Lower Suwannee 

National Wildlife Refuge

16450 NW 31 Place 

Chiefland, F, FL 32626 

E-mail: lowersuwannee@fws.gov

Phone Number: 352-493-0238

Visit the Refuge's Web Site:

http://www.fws.gov/lowersuwannee/

Canoeing, kayaking, biking, hiking or driving are all great ways to 

view the vast natural areas of Lower Suwannee National Wildlife 

Refuge.

 

Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge, established in 

1979, is located along the southern edge of the Big Bend 

region of Florida's west coast, approximately 50 miles 

southwest of Gainsville. This 54,000 acre refuge is one of 

the largest undeveloped river delta - estuarine systems in 

the United States and was established to protect natural 

ecosystems of the Suwannee River's lower reaches and 

coastal marsh, as it empties into the Gulf of Mexico. 

This diverse mixture of uplands, freshwater, saltwater and 

their associated wetlands, creates a great variety of 

wildlife habitat and scenic vistas. Osprey and bald eagle 

nest in early spring, while graceful swallow-tailed kites 

arrive in March for breeding and remain through July. In 

March and April migrating shorebirds cover the 

oysterbars; thousands of knots, dowitchers, 

oystercatchers, sandpipers, turnstones, and plovers fatten 

up for their northward trip to their breeding grounds. 

Wading birds are most abundant during the summer and 

they can be found feeding in the freshwater and salt 

marshes. White ibis, great, snowy, and cattle egrets along 

with great blue, little blue, green, and tricolored herons are 

among the birds that roost and nest on nearby Cedar 

Keys refuge. Rare Limpkins and endangered wood storks 

are occasionally seen prowling the water's edge during 

the warm months. 

Alert boaters may see endangered Gulf Sturgeon jumping 

in the river. These prehistoric fish migrate from the Gulf of 

Mexico to the Suwannee River in the spring for spawning 

and remain there all summer. Manatees leave Crystal 

River springs, their winter haven, when the gulf waters 

warm and utilize the Suwannee River and its estuary from 

March through November. Seaturtles, mostly green, 

loggerhead and Ridley's utilize the rich Suwannee sound 

during the summer months but generally go unnoticed. 

The beauty of the Suwannee river, with its hardwood lined 

banks where alligators loaf on exposed logs, long legged 

wading birds feed and otters play is a wonderful place for 

visitors to celebrate our National Wildlife Refuge System. 

Getting There . . . 

Environmental Education 

Fishing 

Hunting 

Interpretation 

Photography 

Wildlife Observation 

Learn More >>

 

Management Programs - The mission of the 

refuge is to protect and enhance the diverse 

natural ecosystem with its associated native 

wildlife, emphasizing threatened and 

endangered species and migratory birds. 

Biological goals are prioritized to monitor 

endangered or sensitive species such as 

manatee, bald eagle, Gulf sturgeon, swallowtailed kite, gopher tortoise, and colonial 

nesting birds. Artificial nest structures are 

provided for osprey, wood duck, and 

prothonotary warblers while roost boxes are 

erected for various bat species. Planting of 

native wiregrass is a long-term restoration 

project aimed at enhancing the survival and 

reproductive success of endangered indigo 

snakes and gopher tortoise. 

Forest management activities center around 

restoring plant communities to precommercial forest industry conditions. 

Selective tree thinning is one method used to 

improve tree quality, understory diversity, and 

overall wildlife habitat. Much of the refuge's 

habitat is pyrogenic - that is, its plants and 

animals have developed adaptations to fire. 

Burning forest or marsh under controlled 

conditions helps to remove old plants -- 

replacing them with young succulent 

vegetation preferred by most wildlife species. 

Controlled burns reduce the chance of 

uncontrolled wildfire caused by lightening or 

Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge Page 1 of 3

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The refuge can be accessed from Dixie County road 351 

out of Cross City, Dixie County road 349 out of Old Town 

and Levy County road 347 out of Chiefland. To reach the 

refuge office, which is located in Levy County: from 

Gainesville take State Road 26 to Trenton, then Highway 

129 south to Chiefland, then U.S. 19 south for 1 mile to 

County Road 345 south for 6 miles to County Road 347. 

Go west on 347 for 12 miles to the refuge sign leading to 

the refuge office, a good first stop for a brochure and map 

of the area. 

Get Google map and directions to this refuge/WMD 

from a specified address:

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NOTE: When using this feature, you will be leaving the U.S. Fish & Wildlife 

Service domain. We do not control the content or policies of the site you are about to 

visit. You should always check site policies before providing personal information or 

reusing content. 

These driving directions are provided as a general guide only. No representation is 

made or warranty given as to their content, road conditions or route usability or 

expeditiousness. User assumes all risk of use. 

The refuge, which is predominantly wetlands, is bisected 

by 20 miles of Stephen Fosters famous Suwannee River 

and includes 20 miles of coastal marsh habitat along the 

Gulf Coast. The salt marshes and tidal flats at the rivers 

mouth are a paradise for shorebirds and fish. The refuge 

also encompasses an unusual diversity of floodplain 

hardwoods, cypress-lined sloughs, cabbage palm and 

cedar islands, cypress domes, hydric, mesic and xeric 

hardwood hammocks, and low pine flatwoods. Ech of 

these diverse vegetative communities contributes to 

making the Lower Suwannee one of the largest 

undeveloped river delta-estuarine systems in the country. 

The constant flow of nutrients from the river system 

coupled with numerous offshore islands and tidal creeks 

create excellent wildlife habitat. Natural salt marshes and 

tidal flats attract thousands of shore birds and diving 

ducks while acting as a valuable nursery area for fish, 

shrimp and shellfish. Freshwater fish, including 

largemouth bass, Suwannee bass, bluegill, redear sunfish 

and channel catfish are found in the Suwannee River and 

its creeks. Marine mammals such as the bottlenose 

dolphin and the endangered manatee along with several 

species of sea turtles utilize the coastal waters of the 

Suwannee Sound. The Gulf sturgeon, a threatened 

species, utilizes the Gulf as well as the historic river, for a 

phase of its life cycle. 

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Floodplain wetlands support nesting wood ducks, black 

bear, otter, alligator, wading birds and raccoons. Mixed 

hardwood pine forests and uplands offer cover to turkey 

and white-tail deer. More than 250 species of birds have 

been identified at the refuge including swallow-tailed kites 

and bald eagles. Several species of bats can be observed 

during their exodus from several of the refuge bat houses. 

Learn More>> 

More than seven thousand years ago, before Europeans 

arrived on this continent and pioneers ventured into the 

depths of Florida, Shired Island was inhabited by archaic 

and woodland cultures. They utilized the Suwannee River 

and rich estuarine waters in this area now known as 

Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge. The 3,000 

year- old Shell Mound and other middens dot the 

shorelines and coastal island within the refuge and are 

found throughout its swamps and forests. 

Pioneers moving into the area also recognized the vast 

natural riches to be exploited. They not only took 

advantage of the river and marine resources but logged 

the abundant cedar and cypress until there were no more. 

Many of the site s that once supported native fish, 

hardwood hammocks - a mixture of pine and hardwoods - 

were next to be marketed by the timber industry. These 

areas were then converted to pine plantations which still 

stand tody. 

Learn More>> 

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