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# Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge

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                -  Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge
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https://www.facebook.com/CrystalRiverComplex

## Facility Activities

Crystal River NWR has several activities available to visitors such as wildlife viewing, interpretation, guided tours, environmental education, boating/paddling, fishing and photography. 

#### Know Before You Go 

Crystal River NWR is mostly accessible to visitors by water only. Only the Three Sisters Springs property provides land access via shuttle service, but no access to the water is provided at this site. The refuge doesn’t offer any water-access facilities. However, there are a few, free City boat ramps and private ramps (with a fee) that provide access to refuge waters. If you are interested in visiting other parts of the refuge (other than Three Sisters Springs boardwalk), you can use your own vessel, rent a vessel, or join a guided tour. The Refuge does not provide Guided Manatee tours, however, special use permits are granted to tour operators in Kings Bay who offer quality guided tours in Refuge waters. Click here for a current list of Refuge Special Use Permit holders who offer several different types of rentals and guided tours. However you choose to meet a manatee, remember to keep calm and enjoy the moment! It’s a privilege and responsibility to make sure we treat this beloved threatened species with the utmost care and respect. 

The manatee season at Crystal River NWR begins in mid-November and ends in late March. This is when the manatee sanctuaries go into effect. During the winter months, manatees come to the springs of Crystal River NWR to conserve the energy necessary to survive the cold Gulf waters. Remember when you are visiting Crystal River, you are visiting the manatees home. The Manatee Manners videos are designed to provide visitors with the necessary awareness that prevents disturbing manatees while engaging in different recreational activities. Please view "Manatee Manners" before initiating any recreation activity in Kings Bay. 

Hiking

Refuge trails and the boardwalk provide family-friendly wildlife and springs viewing areas. All trails have very little elevation gain, offering easy walks without losing any of the natural opportunities.

Visit Three Sisters Springs Center Webpage for more information....

Boating - non-motorized

In-water recreation at Three Sisters Springs is accessible by launching a vessel from any of the public boat ramps or kayak launches on Kings Bay and navigating to the spring-run for Three Sisters. Public kayak launches can be found at:
**Hunter Springs Park**

Wildlife watching

The most popular wildlife opportunity is manatee viewing (both above and below the water’s surface). In the winter months, the most popular area for above-water viewing is the Three Sisters Springs boardwalk. Visitors may view manatees in the water by...

Birding

 

The refuge has developed a bird list pamphlet for Three Sisters Springs that visitors can refer to while walking the trails. The pamphlet categorizes birds by season and abundance.

Photography

The most popular photography experience in the refuge takes place at the Three Sisters Springs boardwalk where anyone can find the perfect shot of resting manatees in the natural “giant bowls filled with liquid light” that make up the Three Sisters Springs. Underwater photography of manatees is...

Scuba diving

Scuba diving is allowed at Three Sisters Spring, but only from April 1 to November 14. Snorkeling is a year-round activity at the springs. Visitors can rent or use their own equipment, but guided tours are the most popular way to experience the springs. Snorkelers are not...

Picnicking

There is a large pavilion available at Three Sisters Springs near Lake Crystal and another pavilion located closer to the springs. Not: There is no public parking at Three Sisters Spring, with the exception of a limited number of handicapped parking spaces. 

Fishing

There is no fishing allowed in refuge waters (less than 5 percent of all waters in King Bay), including the interior springs of Three Sisters Springs, the King Spring/Tarpon Hole area, and Warden Key’s surrounding waters. In addition, all...

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