Welcome to the official Website of the
Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
We sincerely hope that your visit here is pleasant and rewarding. On our web site, you'll get tips on enjoying the Refuge safely. You'll also learn about some of the things we are doing to be responsible stewards of the Florida Everglades, and the things that live here. Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is the last northernmost portion of the unique Everglades. With over 221 square miles of Everglades habitat, the Loxahatchee Refuge is home to the American alligator and the critically endangered Everglade snail kite. In any given year, as many as 257 species of birds may use the Refuge's diverse wetland habitats. Please help us protect the resources so your children and their children will have the same opportunity for enjoyment in the future. If there's anything we can do to make your experience more enjoyable or rewarding, just ask a Ranger, volunteer or any Refuge employee.
For more information contact us at:
Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
10216 Lee Road
Boynton Beach FL. 33473
(561) 732-3684
Getting Here . . .
The refuge is located about 10 miles west of Boynton Beach, Florida. It is accessible from Interstate 95 and the Florida Turnpike by going west on either Boynton Beach Blvd or Atlantic Ave in Delray Beach, until you reach Highway 441/State Road 7.From Boynton Beach Blvd., proceed south on Hwy 441/SR7 for two miles and turn west (right) onto Lee Road. From Atlantic Ave, proceed north on Hwy 441/SR7 for two miles and turn west (left) onto Lee Road.
Current weather conditions at the Refuge 
Virtual Geocaching adventure comes to the Refuge
Students learning about the Refuge
A new hobby for the 21st century “Virtual Geocaching" is now available at the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.
The game is called "Virtual Geocaching," and although it started only five years ago, it's already a popular sport in more than 200 countries. This internationally growing outdoor recreational activity is best described as a high-tech scavenger hunt activity.
Virtual Geocaching utilizes a hand held Global Positioning System (GPS) device that guides you to existing points of interest on the Refuge, such as natural or cultural features, wayside exhibits, or other coordinates you enter into the GPS unit. Use your GPS device to go on a self-guided adventure in locating one or all of these virtual caches located on the Refuge. There are no cache container at the coordinates. This is a fact-finding expedition only. The treasures are the sites on the Refuge.
The Geocacher receives a page with clues on it from the Visitor Center. Each clue includes coordinates leading to a place on the Refuge. At the coordinates, the Geocacher will find answers to the questions listed on the clue sheet. Visitors who successfully locate and answer all ten landmark questions will have their book stamped with a Refuge stamp; their picture posted on the Refuge web site and receives a Refuge sticker. Successful location of the landmarks can be verified at the Visitor Center from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. daily except Christmas and Thanksgiving.
Now the love of the outdoors and a love of technology don't have to be mutually exclusive -- you can put your tech-savvy skills to work while getting to know the Refuge and discovering the Everglades! And whether you go Virtual Geocaching with family, friends or solo, one thing is for sure; this is an experience you will always treasure. If you're looking for a fun and interesting way to spend a few hours or a whole day — then Virtual Geocaching at Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife is the perfect answer.
Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Prescribed Fire Activity
Prescribed Fire
Fire Management officials at Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
(NWR) are planning to conduct a prescribed burn for wildlife habitat management. Depending on cooperative weather conditions, approximately 25,000 acres will be burned on the refuge between November 2008 and April of 2009. Under prescribed conditions, highly trained professionals will plan, set, and extinguish the fire.
The crews plan to ignite these prescribed fires on several units which are composed of a mix of Sawgrass and Cattail, they are being burned primarily to reduce hazardous fuels and restore fire to the Everglades which is a fire dependant ecosystem. The burns will be conducted by 10-12 people working from airboats around the unit’s perimeters, while a helicopter ignites the burns from the air. Prior to the burns Refuge fire and biology staff will fly over the unit to insure that no endangered species are present in the burn areas. The burns will be conducted on days when winds are blowing from the east; this will move the smoke away from developed areas and out over the Refuge and agricultural areas where it will quickly disperse.
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