This the northern most point of Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge just off of Southern Boulevard, aka U.S. 92 in Loxahatchee. In a sense, this is where the refuge really begins. Immediately to the north lies Stormwater Treatment Area 1 East operated by the South Florida Water Management District. Storm runoff is collected in the STA and cleaned before it enters Loxahatchee for its trip south through the refuge, through the two water conservation areas that make up the Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area, eventually into Shark Valley and Everglades National Park and ultimately into Florida Bay. There is a gate controlling water flow from the STA into the refuge behind me. To the right lies STA 1 West. We got here by hiking along the western levee of STA 1 East, but there is an access point directly off of Southern. Per the website: From Southern turn onto 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. As you might expect from that last sentence, Loxahatchee offers boat ramps among its amenities, but also hiking and biking along the Levee Perimeter Trail and fishing from the bank. Unlike the main Lee Road entrance, the Southern Boulevard entrance is open 24 hours.
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BACK TO THE BEGINNING: Visitors Center — The Adventure Begins
RETURN TO THE MAIN PAGE