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Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge Temporary Closure

Lake Woodruff will be closed beginning the afternoon of Tuesday, October 8, 2024, in preparation for Hurricane Milton. The safety of employees and visitors is our priority.

Please observe all closures, and do not enter through closed gates. Once the refuge closes, emergency services will not be available. The refuge will reopen when it is safe to do so.

Lake Woodruff NWR was established in 1964 as a migratory bird refuge, part of five million-plus acres purchased by US Fish & Wildlife Service with proceeds from the Federal Duck Stamp Program. It is located in Volusia County, Florida near the community of DeLeon Springs. The famed St Johns River forms the western boundary of the 22,000-acre refuge. The refuge contains myriad habitats: among them are marshes, swamps, creeks, hammocks and uplands.

Visit Us

A variety of outdoor activities take place on the Refuge including nature photography, birding, hiking, fishing and boating. Fifteen miles of trails are available for hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding. (Not all trails are open for horseback riding due to the type of trail and location).

Location and Contact Information

      About Us

      Located along Florida's St. Johns River about 25 miles west of the city of Daytona Beach in Volusia and Lake Counties, Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge was established for migratory waterfowl and wading birds. The refuge is part of a 70 mile corridor of ecologically sensitive lands along the St. Johns River, stretching from the Wekiva River to Lake George. The 21,574 acre refuge supports a diversity of wildlife and plant species, including a variety of waterfowl, shorebirds and neotropical migratory birds, as well as a number of Federal and state listed species.

      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.

      Our Library

      Visit our digital library to view our brochures and publications all in one convenient location.