Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is a large protected peat swamp on the Georgia-Florida border in the southeastern United States. The refuge was established to conserve the swamps ecosystems and wildlife and today protects roughly 400,000 acres of wetland.

Visitors explore a labyrinth of blackwater channels, cypress stands and peat bogs via canoe, boat or short boardwalk trails. Wildlife viewing, including birds, turtles and alligators, is a major draw; guided boat tours and paddle trails provide primary visitor access.

The swamp developed over millennia as peat accumulated in a shallow basin. In the early 20th century parts of the swamp were altered by canals and logging; federal protection began when the area was designated a National Wildlife Refuge in 1937 to halt large-scale development and preserve habitat.

The refuge sits in southeastern Georgia and extends to the Florida line, within reach of towns such as Waycross and Folkston, Georgia. The landscape is flat, watery and dominated by swamp forest and open peat bog.

• Size: Covers roughly 400,000 acres of peat-filled wetland in the southeastern United States.
• River sources: Contains the headwaters or early courses of both the Suwannee and St. Marys rivers, with extensive canoe and boat-accessible waterways.
• Access and facilities: Public access is largely by water - the refuge operates boat and canoe trails and has visitor facilities and guided boat tours from adjacent state park and refuge launch sites.

What to See #

• Suwannee Canal Recreation Area: Suwannee Canal Recreation Area provides boat ramps, primitive campsites and access points for paddle and motorized boat trips into the heart of the swamp.
• Chesser Island Homestead: Chesser Island Homestead is a preserved riverside homestead accessible by boat that interprets early 20th century life inside the swamp.