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National Wildlife Refuges in Florida

31 national wildlife refuges in Florida with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Lee County has the most (5). The darkest skies are at St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge (Bortle 2).

Top national wildlife refuges

Pelican Island National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Pelican Island National Wildlife RefugeIndian River County
Florida Panther National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Florida Panther National Wildlife RefugeCollier County
Merritt Island National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Merritt Island National Wildlife RefugeBrevard County
Chassahowitzka National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Chassahowitzka National Wildlife RefugeCitrus County
Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife RefugeCollier County
Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation AreaNational Wildlife Refuge
Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation AreaOsceola County
J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife RefugeLee County
Lower Suwannee National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Lower Suwannee National Wildlife RefugeDixie County
Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife RefugePalm Beach County
Key West National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Key West National Wildlife RefugeMonroe County
Great White Heron National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Great White Heron National Wildlife RefugeMonroe County
Crocodile Lake National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Crocodile Lake National Wildlife RefugeMonroe County

National Wildlife Refuges by county

All national wildlife refuges (31)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Pelican Island National Wildlife RefugeIndian River County—Sebastian6
Florida Panther National Wildlife RefugeCollier County—Ave Maria3
Merritt Island National Wildlife RefugeBrevard County—Port Saint John4
Chassahowitzka National Wildlife RefugeCitrus County—Homosassa4
Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife RefugeCollier County—Marco Island4
Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation AreaOsceola County—Fellsmere3
J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife RefugeLee County—Saint James City5
Lower Suwannee National Wildlife RefugeDixie County—Manatee Road2
Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife RefugePalm Beach County—Villages of Oriole5
Key West National Wildlife RefugeMonroe County—Key West2
Great White Heron National Wildlife RefugeMonroe County—Cudjoe Key2
Crocodile Lake National Wildlife RefugeMonroe County—North Key Largo4
Crystal River National Wildlife RefugeCitrus County—Crystal River5
Nathaniel P. Reed Hobe Sound National Wildlife RefugeMartin County—Hobe Sound5
Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife RefugeHighlands County—Lake Placid3
St. Marks National Wildlife RefugeWakulla County—Woodville3
St. Vincent National Wildlife RefugeFranklin County—Apalachicola2
National Key Deer RefugeMonroe County—Big Pine Key3
Archie Carr National Wildlife RefugeBrevard County—Micco5
Pinellas National Wildlife RefugePinellas County—Tierra Verde6
Lake Woodruff National Wildlife RefugeLake County—De Leon Springs4
Passage Key National Wildlife RefugeManatee County—Anna Maria5
St. Johns National Wildlife RefugeBrevard County—Titusville5
Caloosahatchee National Wildlife RefugeLee County—Tice6
Cedar Keys National Wildlife RefugeLevy County—Inglis3
Pine Island National Wildlife RefugeLee County—Bokeelia4
Island Bay National Wildlife RefugeLee County—Bokeelia4
Matlacha Pass National Wildlife RefugeLee County—Saint James City5
Egmont Key National Wildlife RefugePinellas County—Anna Maria5
Anclote National Wildlife RefugePasco County—Key Vista5
Chinsegut National Wildlife RefugeHernando County—North Brooksville4

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph national wildlife refuges

Wildlife is most active in the first and last two hours of daylight — exactly when the light is warmest.

  • Use auto-loop roads as mobile blinds; animals often tolerate vehicles more than people on foot.
  • Stay on designated routes and keep a respectful distance — if an animal changes behavior, you are too close.
  • A 400–600 mm lens (or a crop body) is the usual tool for birds.
  • Fast shutter speeds (1/2000 s+) freeze wingbeats; raise ISO rather than lose the shot.
  • Migration peaks bring the largest concentrations — see the birding calendar for this state.

Season: Spring and autumn migration are the highlights; winter brings waterfowl to many southern refuges.