The Arthur R. Marshall

Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge

The Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1951, contains one of three water conservation areas in south Florida. This area provides water storage and flood control, as well as habitat for native fish and wildlife population. In 1986, Congress renamed the Refuge "Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge" to honor Arthur Raymond Marshall, Jr. (1919-1985) an influential conservationist in south Florida. 

The Refuge is one of more than 540 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System. This system, with units in every state in the nation, is managed by the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service, an agency of the Department of Interior. The entire refuge comprises about 221 square miles or 147,392 acres. 

The refuge encompasses what remains of the original northern Everglades. Other than rainfall, water needed to maintain the refuge is provided by a series of pumps, canals, water control structures, and levees built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 

Click here to see a video that captures the essence of the Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge.

The Refuge includes the full range of Everglades habitats:  

Opportunities for Visitors

A brand-new, state-of-the-art administration and Visitor Center, due to be completed in 2008, is currently under construction at the Refuge. This $4 million structure will include 11,846 square feet of office and exhibit space.

The Cypress Swamp Boardwalk and the marsh areas are accessible by foot. The boardwalk is a 0.4 mile trail that loops through one of the few remaining cypress swamps lining the Everglades.

More than 300,000 people visit the Refuge every year. Public-use areas at the Refuge provide viewing opportunities for a large variety of wetland flora and fauna. The refuge provides a habitat for migratory waterfowl, migratory passerines, wood storks and many other birds. Its rookeries include great blue herons, anhingas, white ibis, little blue herons, tricolored herons, black crowned night herons, great egrets, cattle egrets and snowy egrets. Many indigenous species of plant and insect life also make their homes in the Refuge. The Refuge bird list includes over 250 species. 

The 5.5-mile canoe trail provides the best way to see and explore the Everglades up close. Canoes are available for rent. Boating is allowed in Refuge canals, as is sport fishing. Hunting for waterfowl is allowed in a designated area by permit.

Visitors between November and April will discover a wide array of scheduled events at the Refuge including nature walks, photography workshops, lectures, and art contests. The most popular annual event continues to be Everglades Day, which takes place annually on the second Saturday in February.