Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge

Such an interesting and atmospheric park! The entrance fee is $10 — if no one is at the gate, you can pay online. Many people come here to watch the sunset — and it’s totally worth it. I was lucky enough to spot three alligators during my walk! You can rent a kayak (self-service, paid online), and there’s a route map showing where you might encounter wildlife along the way. It felt a bit scary, so we didn’t go kayaking this time — but definitely will next time! You can also bike, fish, or bring your own boat. There are restrooms both at the beginning and end of the trail, which is convenient. If you want to explore the whole area on foot, plan for about 2–3 hours. A great spot for nature lovers, outdoor adventures, and unexpected wildlife encounters 🐊🌿

We are so blessed in Palm Beach County to have this amazing National Wildlife Refuge. It costs $10 to enter, or you can get a yearly pass for $25 per carload, which is well worth it if you are going to visit often. The visitor center, when you enter, is worth a stop to get maps and for staff/volunteers to share what sitings have been reported back to them from visitors. I was able to enjoy the Sandhill Cranes walking their baby because of this information with the location and all and so precious. Behind the visitor center is Cypress Swamp Boardwalk that wraps back around . It's a nice start to your journey their. It's .4 - mile and several benches a long the way. Their is a self- guided pamphlet you can pick up at the boardwalk entrance, which detail what you will be seeing. Their are also bathrooms outside and in the visitors center. All very clean. In the visitor center you can also fill up your water bottle at the fountain to stay hydrated and they have a wonderful gift shop. The visitor center also has a great display and an opportunity to ride a virtual air boat and take an adventure with beautiful graphics being under the stars at night their theater. You can also book tram tours to take you around the refuge to get familiar with the area. Once in the refuge the walk is all open. I'm not as fearful as I was in the beginning. It is nature and the animals like the bobcats or Alligators or raccoons or Marsh rabbits may just look at you for the moment and go their merry way.

Nice, quiet and off the beaten path reserve! I went in the middle of the day on a Monday and it was very quiet. There is a short walk in a Cypress Swamp by the visitor center (first two photos) and a mile long loop around a drainage area (second two photos) along with a connection to the main reserve area at the end of the main road (not pictured). You are very exposed to the elements so be sure to bring a hat and sun protection clothes!

The tram makes a nice visit on a hot day. Reservations are required. Goes from 10am - noon. Free with parking admission. We saw 2 deer playing which made my day. Next time I go hoping to see the Bobcats

This park is a must see if you’re seeking wide open spaces Cypress swamp wildlife hiking trails access to fishing boat, ramps kayaks and all the wonderful things that are connected to the Outdoors in South Florida this pristine well-maintained park starts off with a very informative experience accessible Park Rangers in interactive display, a gift shop and clean restrooms from there. The Cypress swamp hike is awesomebirding wildlife photography at its best. Second part of the park is the levy and the Everglades vibe seating tables everything you need to have an incredible day outside don’t miss this experience.

It is such a beautiful and peaceful place to relax. I had a great time just soaking in the natural beauty, and even got to see a gator in the wild, which was pretty cool! I also saw some people fishing, making it a nice spot for outdoor activities.

A lovely place to experience true Florida wildlife and very easy to access. Lots of wildlife and places to walk, hike, bike, birdwatch, fish and kayak. An informative visitor’s center manned by very nice volunteers who are informative and friendly. One of my favorites! The boardwalk through the cypress swamp is great and easily accessible even if you are challenged physically.

This is a beautiful place to explore and see a lot of different birds and wildlife!! We took our bikes and road around just a small portion or the park. We saw a bunch of alligators, turtles and a verity of birds. Definitely will be going back to explore some more!!

Directly off of 441 in Boynton Beach is this massive wildlife refuge. Over 145,000 acres makes Loxahatchee one of the largest nature preserves in the country. Open daily from 5am - 10pm admission is $10 daily or $25 for the year. The visitor center is open from 9-4 and there you can get all the information on recent wildlife sightings, the numerous hiking trails, biking, boating, canoeing, fishing, and learn where the best areas are for wildlife photography, It was nice to walk around and spend some time outdoors. We did see some nice birds, flowers, and we even saw an alligator.

For the first time since we've been living in Florida, we finally got to go on the tram ride at Arthur R Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. We've been wanting to do this for the past 11 years. The weather was beautiful and we were looking for another outdoor activity for our houseguest and us. We stopped off to pick up a picnic lunch locally. We arrived at the Parkland, Florida , checked in for our tram ride and found a shaded bench to picnic under in the park. The tram holds 8 passengers. Our driver was a volunteer who was very knowledgeable and happy to share her knowledge. She stopped often, to show us different flora and fauna of the Park. We had time to get off the tram to walk around. We saw alligators, a red shouldered hawk, great blue heron, egrets, tri-color herons, little blue herons, sandhill cranes and many butterflies, hummingbirds and more. We learned about the wildlife of the Everglades, as well as the many invasive species that have caused much damage to the "River of Grass" as the Everglades is called.

Love coming here to walk the trails! Even late morning mid-afternoon it's rare to come across another person. Love the peace and quiet this trail offers. Fortunate enough every time I've come here to see a gator. Bring your water and stay hydrated, don't forget to bring some snacks, it's the worst thing to feel dehydrated and helpless with a gator known to be in the same vicinity as you LOL. $10 for the day or $25 for a year pass (if you're interested in that kinda thing) FYI easier to bring cash but if you don't no worries, scan a QR code to pay.

This park as always is beautiful and peaceful. There is plenty of parking and couple of sections to check out. One section is closed down right now. But there is still plenty to do and lots of walking. There are bathrooms and water fountain. There is also a visiting center that is open during the week. You can go bike riding if you bring a bike and also at the end you can rent kayaks or bring you me on vessel.

Love this place, spent 2 hours walking down 1 of 3 different paths to choose from. Very scenic, we saw a gator too and people fishing. I came with my coworker and her pup! I made sure to wear minimal clothes, short shorts and a sports bra so I can get both a workout and a tan at once! I will definitely be back! Make sure you bring water because you will not be able to hide from the sun! Sunblock, a hat, and bug spray is recommended as well!

It was a beautiful day to explore the trails and preserve with family from New York. We drove west on Boynton Beach Blvd. and went south on rt. 441. We saw a sign before Bedners and made the right turn going down a dirt road. We got to a gate and showed our U.S. Parks Pass and drove inside for free. We started at the Loxahatchee visitor center, bathrooms & nature store where staff was very informative. We saw that there were tram rides scheduled, tours and environmentalists. Here we picked up a map, Gator Tales newsletter and complimentary colorful calendar. Volunteers offer frequent guided canoe tours, night walks and tram tours by reservation. We got back in our car and drove to the end of he preserve. Many were fishing and a trailer was set up with bike, canoe and boat rentals. We were told that if we wanted to go out on a boat we should reserve on line and everything will be ready at the slotted time. There is a four hour loop through and a two hour loop around the preserve. The preserve was established in 1951 under the authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act. It's managed through a license agreement between the South Florida Water Management District and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In total. The refuge is over 226 square miles and includes nearly 145,000 acres of northern Everglades habitat, surrounded by a 57 mile canal & levee. Here there are three water conservation areas providing water storage, flood control, and a habitat for native fish & wildlife. Water is regulated by a series of pumps, canals, water control structures, and levees built by the Army Corps of Engineers. These freshwater storage areas are the remnants of the original Everglades. We saw many walking trails, a canoe trail, bike trail, boat ramps, fishing platforms, observation towers, a butterfly garden, and a visitor center. Loxahathee is home to the American alligator, endangered snail kite, coastal plain cooter, Florida softshell turtles, and 257 bird species. I understand bobcats, deer, raccoons, squirrels, fox, coyotes and This was designated a 'gateway site' for the Great Florida Birding Trail. I understand over 16 different species of fish can be caught here. Hunting with proper permits are allowed within the refuge to manage wildlife populations.

The boardwalk and tower used to be wood, but they were replaced with metal ones. Gators hang out around and under the boardwalk. At night, be careful of snakes crossing the path. It's peaceful since not too many people are here during the hot summer weekdays. There is a port a potty if you need a bathroom.

Love this place. Come here a lot with the kids or just my partner. There is tons of trails and lots of wildlife to take pictures or just enjoy the sounds. If you are looking for some nature trails or kayak with gator lol or education day with kids come here!

We wanted to check out this park for a while. They have ample amount of free parking. We didn't have to pay any entrance fee when we went in, not sure why. The park itself is quite serene and beautiful. They have few trails. We haven't explored the whole park but hiked on a couple of trials. It was a nice hike. They have a small pier kind of thing. The sunset at the lake is beautiful, we had come for sunset. Will be back here again to explore more trails and for a nice peaceful time.

So I'm not sure what happened , we put the directions in and it took us to a water treatment plant . We came all the way from Tennessee and wanted to experience that swamp life . We did see a gator in the first 30 seconds being there so that was cool . But I was hoping for like swampy raccoons , big birds , gators , snakes .... We didn't get that . Oh well ... maybe y'all can find the right entrance to this park . I'm not sure what we did wrong .

Not sure how I lived In this area so long and just found out about this place. I typically come every weekend usually doing the same walk all the way in the back along the bank with my pup. Some days I aim to walk further than the last or I'll go north instead of south. It's a very active area with loads of bikers and walkers. Last weekend I left my dog at home so I could walk the boardwalk with my friend and her kids. We just talked and walked around about 5 times. It was very shaded with trees and swampy. We only saw a butterfly or 2 so I'd prefer other boardwalks in the boynton area. There are numerous hiking trails which I haven't ventured to just yet. Which is probably why I love this place so much. There's more than just one route you can take so you can always switch it up.

Rode our bike from lox road and found this gem! There are a lot of people that were on the dock and the observatory deck that has binoculars. I saw they have a spot to rent canoes as well. It was a great ride! Saw deer, alligators, birds, and all of the beauty in our River of Grass. Long live the Everglades!! Enjoy!

As we all deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing, and quarantine, I needed to get out so as not to get "cabin fever". I just needed to walk and get some fresh air. My friend suggested going to the ARTHUR R. MARSHALL LOXAHATCHEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE. I'm so glad she did! I knew there wouldn't be a crowd there, and I found that after 3 hours walking, there was still more to see. I'll definitely be back for more. The butterfly garden was small but nice. I also saw a lot of butterflies walking on the paths. There was plenty of shaded area to walk in the trails, as well as open marsh land. While there, we saw both adult and baby alligators, plenty of birds and we think a Florida bobcat too! It was a peaceful couple of hours. When leaving, we stopped at Bedner's Farms for some fresh produce at the corner.

Closed. No kayaking anymore. Business is closed. Oh well. Bummer. Too bad. How many more characters do I need?

I'm not sure I fully understand these areas managed by US Fish and Wildlife. It's not a park. It is, apparently, massive. Most of it is accessible? Not accessible? You can shoot things here? How this works is not entirely clear. It's federal. And (except for the visitor center and the kayak rentals) it is open during the COVID-19 pandemic. And they aren't charging admission during the pandemic. So that's a plus. The boardwalk (north of the main road) is a short, lovely, shady walk. The rest of it (south of the main road) appears to be a wide open, enormous walk (the "marsh walk") without any shade or shelter. But very quiet and lovely. Needs to be explored more. I have many questions. There is water?

Cathy is an amazing countertop worker and volunteer and she deserves to get paid. She is so sweet and perfect and made our trip 200000000x better.

Beautiful, secluded nature spot located at the edge of the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge way out in Western Boynton Beach. Lots of parking available right outside where the trail starts. My daughter and I visited last week and were really impressed with the area. The trail is an elevated boardwalk and it winds around a swamp. There are lots of trees which almost entirely cover the boardwalk with shade, so it's very cool even on warm days. The route is really beautiful to look at. One thing I noticed was that despite it being in a wildlife refuge, we didn't see any of the creatures we expected to find, no birds, no gators, no iguanas, no snakes, no turtles. Nothing. We did see a squirrel of all things, but other than that it was pretty empty. All in all, this is a very nice place for a peaceful and relaxing walk. Four solid stars from me. I'll definitely be back to check it out again.

Great national wildlife refuge. Lots to do 561-734-8303. Walk up to the alligators but don't feed them. $10 day pass per car Or $25 year pass for your car. Free for wakins. Open all day. Discounts for seniors and free for handicap. See photos.

We went to ride our hybrid bikes on the trails. It would be easier to ride a mountain bike on the trail, but the hybrid did work. You won't want to ride a skinny tire bike on the trails. There are many trails to ride, but they all look the same. There is no shade. The trails are crushed rocks. Some of the trails are grass. There are no paved trails. There is a boardwalk for walking, but bikes are not allowed. The park is well kept and staff is friendly. It cost $5/car to enter the park. We parked in the first parking lot on the left. We rode a trail and then went on the other side of the street and rode another loop. That trail had the option of doing an 8 mile loop. There are canoes to rent for $35. We saw a sign for $10/hour bike rentals by the canoe area. There is a visitor center to walk through and the boardwalk is behind it. The boardwalk is about 1/2 mile.

The cedar swamp boardwalk and look for snakes below and Owls hiding in the trees. Look for alligators at the dock. Turtles in the canals, birds on the marsh trails Visit our Nature Store for remembrances, clothing and memorabilia. Everything here is representative of the Refuge.

Spent black Friday kayaking out on this river, and it was so fun! We couldn't find any information online about if the kayaking was open, and no one was picking up the phone, so we just took a chance and drove over. This is a national park, so a day pass is $20, if you're a senior you can get an annual pass for $10 though. We drove right in, and over to the boat ramp. There is a little shop setup to rent the Kayaks from, and thank goodness they were open! We had to sign our lives away and show a drivers license, and then were able to get into our double kayaks and head out. We took the smaller loop, which took us a little over an hour. This was a really fun paddle, we didn't pass anyone else while we were out there (we also didn't see any alligators). The paddle was pretty easy, nice relaxing day out on the water with the fam!

Great open place after you get past the boardwalk. The boardwalk is short, but we saw a pair of snakes in the water. If you go drive down further to the next few parking areas, you can walk around and see a lot more. It's a huge open area with miles to walk. Tons of birds and cool grasshoppers. We did see an alligator under the one pier near where people where getting on and off their boats/canoes. Beautiful and scenic. Forever flowing land

Found this beautiful park not far from 441 in Boyton . Went for a beautiful walk and saw a few birds and even an alligator. At the end of the park you can rent or bring your own canue and go on this path and really see Nature . Here is some more information on this beautiful park Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is located seven miles west of the city of Boynton Beach in Palm Beach County, Florida. The refuge was established in 1951 under the authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act and is managed through a license agreement between the South Florida Water Management District and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In total, the refuge includes 145,800 acres of northern Everglades habitat. The refuge contains one of three water conservation areas (WCA's) in south Florida and is maintained to provide water storage and flood control, as well as habitat for native fish and wildlife populations. Water is regulated by a series of pumps, canals, water control structures, and levees built by the Army Corps of Engineers. These freshwater storage areas and part of the Everglades National Park are all that remain of the original Everglades. NATURE OF THE AREA The refuge is composed of 143,874 acres of Everglades habitat. The refuge is part of a large fresh water storage area connected by a series of canals and levees, which were completed by the Corps of Engineers in 1940s. The underlying aquifer provides water into nearby coastal communities.

I love to visit the Everglades but I don't often have the time to travel all the way down to Homestead. Fortunately for me the Loxahatchee Refuge is located a mere thirty minutes from where I live. It's located directly off of 441, about 20 minutes north of Glades Road directly behind Bedner farms which is a great place to grab a snack or drink before you go into the park. Once you enter there is a park service booth to the right. Admission is $5 but usually no one is present to collect the admission. A soon as you pass the booth turn to the right and there you will find the nature visitor center. There is some nice displays and a cute little movie where you sit in a fake air boat and the movie makes you feel like you are zipping through the Everglades. You will also find park rangers and volunteers here to answer any questions you have. The visitor center closes at 4 pm. Right behind the nature center are the bathrooms and the entrance to the Cypress trail which goes through the cypress swamp. The trail is a quick little ten minute walk on an elevated boardwalk. Very pretty. The trail winds around back to the start and when the nature center is open there are some rocking chairs on the back patio to enjoy. Once you finish the nature center you hop back into the car and drive up to the next parking lot on the left. If it is July it is worth looking into the water on your left side. It's a popular place for alligators to nest and I have seen mom's and babies many times. You just want to give them a wide berth. Once you park you will see a trail to your left that makes a nice circle around the wet prairie habitat ending back at the parking lot. It's an easy twenty minute walk but there is no shade so I like it best in the winter. As you walk you will see many birds. Some that I see often are Anhingas, Great Blue Herons, and Great Egrets. I have also seen alligators and turtles swimming along. There is a small observation platform which gives a nice view of the wet prairie. A short drive up the road leads to another parking lot on the left where there a covered pavilion that abuts the slough. If you peer over the railing there is usually an alligator or two lounging around. This area provides a beautiful view of the wet prairie. The last time I was there I saw a family feeding the alligators grapes. This was despite a large sign that says do not feed the alligators. The sign also showed a dead alligator that the park rangers had to kill because it had become a nuisance gator from people feeding it. Let's leave the wildlife wild folks. At the very back of the refuge is the slough habitat. A lot of people bring their boats back here and it's a popular place to fish. There is place here that rents canoes and kayak and you can take the five mile canoe trail that runs through here. I did it once and took several hours. There was no shade which can be brutal. They lily pads also make it difficult to get through the water. The wildlife however was amazing and it made it worthwhile. I saw alligators swimming right next to my canoe as well as many kinds of birds. The canoe place also offers moonlight canoe trips which I have always wanted to take. In February of every year the friends of Arthur R Marshall Refuge have an Everglades Day. A ton of people come so you have to park offsite and ride a bus. The event has free canoeing, guided nature walks, arts and crafts for the kids, vendors, and food trucks just to name a few things. Last year my friends bought some very nice binoculars which I am seriously thinking of purchasing this year. Although crowded it is a really fun day. The Everglades is a very important part of the Florida ecosystem. Some changes are being proposed that may threaten the future of the refuge. I wrote this review because I hope more people will come visit and love it as much as I do. If you love it like me, then you will be invested in protecting it too.

Wanna see some gators in their natural habitat for just $5 a vehicle? Come here! No need to book a tour while in this region to get your gator fill. We saw a ton within 30 seconds after arriving. With that coolness being said, please, please be careful and definitely watch the little ones because where we didn't see any, we certainly saw tracks of them, and where we thought there was none, there were some slithering up from the water I saw out of the corner of my eye only. Sneaky suckers! They can and will come up onto land pretty far! Oh, and DON'T FEED THEM!! Ever! We don't want them getting too adapted to humans! This place is such a fabulous refuge from the beach and city streets. Fantastic marked walking and bike trails, places to fish, boardwalks and even bird watching towers. There's also canoe and kayak rentals. $35 canoe/ $30 kayak $40 two person. I personally wouldn't head into gator infested waters in a small boat so low to the water, but many were without hesitation. I would like to get back to those more secluded cypress swamps, but not in a kayak. I would love to come here again when in the area, whether for some exercise or adventure! Hopefully next time we'll be lucky and happen upon one of the nature talks. We came later in the day and didn't see any, but it sounds great for the kids. Also, next time I'll keep my eyes peeled for some of the hundreds of species of birds and even some snakes that live here. We were so into the gators, we forgot about everything else :) Loved it here!

This is a real gem. First we visited the most southern part, west on Loxahatchhee Rd between Palmetto and Hillsboro west to the end, end. This weekend we decided to visit Boynton Beach entrance next to Bedner's Market. We were there at 7 am and there were probably already 20 cars in the parking lots. Lots of people comes for birds viewing. From the moment we turned left on 441 (we came from south), we were greeted by Nanday Parakeets. Truly amazing start of the adventure. We took 20 min walk on the boardwalk and continued on trails by bikes for another 2 hours. Plenty of wildlife all around..alligators, turtles, dozens of birds, deers, rabbits!! We purchased yearly pass and continue to visit regularly.

Our family loves this park! It is peaceful and clean and well organized. The walking trails are flat but fun to walk. Gators can easily be seen in their natural surroundings. Come for a picnic or fun Stroll.

Our group was educated in numerous ways, and our tour guide was always cheerful and kind. Definitely recommend for all, it was a blast

Really nice hidden gem in the middle of nowhere. The marsh is full of mosquitos but the trail is quite short. Very wild and beautiful nature. Go early to see the trail because there are no lights except the red reflectors of the alligators.

This a great gem for nature lovers! First, there is an admission fee of $5 per vehicle. Well worth the cost but they only take cash, FYI. There are bike trails, hiking trails, a boat ramp and kayaks and canoes rent. We have kayaked around the trail several times. Its about a three mile leg filed with birds, turtles and gators. If you are lucky enough, you may even see a deer. A very peaceful and easy kayak as long as you pick a calm day. The wind picked up on one trip and if you didn't keep paddling, the kayak went backwards. It made for an interesting last half of the trip but still fun. We are still laughing at the adventure and will do it again. The hiking trails can go for miles but there are paths periodically where you can turn around if you are done for the day. It seems to be a great place for birders. We took the big loop on our first time out and saw many different birds, turtles and even a deer. Thankfully, only one gator sighting. There seems to be many more gators in the kayak adventure (thankfully). I'd much rather seem them in the water than on a hiking trail. Also, while there seemed to be plenty of cars in the parking lot, the place was huge and not at all crowded. A very peaceful adventure. We have not yet taken the bike trails but it is on our list of next adventures. When we do, I'll update my review and hopefully have some photos to share.

Went during President's Day weekend around 11am hoping to spot some wildlife. You have to pay an entrance fee at the gate...if the ranger is there (he wasn't when I left). The weather that weekend was especially warm, in the mid 80s, and not very enjoyable walking around since there isn't much shade. First stop was the Marsh Trail, down the road from the entrance and to the left. Was able to park out front. Saw a handful of birds. Next stop was the Cypress Boardwalk behind the visitor center. Did not see any wildlife here. Does a small lizard count? Overall, very disappointing for wildlife on my visit. The lady at the visitor center said there's an alligator that hangs out on one of the paths, but I didn't see it. I went to Green Cay Wetlands right after and saw a good amount of animals (turtles, birds, alligator, fish) without having to pay an entrance fee.

Nice boardwalk and visitors' enter you can rent a kayak or canoe and explore a 5-mile circular waterway in the Everglades with lots of bird life and alligators good exercise and a lot of fun. Wear sunscreen and take a camera!

A spectacular elevated walk through wetlands and then many alligators at the boat ramp.

Love, love, love this place! Getting out in nature sooths the soul. See many types of birds, insects, beautiful butterflies and of course, the requisite Gator. You can get as much or as little exercise as you want. Remember to 1) BRING water 2) wear good shoes and a hat 3) sunscreen and 4) go see the Visitor's Center. It is well worth it. There is walking on decking type material in the Cypress or walking in the grassy area. It is all flat. Also good for biking. Bring a lunch.

10 dollars a car. The cyprus tree area in the back of the visitor center is short and I didn't see any animals. The marsh trail is dead in the sun and I didn't see much either, its just flat with some grass and water nothing exciting. And seems to go on forever. On the road you drive on we stopped and saw a mommy alligator with 10 babies. That was great. So really no need to go and pay. For those who want to see more alligators, birds snakes and turtles go to wakodahatchee park. That is free and has a bigger walking path where you see more. I think Loxahatchee would be better for hunters and fishers and those who want to kayak

As a big time nature fan, I confess my bias in favor of any wildlife preserves, parks, nature walks or natural setting areas. But even if I weren't, I don't think I could rate Loxahatchee less than Five Stars because of the serenity, peacefulness and activities it offers. I haven't explored everything, haven't done the canoe rental rides, but have footed about most of the area and have been truly impressed with what I have seen. The good thing about it is that it offers a little of something for everyone from the disabled or elderly to the children. The board walkways through the Everglade marsh area is easy to maneuver and offers spectacular sights not only of wildlife but of trees and various plant growth. The main visitor center doesn't amount to much, but those who staff it are knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. Consisting of slightly over 147,390 acres, having 257 bird species and 400 acres of bald cypress swamp, it's clearly one of our better National Wildlife Refuge areas and one not to be overlooked.

Went kayaking with a group of friends and it was a blast. Spent the whole day out there moving at our own pace and having fun. Will be back !

Massive place to walk and watch the wildlife and love that you can fish here and sometimes you'll see a crocodile or alligator roaming around.

This walk is pretty shady which is such a plus if you come to Florida on a hot day. You'll see so many dwarf cypress trees, apple snails , birds, air plants, water lilies, and so much more. Can you believe that there are six native ecosystems just on this site?  There are many different beautiful sitting areas here as well so you can rest and enjoy the scenery as much as you'd like. We are always surprised when we explore a beautiful place and we have it all to ourselves. How is this place not overrun by people?

As a huge nature lover this was one of my most anticipated bookmarks and boy what a disappointment! I went on a Sunday afternoon. I pass by the "gate" where they usually have someone collecting a fee to get in. There was no attendant there. A laminated paper stated "if there is no attendant present, either leave cash at the post to the right or pay at the visitor center". So basically an honor system. I could have easily parked my car and just disappeared into the greenery w/o paying but I find supporting our parks to protect our native plants and animals is so important. So I park at the visitor center (1st right after the gate). When I walked in, there was a couple speaking to an employee that collects the fees. He does not acknowledge me and I can hear him talking to the couple about the Everglades. The woman was the one who cared to have me catered and said "I don't want to keep this young lady waiting". The man just says "yes?" and I said "I would like to enter the park please". "That will be $5 cash" -_____- "Can you break a $50? That is all I have". "Ask the woman in the gift shop". I wait by the counter.A man that seems friendly with the woman says "I think this young lady would like some assistance". She completely disregards his comment and continues to talk about the sky and "how the heck are ya?" and bullshitting. I HATE that I said "sorry I am in a rush but can you please give me change for a $50?" because why should I apologize for someone's rudeness?! She says "I don't have any change. Maybe he has some (pointing at a young park ranger)". I love being bounced around to 3 different people just for my honesty. The guy gives me my change after I give him a $50 and doesn't even ring it as a transaction or give me some sort of proof for it. I walk thru a boardwalk (it had a name for it but I forgot, mostly cypress trail) and it was swampy and nothing enticing. I had no idea where to go and I was so upset with how I was treated I didn't bother to ask for a map or what the heck is accessible! I get back in my car and drive alittle further to another parking lot that had a gravel "trail" with just swampy marsh along side it. I crossed my fingers I would see a gator but nothing. The only interesting thing I came across was a small hut for caterpillars and chrysalis.

If you want a peaceful, quiet environment in the wild, this is your place. The fields seem to go on for miles. Saw some strange turtle with a thick neck and a pointy noise which was pretty neat. I wish I took a picture of that turtle. Nevertheless, we also saw some turtles swimming the water along with some big fish. There are no fences here, so keep your eyes open for alligators and wildlife. This is the northern part of the Everglades, so beware of alligators. There is nothing to protect you. In addition, there is no shade, so I wouldn't go here on a very sunny day cause you will burn up. There are a ton of grasshoppers the further you get in the park. Apparently they charge $5 to park on occasion, but there was no attendant during my visit on Sunday.

Went canoeing here and had a great time. This spot is definitely not for beginners though. I was a little frightened being that I am not all that of an expert. There is no one on site of the rental facility(we went during the pandemic though so not sure if it's always like this or not). You have call over the phone and they walk you through the steps of what you need to do the rent the canoe/kayak but everything is on your own. You have to drag the canoe/kayak and get in/out on your own. There is a map that guides you through the different areas. We were a little frighten to go too far out so we didn't venture out too far away. On our way back, we saw a big alligator head with eyes staring at us as we were passing by and then it went underwater, so of course we got a little frightened but stayed calmed and collective. I wouldn't recommend this to someone with kids(that would be afraid) or someone that isn't experienced in canoeing or kayaking. I would recommend this to people that aren't afraid of alligators and that are experienced in canoeing/kayaking. The views are gorgeous and you'll definitely see wildlife, we just weren't prepared since we didn't know what to expect. I will go back to hike the trials but I'll be more prepared next time around.

This place is great to visit with friends and family. Spotted wild birds, turtles, alligators and variety of butterflies. The water lilies were very picturesque. The cypress boardwalk felt like you are one with nature ..

Stunning area! Just absolutely beautiful! Well shaded on hot sunny days as well. I got some amazing shots. Loved the butterfly garden.

I love nature areas, and this NWR is no exception. We only explored a small portion but had a great time. We took the birding trail, which was huge. I would strongly suggest going in the winter or on a cooler, overcast day. There was very little shade on the trail we took. Sunscreen, water, and bug spray are also necessities. The visitor center was great. Not very large, but they offered a few interactive exhibits I really enjoyed. The employees were very friendly and helpful. My favorite part was the boardwalk behind the visitor center. We didn't see a lot of wildlife, but it was so pretty and peaceful. I could have sat out there all day. I probably wouldn't stop here in the middle of a summer day, but I plan to make many stops here in the fall and winter. A great resource if you love the outdoors.

'Ello chaps! Arthur R. Marshal Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is a nature enthusiasts dream land. Bountiful with lush everglades vegetation, reptiles, birds and all the area has to offer, this is sure to provide a great experience for anyone who enjoys "getting away from it all". Located just a short drive West of Boynton Beach, this park is very easy to get to. They have many walking trails, bike trails and offer bike rentals as well as canoe/kayak rentals. There are bathroom amenities on site, located throughout and at the Visitor's Center. Keep your cameras handy as you're bound to spot some gators, snakes, birds and insects.

Really cool place to see nature. Very beautiful Florida Everglades. Saw 4 snakes, 3 gators, crickets, owl. Boardwalk was shaded so wasn't too hot. You can canoe and looked liked people were doing a tour on a golf cart. Cute indoor area with some educational info on the Everglades. Make sure you bring water and snacks and sunscreen!

Recently revisited the Loxahatchee River and it's just as beautiful as ever. The water level has dropped a bit since I last visited. The small drop where we once floated over is now an area where you have to get down and pull your canoe over. This is so fun and beautiful. I can't wait to do it in the winter time when the otters and manatees come by for a visit. This time we saw 20+ turtles, anhingas, ibis, alligators, spiders, snails, crabs, and pretty large fish!

Bring cash!!! Very education and I loved "boat ride"!!! Great education place to learn about climate and nature. If you like nature and like photography there are pleanty of opportunities to take pictures of birds, flowers and butterflies.