Public Use Opportunities at the Shell Mound Unit

The Shell Mound Unit of Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge is adjacent to Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge. To access Shell Mound from Hwy. 347, travel west on Highway 326 for about 3 miles. The road will dead-end at the Shell Mound Unit. This ancient feature was initially created by Archaic cultures and completed by Woodland period cultures. Its height was reached by the discarding the shells of their food source - oysters, clams, and other mullosks. over a 6,000 time span. Once used as a source of materials for road construction (prior to Refuge ownership) the mound is now protected from all but foot traffic.

Shell Mound Unit offers several recreational opportunities including:

• Informational kiosks
• Two hiking trails
• Wildflower and herbaceous plants partial to shell mounds: snowberry, wild coffee, coontie
• An opportunity to explore a beautiful oak hammock
• Spectacular views of the Gulf of Mexico
• Good bird watching
• A hike along an prehistoric Indian shell mound
• A fishing pier for access to tidal creek fishing
• Bank fishing and wade fishing
• Ramp for launching canoes, kayaks, and smaller motorized watercraft

 

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Please help us protect the area by obeying all regulations in reference to natural and archeological resources, depositing all litter in the receptacles provided, and reporting any vandalism to the Refuge Headquarters at (352) 493-0238.