{"id":337352,"date":"2026-07-12T00:58:10","date_gmt":"2026-07-12T00:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/337352\/"},"modified":"2026-07-12T00:58:10","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T00:58:10","slug":"floridas-wildlife-refuge-outside-tallahassee-is-a-birdwatching-haven-with-fishing-spots-and-scenic-trails-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/337352\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida’s Wildlife Refuge Outside Tallahassee Is A Birdwatching Haven With Fishing Spots And Scenic Trails"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Florida Panhandle is home to some of the most beautiful nature preserves in the state. This wild Gulf Coast includes national seashores, forests, wildlife refuges, and more. Just 23 miles outside Florida’s\u00a0state capital of Tallahassee, it boasts over\u00a086,000 acres<\/a>\u00a0of federally protected Florida wilderness\u00a0for visitors to explore. First established in 1931 as one of the first-ever refuges created within the National Wildlife Refuge System, the\u00a0St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge<\/a> is a living example of Florida’s history and natural wonder. The\u00a0St. Marks Lighthouse, which was erected in 1842, is still in operation and open to guests. You can learn about its storied past through exhibits at the refuge’s visitor center.<\/p>\n

Open year-round during daylight hours with admission fees of just $1 for cyclists and pedestrians\u00a0($5 for those coming by car), this refuge is\u00a0a hub for outdoor recreation in the Big Bend.\u00a0With\u00a043 miles of shoreline along the Gulf of Mexico (renamed the Gulf of America in 2025 by U.S. President Donald Trump),\u00a0visitors can boat, paddle, and fish in the refuge’s many wildlife-rich freshwater and saltwater waterways. As a critical wintertime sanctuary for migratory birds, St. Marks is an essential stop for birdwatching enthusiasts. Visitors can expect to spot several birds and native wildlife as they walk along the refuge’s many multi-use trails, which accommodate hiking, biking, and even horseback riding.\u00a0The trails also comprise a significant portion of the National Florida Scenic Trail.<\/p>\n

The St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is so large that it’s located in three different Florida counties: Wakulla, Jefferson, and Taylor. Given\u00a0its proximity to the Sunshine State’s capital, it’s a great place for travelers to slow down and immerse themselves in Florida’s wilderness. Those traveling down the coastal US Highway 98 or visiting the panhandle, especially nature lovers, will want to make time to explore this thriving ecosystem. Out-of-state visitors can come to the area\u00a0via Tallahassee International Airport (TLH), which is located just 40 minutes north of the refuge.<\/p>\n

Read more: Think Twice Before Swimming In These Dangerous US Lakes<\/a><\/p>\n

Fish amidst over 300 bird species at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge\"A<\/p>\n

A view of the river lined with tall grass and trees at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. – David Radzieta\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n

As a wildlife refuge, it should come as no surprise that\u00a0St. Marks offers remarkable wildlife and birdwatching. Many Florida species can be found at this expansive park, including over 52 mammal species, 40 amphibian species, and 66 reptile species. It’s common for guests to seek out\u00a0alligators, river otters, deer, bobcats, bears, turtles, raccoons, and wild hogs. Visitors can even spot rare and endangered Florida species here, including the West Indian manatee, the flatwoods salamander, the whooping crane,\u00a0and the\u00a0swallow-tailed kite, among others.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Over\u00a0300 bird species have been sighted\u00a0at the\u00a0St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, making it one of the best destinations in Florida for birdwatching<\/a> along the Great Florida Birding Trail.\u00a0The region is a reprieve for migratory birds that flock to the state during cooler months, which causes a flourishing mix of native Florida birds and limited-time migrating species. Birdwatchers can find many species of ducks, geese, woodpeckers, bald eagles, hawks, wild turkeys, egrets, herons, storks, warblers, osprey, waterfowl, falcons,\u00a0owls, and various songbirds. “The drive through the expansive park was gorgeous … [and] lots of folks [were] out birding,”\u00a0one Google<\/a> reviewer noted.<\/p>\n

St. Marks also offers freshwater and saltwater fishing.\u00a0Anglers can cast lines in several\u00a0rivers, 2,000 acres of man-made pools, and even the\u00a0Apalachee Bay,\u00a0roughly 32,000 acres<\/a> of which lie within the refuge’s boundaries. Bank and saltwater fishing are open year-round with a proper Florida fishing license, with boat access points for those wanting to fish in the bay.\u00a0Some of the most commonly caught fish in the refuge include sea\u00a0bass, catfish, sunfish, trout, mullet, mackerel, flounder, red drum, and even sharks. Crabbing is also permitted, but only near the lighthouse. One Google<\/a> user shared a charming fishing anecdote: “Watching a bald eagle fly off with a speckled trout as I was reeling in a speckled trout myself was a highlight of the visit.”\u00a0More local fishing can be found at Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve, Florida’s top sea life preserve<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Hike scenic coastal, swamp, and palm hammock trails at the Refuge\"A<\/p>\n

A trail lined with wooden posts and surrounded by tropical foliage at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. – Ken Schulze\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n

The St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge has many scenic trails made of varying terrain, including 41 miles of the Florida National Scenic Trail that intersects with many of the area’s popular trails. Listed as the number one trail at St. Marks\u00a0on AllTrails<\/a>,\u00a0The Cathedral of Palms via Florida Trail<\/a> is a 5.9-mile loop through swamps and palm hammocks that offers views of the serene\u00a0Shepherd’s Spring.\u00a0While leashed pets are permitted throughout the refuge and its trails, some caution against bringing them on account of the abundance of ticks in the area. To better\u00a0avoid mosquitoes, ticks, and other bugs that thrive here,\u00a0using\u00a0bug spray is highly encouraged for all hikers who come here.<\/p>\n

For those with limited time, the refuge has plenty of easier hikes that are less than a mile long. To quickly take in the area’s natural beauty, try\u00a0Levee Trail<\/a>,\u00a0a 0.9-mile path that takes guests to many points of interest. These include the lighthouse, a boat ramp, the coastal shoreline, and a pond where you can spot aquatic wildlife.\u00a0Cedar Point Trail<\/a> is even shorter at 0.6 miles out and back, with benches along the trail for birders to stop and watch nearby birds. One of the shortest routes in the area is\u00a0Headquarters Pond Trail<\/a>,\u00a0an accessible\u00a00.2-mile trail that ends with an observation deck atop a saltwater pond that’s home to even more wildlife.<\/p>\n

Those looking to be on the water can canoe and kayak on the refuge’s Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail,\u00a0albeit by permit only. The area also supports equestrians looking to go\u00a0horseback riding on its roads, and here you’ll also find the\u00a0Piney Ridge Loop Trail<\/a>, a multi-use trail that’s popular for both horseback riding and\u00a0mountain biking. For more local nature and hiking in the area, make sure to check out\u00a0these seven state parks that are hands-down the Florida Panhandle’s best<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ready to discover more hidden gems and expert travel tips? Subscribe to our free newsletter<\/a>! You can also add us as a preferred search source<\/a> or follow us<\/a> on Google for access to the world’s best-kept travel secrets.<\/p>\n

Read the original article on Islands<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Florida Panhandle is home to some of the most beautiful nature preserves in the state. This wild…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":337353,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[28,12205,138879,6613,232,234,233,16194],"class_list":["post-337352","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tallahassee","tag-florida","tag-florida-panhandle","tag-migratory-birds","tag-st-marks","tag-tallahassee","tag-tallahassee-headlines","tag-tallahassee-news","tag-wildlife-refuge"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/337352","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=337352"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/337352\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/337353"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=337352"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=337352"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=337352"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}