lower suwannee national wildlife refuge

I love the woods and dirts roads i have came here many times just to ride down the roads yes you dont see wildlife everytime you go its not the zoo people the do hide and have a life besides being on the road and its woods close to the gulf of mexico so there will be gnats and bugs its the woods. Its relaxing and peaceful the staff is great at the offices. I live close by and love going. You can bike or drive either way if you want peace and quiet and to relax and you like trees and wildlife then go.

My husband and I visited this sight/site on our way home after two nights in Cedar Key. It was not difficult to find, and we drove on the gravel road to where it met the water's edge. We walked out on the wooden deck and sidewalk to overlook the water and just to bask in the Florida sunshine and the solitude. Our stay was only about 45 minutes, including the drive to the water, but the scenery was Florida beautiful. I remarked that when we were sitting on the deck that, because we live in an urban area, we don't often get the chance to look as far as the eye can see without the interruption of buildings, signs, poles, etc. We saw nothing but nature: water, trees, birds, sky. I could not verify if the area we saw had any of the amenities listed below on the TA review questionnaire because we did not see them on our short stay, such as food, bathroom, stairs, wheelchair access, lockers, stroller parking. There were none obvious from where we got on the road to the end at the water's edge. Because of the press of time, we did not go to the Shell Mound, which is close by.

There are a few trails to walk around and the campground is rustic but right on the shoreline. There is a fishing pier and toilet, but no potable water. Closest little town is Horseshoe Beach over 10 miles away but there is not much in that town. Make sure you have food, gas, drinking water, etc when you visit. The gulf water was coffee colored and felt a little sticky. I am wondering if it is still from the Gulf Oil Spill that happened a few years back. Still a nice little place to see and be on the gulf. There are a few local fresh shrimp and crab fishing companies in the area.

This is a nine-mile dirt road (well maintained). Some people might suggest there isn't much to see: swamp, cedars and palms. But, we walked a fair bit and the place is full of interesting life. We're glad we took the time.....

We took the drive and thought it was a long drive with the same topography. Lots of burned areas and a few ponds. Few birds as the it was an overcast day. I might have enjoyed taking a bicycle if the two points of entrance were not so far apart. Overall, not a memorable experience compared to other options in the area. 15 mph but the dirt road is in fine condition.

we did the loop ride after a lunch at the fish camp up the road and i would skip it. just not much to see....go to the shell mound further down the road, much more interesting.

We love this park, the clear water in the spring, the peaceful atmospher, the quiet drifting in the canoes on the river,the dreamy watching of the dark vultures circling overhead.The current concession holders (as of Jan 2015) are wonderful: renting a canoe was super simple, easy and friendly. And we had the special BBQed ribs on Sunday. A delightful picnic in the shade while watching deer, squirrels, children, and birds We absolutely LOVED the ribs!

Nice walking trail to the river. We saw fewer birds than expected, but it was still a lovely walk. We also did the 9-mile driving loop. Rangers in the headquarters were friendly and informative.

We drove the 9 mile loop through the Lower Suwanee National Wildlife Refuge in January. It is a scenic drive with several places to stop and walk out to overlooks. It was not at all busy while we were there and we enjoyed hiking the trail near the headquarters. We would have liked to have stayed and watch the thousands of bats leaving the bat house near sunset, but we had to get going on to our next destination. We did not experience any bugs. However, it looks as though it could be very buggy during certain times of the year. A nice quiet place to enjoy nature.

Spent the day in the LSNWR and it was awesome!The Refuge headquarters is a great place to start. Our trip took us through the town of Suwannee and on through the forest and swamp, then to Fishbone creek and Shired Island. A beautiful trip.

The nine mile drive into this Wildlife Refuge has an excellent unpaved road with very little dust or wear on the car. We enjoyed this part of the trip and saw a turtle, two deer and a Great Blue Heron. We then took the River Trail to the Suwanee River and the mosquitoes even with bug spray on were out in force. Also parts of the boardwalk looked like they weren't maintained that well with numerous branches and stuff on the walkways. Granted that could have been caused by a recent thunderstorm but they could be better maintained. The boardwalks were on very good condition however. The nature drive is worth a look.

Our National Wildlife Refuges are a real treasure and this one is no exception. There is a nice 9 mile drive and that also be a nice bike ride. The road is dirt but in great shape. The short side roads along the loop are also fun to explore. There is a short board walk trail along the loop to go out to an overlook. We saw many birds and several alligators. There is a county run campground called Shell Mound Campground that is great for camping and there is a wonderful one-mile trail just past the campground. It you have an interest in nature, I would highly recommend a visit.

The nine mile loop is a beautiful drive through wooded swampland. You can enter from the north or south. We saw gators, turkeys, and an otter. Nicely maintained walking trails are available. A great place to enjoy the natural beauty of Florida.

The reserve covers a large area with a number of walking trails and a scenic drive. Lots of photo opportunities

We like to hike and if you have time take some of the trails in to the refuge. Camera with long lens may get you some good bird images.