Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is one of the largest urban wildlife refuges in the nation with more than 145,000 acres of land where visitors can reconnect with nature.
Refuge News and Information

Temporary Closures

  • L-40 Observation Tower closing March 13. The L-40 observation tower at the end of Lee Road is scheduled for demolition beginning March 13. The levee in front of the tower will remain open to public use but may be closed for short periods of time while work is underway. A new 2-story tower will be installed at the same location with completion planned for the summer of 2023.
  • Canoe Trail Closure March 27-31. The canoe trail will be closed March 27-31 for vegetation maintenance. The trail will reopen as soon as work is finished.
  • Fishing Pier Closed March 25. The Lee Rd Fishing Pier will be closed on Saturday, March 25th for a special event. See F.U.N. Fishing Day on the Events Page if you wish to join! The fishing pier will reopen shortly after noon.
  • Marsh Trail Observation Tower will be temporarily closed while repairs are underway. It is estimated that work will be completed in early April. We will reopen the tower sooner if work is completed ahead of schedule. 

Pet Walking

We allow pet walking only on the Perimeter Levee Trail. All pets must be either confined or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times to avoid disturbing wildlife and other visitors. Pet owners must properly dispose of their pet’s waste. Learn more on our Pet Walking page.

Navigating to the Refuge

To avoid delays in getting to the Headquarters Area and visitor center on Lee Road, please type in the full address (10216 Lee Road, Boynton Beach, FL, 33473) into your mapping app that you use for navigating to the refuge.

Latest News

A view of the ocean from land. In the distance is a water and rocky shore. In the foreground is a large rock formation and green vegetation
Recreation
The Wildlife Refuges of I-95
This story presents a state-by-state glance at national wildlife refuges where travelers seeking a nature break might stop along I-95. It includes expert tips about what a visitor might do and see during a one-hour stop at each refuge.
A tiny sea turtle hatchling crawls across the sand to the ocean at Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia.
Recreation
Summer Sights
Here’s what you can see and where at national wildlife refuges.
A pipe pumping water into canal during electrofishing used to capture native fish.
Wildlife Management
Old canal gets new life
Whenever he gets the chance, Glen Tiger heads for his favorite fishing hole … if you can call it that. Perhaps it’s better to say that Tiger visits a 3-mile-long site that’s proof to what conservation can accomplish: the Old Tamiami Canal. Stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, bowfin and other...
A woman aims her camera at birds through a photography blind at Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon.
Recreation
Photo Blinds on Wildlife Refuges
These national wildlife refuges are among those with photography blinds or wildlife observation blinds.
A young Black woman wearing a backpack and holding binoculars and smiling, looks off into the distance under a cloudy blue sky.
Wildlife Wonders
Find Your Birding Community
Birding doesn't have to be a solo activity. Here are some tips on how to find others who share your fascination with birds,
A group of African-American women and children pose for a photo on a boardwalk in front of a forest.
Our Partners
Doves in the Wild: Trailblazing Zetas Take on National Wildlife Refuges
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. is a sorority of many firsts. Naturally then, Zetas across the country were delighted to go to national wildlife refuges and participate in something different for the first time.
View All News

Visit Us

An orange butterfly with thin brown stripes perched on a green plant.
Image Details

Visitors to Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge can experience the Florida Everglades just miles from the busy noise and traffic of city life. National wildlife refuges offer us all a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings.

A visit to a  national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.

Learn more about national wildlife refuge  is a great way to enjoy the great outdoors and discover a new place. Whether you enjoy hiking, biking, boating, canoeing, hunting, fishing, wildlife photography, birding, or watching wildlife, a visit to Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is a great way to explore nature.

Fees per vehicle: $10/daily, $25/annually Buy Your Pass Online through Recreation.gov

Check out our Learning at Lox videos on YouTube!

USFWS

 

Location and Contact Information

      About Us

      Aerial view of marshes and tree islands surrounded by water.
      Image Details

      Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1951 and is located in Palm Beach County, Florida.

      The refuge protects 145,188 acres, or 226 square miles, of Everglades ecosystems including a mosaic of wet prairies, sawgrass ridges, sloughs, tree islands, cattail communities, and a 400-acre cypress swamp. These lands and waters provide habitat for more than 250 species of birds, 60 species of reptiles and amphibians, 40 species of butterflies, and 20 types of mammals.

      Tours

      Guided walks and interpretive tours are offered throughout the year by staff and volunteer naturalists. Canoe and kayak rentals are available at Loxahatchee Adventures.

      Events

      What We Do

      Wildlife conservation is at the heart of the National Wildlife Refuge System. It drives everything on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands and waters managed within the Refuge System, from the purposes for which a  national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
      A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.

      Learn more about national wildlife refuge        is established to the recreational activities offered to the resource management tools used. Using conservation best practices, the Refuge System manages Service lands and waters to help ensure the survival of native wildlife species.

      Services
      Silhouette of a person walking with a shotgun on the tundra
      Apply for a Special Use Permit on National Wildlife Refuges

      Some commercial, recreational and research activities are allowed on national wildlife refuges only with a special use permit issued by the local office, and are subject to specific conditions and fees. This permit requirement is meant to ensure that all activities at the federal site are...

      Service
      Communication
      Permits
      Business Owner/Commercial Business
      Educator/Education Facility
      Landowner - Commercial
      Landowner - Individual
      Oil/Gas Company
      Private Land Owners/Managers
      Researcher or Research Facility - Commercial Scientific
      Children in yellow shirts run down a path or trail at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge
      Every Kid Outdoors Pass

      The Every Kid Outdoors program allows 4th-graders to see America’s natural wonders and historic sites for free.

      Annual 4th Grade Pass

      Cost: Free, non-transferable, valid for the duration of the 4th-grade schoolyear though the following summer (September-August...

      Service
      Land Management and Conservation Assistance
      Educator/Education Facility
      A pair of redheads floating 2022-2023 Duck Stamp by Jim Hautman
      Buy a Duck Stamp or E-Stamp

      Purchasing Federal Duck Stamps is easy! We offer a variety of methods for you to purchase the annual stamp – whether you need one for migratory bird hunting, admittance to a National Wildlife Refuge, as part of your stamp or art collection, to showcase the wildlife species, or because...

      Service
      Duck Stamps

      Our Organization

      A bright blue sky obstructed by fluffy white clouds reflected off of a stream shot from inside a kayak
      The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages an unparalleled network of public lands and waters called the National Wildlife Refuge System. With more than 560 refuges spanning the country, this system protects iconic species and provides some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities on Earth.
      Program
      Washington, DC
      A bison grazing in the foreground with mountains and a city and electrical infrastructure in the background
      The Urban Wildlife Conservation Program improves lives by expanding access to green space, education and outdoor recreation for Americans living in and around cities. Program members work to clear social and historical barriers and foster new connections that advance conservation and strengthen...
      Program

      Our Species

      A great blue heron standing in a wetland surrounded by plants
      Image Details

      More than 250 species of birds, 60 species of reptiles and amphibians, 40 species of butterflies, and 20 types of mammals are found on the refuge. Visitors frequently see alligators, bobcats, white-tailed deer, and a variety of bird-life including sandhill cranes, pileated woodpeckers, herons, egrets, wood storks and the federally endangered snail kite.

      Check out recent birds sightings on eBird and wildlife sightings on iNaturalist.

      A large reptile basking in the sun on a log over still water surrounded by green vegetation

      The American alligator is a large, semi-aquatic, armored reptile that is related to crocodiles. Their body alone ranges from 6 - 14 feet long. Almost black in color, the it has prominent eyes and nostrils with coarse scales over the entire body. It has a large, long head with visible upper teeth...

      FWS Focus
      Species
      Kingdom
      Animalia
      Taxonomic Rank
      Species
      A mostly brown raptor with mouth open and white markings at the beginning of it's tail feathers, flying above

      The Everglade snail kite is a medium-sized hawk with a wingspan of about 45 inches, very similar to the marsh hawk but without wavering, tilting flight. The beak is slender and very hooked. The adult males are slate gray with black head and wing tips, a white patch at the base of a square tail,...

      FWS Focus
      Species
      Kingdom
      Animalia
      Taxonomic Rank
      Subspecies

      Our Library

      Welcome to our digital library of refuge documents. 

      ARM Loxahatchee NWR General Brochure 2022 English
      Name
      ARM Loxahatchee NWR General Brochure 2022 English
      PDF
      ARM Loxahatchee NWR General Brochure Spanish
      Name
      ARM Loxahatchee NWR General Brochure Spanish
      PDF
      ARM Loxahatchee NWR 2022-2023 Hunt Brochure
      Name
      ARM Loxahatchee NWR 2022-2023 Hunt Brochure
      PDF

      Get Involved

      Bike tour leader Lowell Markey stands next to his bike pointing towards the Everglades.
      Image Details
      Volunteer Opportunities

      Discover for yourself what tens of thousands of volunteers across the U.S. have learned: Volunteering at a national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
      A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.

      Learn more about national wildlife refuge       is fun and rewarding in many ways. Master new skills. Meet new friends. Enjoy a sense of accomplishment from doing your part to further wildlife conservation for the pleasure of generations to follow.