10216 Lee Road
Boynton Beach

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Vast. Enormous. Diverse. A gem. These are a few words that describe the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. It's the kind of place you could spend a lifetime exploring and still not see all that it has to offer. Loxahatchee covers nearly 144,000 acres west of U.S. 441, from 20-Mile Bend on Southern Boulevard to the Hillsboro Canal and the Palm Beach-Broward county line. 

At the headquarters in Boynton Beach, there is a boardwalk through a cypress swamp, an interpretive center and a butterfly garden. Just beyond the headquarters is the Marsh Trail, which heads south and west, with blinds for bird watching and an observation tower. The trail is wide and clear for easy hiking or bicycling. There is boating, fishing, and hunting in certain areas. There is a boat ramp at the west end of Lee Road, and a canoe rental business also. There is an entrance at the end of Loxahatchee Road west of U.S. 441 near the Palm Beach-Broward line, and along Southern Boulevard about 11.5 miles west of 441.

Species spotted there include alligator, pig frog, purple gallinule, mockingbird, red-bellied woodpecker, glossy and white ibis, red-winged blackbird, cardinal, moonflower, ironweed, salt marsh morning glory, powderpuff and more. There is a $5 per car fee collected on an honor system; annual passes are available online or at the office for $12. Loxahatchee is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail. Also check out the Friends of Loxahatchee site for information on activites.

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