Save
You must be signed in to save park lists.
Your Park Lists
add New List
Add Photo
You must be signed in to add photos.
state route ranger badge
Florida
27

State of Florida Parks

responsive menu icon
USA Parks
Florida
North Central Region
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
start slideshow
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Egret in the Pines © Katrina Batson
Sitting in the Shade.
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Splash Down © Katrina Batson
Landing gear down for splash down.
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Pelicans on Posts © Katrina Batson
Pelican to hovering Pelican, you cant land here all posts taken.
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Butterfly © Katrina Batson
Enjoying the flower and Sun.
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge American Alligator © Richard Higgins
A 10 Ft. alligator resting on some dried weeds
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge American Coot © Richard Higgins
An American Coot wading in the shawdows
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Moor Hen © Richard Higgins
Moors Hen wading in a pond
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Little Blue Heron © Richard Higgins
Little Blue Heron waiting for the tied to go out
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Tri-Colored Heron © Richard Higgins
Tri-Colored Heron standing on a branch in the water trying to get a catch of the day
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge © Ben Prepelka
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge © Daniel Ewert
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge © Daniel Ewert
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge St Marks Lighthouse © Katrina Batson
Beautiful old Lighthouse
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Great Blue Herron © Richard Higgins
A Great Blue Heron wading in a pond looking for a meal
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge American Bittern © Richard Higgins
An American Bittern tried to stand still so I could not see him
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Great Egret © Richard Higgins
A Great Egret resting on a log in the shadows
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Wild Flower/Plant © Richard Higgins
Wild flower growing along the side of the road
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge © Barbara Shanaghan
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge St Marks Lighthouse © Jeffrey Blake Adams
I waited three days, sunset, sunrise, thru crazy rain, then one morning, the sun painted the lighthouse with these amazing colors, I was standing ankle deep in one of the ponds, a gator about 40ft away, just watching me photograph.
Search
Availability
Calendars
Availability Search
ST. MARKS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
ST. MARKS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
1255 Lighthouse Road
St. Marks, Florida   32355
(lat:30.1367 lon:-84.2384) map location

Phone: 850-925-6121
The Refuge was established in 1931 to provide wintering habitat for migratory birds. It is one of the oldest refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System. It encompasses over 83,000 acres spread out between Wakulla, Jefferson, and Taylor counties, and includes about 43 miles along the Gulf Coast of northwest Florida.

The Refuge includes coastal marshes, islands, tidal creeks and estuaries of seven north Florida rivers, and is home to a diverse community of plant and animal life. The Refuge also has strong ties to a rich cultural past, and is home to the St. Marks Lighthouse, which was built in 1842 current tower and is still in use today.

Over 17,000 acres are protected under the Federal Wilderness Act.
History of the Area
On October 31, 1931, during the time of the Great Depression, Executive Order 5740 established the St. Marks Migratory Bird Refuge under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Biological Survey. The first land set aside under the Migratory Bird Conservation Act and the Six Million Dollar Fund was the 53-acre Lighthouse Reservation. This is an area of salt marshes and grass flats at the mouth of the St. Marks River, adjacent to Apalachee Bay. At the time, it was important for migrating Canada geese. On December 24, 1931, President Herbert C. Hoover signed Presidential Proclamation 1982, which established an Executive Closure Area under the authorities of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, and the Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929. This prohibited hunting of migratory waterfowl in Apalachee Bay between the St. Marks Lighthouse and the Aucilla River, as well as on private lands bordering the coastal marshes. These inland timber lands were primarily purchased from Phillips Turpentine Company in subsequent years and became the nucleus of what is now the St. Marks Unit of the Refuge. It was under President Franklin D. Roosevelt that the boundaries of today's Refuge substantially took shape. Executive Order 7222, dated November 1, 1935, added approximately 10,108 acres which formed most of the current Wakulla Unit of the refuge. Executive Order 7749, dated November 22, 1937, further defined the boundaries of the St. Marks and Wakulla units, including approximately 31,445 acres. Executive Orders 7977 and 9119, dated September 19, 1938, and April 1, 1942, respectively, added approximately 22,040 acres to form what is now the Panacea Unit out of lands transferred from the Soil Conservation Service's Resettlement Administration. The original Executive Closure Order, which prohibited the taking of migratory waterfowl, was expanded by Roosevelt's Presidential Proclamation 2264 on December 13, 1937. With Presidential Proclamation 2416 on July 25, 1940, the St. Marks Migratory Bird Refuge became St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. By 1960, the Executive Closure Order boundaries had a total of 67,563 acres. In recent years the refuge has acquired some land through timber-for-land exchanges. The timber traded under this program was slated for removal in forest prescriptions to improve wildlife habitat. Rather than sell timber directly, the refuge traded timber for land that was either within the Refuge acquisition boundary, as inholdings, or adjacent to the Refuge. Purchased by the Suwannee River Water Management District, 642 acres of land located along the Aucilla River are managed by the Refuge under a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2000. The Refuge also manages the 305-acre Porter Tract according to a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 1999. It is owned by the State of Florida and administered by the Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Greenways and Trails. Similarly, a 334-acre portion of the Florida National Scenic Trail, located west of the Wakulla River, is managed by the Refuge under a 2002 Memorandum of Understanding. This land was acquired by the USDA Forest Service. The Refuge also administers 16 conservation easements and one government-owned property totaling 1,517 acres in northern Florida and southern Georgia.
Nearby Accommodations
businesss listing main photo
Sweet Magnolia Inn - Saint Marks, FL
BBs / Inns
Our historic inn is located in historic Saint Marks, one of the oldest settlements in North America. First settled in 1527, Saint Marks is a historic little city at the confluence of the Wakulla and St. Marks Rivers. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Saint Marks National Wildlife Refuge, it is located just 20 miles south of Tallahassee.
2.5 miles from park*
Fishing
Refuge waters include 2,000 acres of man-made pools open to bank fishing year-round and to boats outboard motors not larger than 10 hp, March 15-October 15, in the St. Marks Unit. Otter Lake 120 acres, Alligator Lake 100 acres, Lake Renfro 20 acres and other small lakes and ponds less than five acres are open year-round to boats outboard motors not larger than 10 hp and bank fishing. Aucilla, St. Marks and Wakulla Rivers lead into Apalachee Bay approximately five miles of each river within or near refuge boundaries Approximately 32,000 acres of bay/estuary are within refuge executive closing boundary saltwater boat launch provides access to the bay. Saltwater fishing is allowed year-round. Available species include largemouth bass, sunfish and catfish. Saltwater species are bluefish, spotted seatrout, flounder, red drum, Spanish mackerel, mullet, shark and black sea bass.

The St. Marks NWR is open to fishing all year long and provides opportunities for both fresh and salt water fishing. In addition to many lakes, ponds, creeks and rivers, the refuge has boat launching sites see maps for access to Apalachicola Bay.

Bank fishing is permitted in refuge impoundments along Lighthouse Rd. Co. Rd. 59 all year hand-launch boats are permitted March 15 - October 15 with electric trolling motors only.

Boats are permitted with motors up to 10 h.p. in the lakes along S.R. 372 and Otter Lake off S.R. 372A.

Crabbing is only permitted in tidal waters at the lighthouse. Crabbing is not permitted in refuge pools or impoundments.




Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews
write a review
Share On

Area Campgrounds
Panacea RV Park
1089 Coastal Highway
Panacea, FL
850-984-5883
Nearby Hotels
Booking.com

state route ranger badge
Florida
27

State of Florida Parks

X