind the visitor center will not provide you with bird or wildlife sightings, as these creatures scatter when they hear or see humans, but it will treat you to some pretty plants including lichens, and moss (this is where most of my plant pictures for this listing were taken), cypress trees, and marshes. It’s a good introductory walk. From there, you can drive up a bit to the ditch (again, at the visitor center you will be instructed as to where to go), and you can see the mama alligator with her baby on her snout.
After admiring such a touching scene, head on over to the C-​7, for some wildlife sightings. Although there are as many as 257 species of birds, I only saw a handful. Still, the opportunities for photographs were plentiful, and the scenes were beautiful. The colors of the trees against the sky made it look like it was something out of a painting. This is a great time of the year to go, as it is no longer stifling hot and even for someone who is a prime target for mosquitoes, the bites were very limited (maybe 4 or 5 bites, not bad considering I was there 2 – 3 hours). The marshy areas were full of playful Common Gallinules (not the more colorful Purple Gallinules), which aren’t the easiest birds to photograph, and plenty of Ibises and Blue Herons. There were not as many Little Blue Herons or Green Herons, but these were also present, as were Limpkins. If you climb up on the observation tower, there is a free tower viewer that you should look through while pointing it in different directions. There was a family of ducks to be observed close-​up from here.
My friend and I decided to check out the blind side too, for some photo opportunities. While walking, we encountered a snake (and I do want to mention that there are water moccasins here), so I would recommend wearing closed shoes, just in case, although snakes usually do not want anything to do with humans. Keep your eyes open, because among the trees lining the area, you will probably see some birds, or a Florida softshell turtle peering out of the water. Each of the compartments is about a bit over a mile, roundtrip, so it’s a good form of exercise, but not too challenging even for those who are out of shape. There are several compartments to see, as well as a wide area on the map. We only saw a few of the compartments. Obviously, this is a great place for birdwatchers, especially the kind who use binoculars, and a nature photographer’s haven.
If you head over to the area with the fishing canal, there are kayak and canoe rentals. I have not explored all the compartments, so I don’t know if there are any other spots where you can rent a kayak, but this is a safe bet. There is also a biking trail on site, and some small decks where you can peer down. I saw a big alligator from there, and it seemed to stay there all day.
Suddenly, the peacefulness was shattered when we walked back to the parking lot and found a squad car with a police officer taking down a police report for an SUV’s broken window. How sad that even in such a remote, peaceful area, humans have to make their way over to ruin others’ tranquility and bring about stress to ruin the day. Hopefully, now you will understand my comment about leaving things out of sight. In such a virgin tract of land, it is unimaginable to think crime can also occur. Shame on the thief, and I really hope that this does not pave the way for other disgusting people to follow suit. Despite this, I plan to return and explore the rest of the refuge.

Recently revisited the Loxahatchee River and it’s just as beautiful as ever. The water level has dropped a bit since I last visited. The small drop where we once floated over is now an area where you have to get down and pull your canoe over.
This is so fun and beautiful. I can’t wait to do it in the winter time when the otters and manatees come by for a visit.
This time we saw 20+ turtles, anhingas, ibis, alligators, spiders, snails, crabs, and pretty large fish!

Well maintained park with canoe and birding trail which is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail. I have paddled through the canoe trail when it was so dense with alligators you almost had to watch not to hit one in the head. This can be a very scenic destination. Off season you can still see wading birds in the slough, and sometimes gators. Best thing was, there was not any overwhelming amount of noxious bugs :)

As a big time nature fan, I confess my bias in favor of any wildlife preserves, parks, nature walks or natural setting areas. But even if I weren’t, I don’t think I could rate Loxahatchee less than Five Stars because of the serenity, peacefulness and activities it offers.
I haven’t explored everything, haven’t done the canoe rental rides, but have footed about most of the area and have been truly impressed with what I have seen. The good thing about it is that it offers a little of something for everyone from the disabled or elderly to the children. The board walkways through the Everglade marsh area is easy to maneuver and offers spectacular sights not only of wildlife but of trees and various plant growth.
The main visitor center doesn’t amount to much, but those who staff it are knowledgeable, helpful and friendly.
Consisting of slightly over 147,390 acres, having 257 bird species and 400 acres of bald cypress swamp, it’s clearly one of our better National Wildlife Refuge areas and one not to be overlooked.

We rented a canoe for $ 34 on a gorgeous 73 degree day. If there was a cloud in the sky, it was a totally chill cloud, like one that’s just enjoying the day too and minding his own god damn business.
There is a 5 and a half mile «river obstacle course in the Everglades» to paddle through that can take you a good 4 hours navigating. We didn’t have time or the stamina to go the whole way but we plan on it one day. The sights and experience were A-​1 quality. It’s like, nature, man… and scientists still don’t know who is in charge of it.

I love nature areas, and this NWR is no exception. We only explored a small portion but had a great time. We took the birding trail, which was huge. I would strongly suggest going in the winter or on a cooler, overcast day. There was very little shade on the trail we took. Sunscreen, water, and bug spray are also necessities.
The visitor center was great. Not very large, but they offered a few interactive exhibits I really enjoyed. The employees were very friendly and helpful. My favorite part was the boardwalk behind the visitor center. We didn’t see a lot of wildlife, but it was so pretty and peaceful. I could have sat out there all day.
I probably wouldn’t stop here in the middle of a summer day, but I plan to make many stops here in the fall and winter. A great resource if you love the outdoors.

amazing… cypress trees and alligators and strange everglade creatures. Be sure to bring a camera and bug spray.

We had a great time canoeing here. The park is extremely clean, the employees were friendly. This is the place for a nature outing into the depths of the Everglades. It only costs $ 5 at the gate to enter the park and there’s multiple hiking paths, and kayak and canoe rentals. You should not come here on a day that is over 84 degrees. It will be blazing hot and there are no trees in the watery paths to protect you.
We saw an abundance of birds, fish, baby and huge alligators as well.

Parts of the trip were slow going with heavy weeds and lilies, but the place was great. It was like we had it to ourselves. Saw plenty of herons, egrets, etc., and 14 alligators.

Wonderful place to see the northernmost part of the Everglades. A refuge for the animals, birds and plants, not a park or playground. This place exists for the flora and fauna of old Florida and is a wonderful peaceful place.
Interesting visitor center at start of the park, but the real attraction are the trails. Handicapped access for the elevated Cyprus trail behind the visitors center.
Low key, just a place to wander and unwind. $ 5 per car or $ 12 for a years unlimited pass.
No pets or food allowed.

This is my favorite place to view alligators. You can almost always find one at the fishing pier in the canal (drive all the way to the end, park and walk up the levee.) Loxahatchee also has stunning sunsets at the canal.
The levee trails are also full of turtles, birds and sometimes, an alligator sunning itself right in the trail! There’s also a boardwalk through a cypress forest which is worth a walk. If you’re lucky, you might also view a bobcat.
Just remember to TAKE BUG SPRAY. :)

This review covers the trip on the canoe trail…
In a word, SPECTACULAR! Actually we rented a kayak and not a canoe. Easy loop trip off the Loxahatchee River in the Arthur Marshall Refuge. Trail is a little over five miles and will take anywhere from 2 – 4 hours depending on your pace. Many varieties of birds here but the real attraction is of course the gators and you’ll see plenty in their own natural habitat. Most were sunning themselves along the sides of the canal but one actually swam under the canoe and gave us a subtle, friendly bump with his backside. None of the gators were aggressive and seemed used to people. FANTASTIC and close-​up photo ops with these magnificent creatures!
Kayaks are a flat $ 25 – 35 and canoes are $ 32. The woman renting them was helpful and cool. to work with. Wear sandals/​thongs as your feet will get wet. Mosquitoes and other biting insects are not an issue until the rainy season kicks in. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!