Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge

Description:

• The Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is the northernmost portion of the unique Everglades. With over 221 square miles of Everglades habitat, A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is home to the American alligator and the endangered Everglades snail kite. In any given year, as many as 257 species of birds may use the refuge's diverse wetland habitats. In addition to being a home to wildlife, the refuge offers many recreational opportunities. Walking trails, a canoe trail, bike trail, boat ramps, fishing platform, observation towers, butterfly garden, and a visitor center are available to outdoor enthusiasts. Not quite all of the 147,392 acre refuge is Everglades habitat. A four hundred acre cypress swamp is the largest remaining remnant of a cypress strand that once separated the pine flatwoods in the east from the Everglades marshes. A boardwalk into the swamp gives the visitor a chance for an up-close swamp experience without getting his or her feet wet. Incredible bird-watching, hikes through cyprus swamps, boating, biking and canoeing are all available here. Aligators can be found here too.