--- title: "Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge" url: https://stacklist.com/card/e4a51bde-8dbb-40cb-b1b6-ad57a3adcde8 source_url: "https://www.fws.gov/refuge/okefenokee/visit-us" stack: https://stacklist.com/c/travel/stack/5b6092b3-06a2-46b3-9dc3-41ecc8097bb9 summary: "Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge offers visitors a unique swamp ecosystem in Georgia with diverse recreation options including paddling, hiking, fishing, hunting, and guided boat tours across multiple access points. The refuge provides detailed visitor guidance on hours, facilities, gear recommendations, and key locations such as the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area, Kingfisher Landing, and Stephen C. Foster State Park." tags: "okefenokee, wildlife-refuge, swamp, outdoor-recreation, georgia, paddling, nature" key_entities: "Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (location), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (organization), Suwannee Canal Recreation Area (location), Richard S. Bolt Visitor Center (location), Okefenokee Adventures (organization), Kingfisher Landing (location), Stephen C. Foster State Park (location), Folkston, GA (location), Fargo, GA (location), Georgia Department of Natural Resources (organization), Okefenokee Swamp Park (location), Suwannee River Sill (location), Waycross, GA (location)" classification: "reference" content_hash: "sha256:91e41ae67807edd837099c3fe4cbf3b1c6a77857646c1fa630e530a1b2567b11" acp_version: "0.2" token_counts_approximate: 2252 visibility: public agent_accessible: true status: "final" --- # Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Visit Us Visitors to Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge can experience and enjoy a unique ecosystem with a fascinating cultural history and rich species diversity. A visit to Okefenokee is a fantastic way to explore the great outdoors and connect with nature! The refuge is open daily one half-hour before sunrise to 7:30 pm from March to October and from one half-hour before sunrise to 5:30 pm during November to February.  Places To Go Suwannee Canal Recreation Area (Folkston, GA) This is the Main Entrance to Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. Facilities include the Richard S. Bolt Visitor Center , Okefenokee Adventures , Swamp Island Drive , Chesser Island Homestead, Chesser Island Boardwalk, a boat ramp with access to water trails, and several hiking trails. Learn more about the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area. Richard S. Bolt Visitor Center (Folkston, GA) The  Richard S. Bolt Visitor Center  is a great place to begin your visit! Hours may vary seasonally. Stop by the front desk to learn about recent wildlife sightings and opportunities for camping ,  hiking ,  canoeing and kayaking ,  motorized boating ,  hunting ,  fishing ,  photography , and more. You can reach the Richard S. Bolt Visitor Center at 912-496-7836.   Okefenokee Adventures (Folkston, GA) Okefenokee Adventures is the official onsite concessionaire for the refuge. Purchase an entrance pass, take a guided boat tour, grab a bite to eat from Camp Cornelia Café, enjoy an overnight excursion, or rent a canoe, kayak, Jon boat, or bike to explore the refuge. For more information, contact Okefenokee Adventures at 912-496-7156.  Kingfisher Landing (Folkston, GA) Kingfisher Landing is located 13 miles north of Folkston, GA on US Route 1/GA Hwy 121 and provides motorized and non-motorized boat access to both Red and Green trails . The site features a boat ramp and restroom facilities. This is a popular place for both day-use and overnight camping visitors to embark on their paddling trips.  Stephen C. Foster State Park (Fargo, GA) Stephen C. Foster State Park is managed cooperatively between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Their address is 17515 Hwy 177 Fargo, GA 31631. Learn more about Stephen C. Foster State Park .  The Suwannee River Sill (Fargo, GA) The Suwannee River Sill is located eight miles south of Stephen C. Foster State Park. The Sill is a great place for fishing, observing wildlife, and has an area to launch small boats (under 10hp), canoes, and kayaks. Okefenokee Swamp Park (Waycross, GA) Okefenokee Swamp Park is a private non-profit facility. Visitors can explore the park, learn from interpretive displays and exhibits, take a naturalist guided boat tour, ride the Okefenokee railroad, learn about wildlife at an Eye on Nature Show, and much more. Learn more about Okefenokee Swamp Park . Know Before You Go What should I wear when visiting the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge?  Check the weather conditions before leaving home and dress appropriately for the day. We recommend dressing in layers. Wear lightweight long sleeves, long pants, and walking shoes. Sun protection is a must. You’ll want a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Bring plenty of water, snacks, insect repellent, and a first aid kit. Be prepared for changing weather, as afternoon storms can happen.  What else should I bring on my trip to the refuge?  If you are a kayaker or canoeist, you’ll want to bring your boat, paddle, and personal flotation device and take one of the day-use paddling trails to experience the refuge. If you are a birder, don't forget your binoculars as there are sure to be opportunities for viewing red-cockaded woodpeckers, sandhill cranes, owls, and more. Whatever your interest, have a camera with you as Okefenokee is one of the most picturesque and photographic places!  When is the best time to visit the refuge?   From wildlife you may see, to the flowers blooming in the wet prairies and the upland forests, each season is quite different! Generally, for wildlife observation early morning or later in the evening are the best times where they are up and moving around. Also, the summer months can be quite hot and buggy by the afternoon, so plan an early morning trip during the months of July-early September. Read tips and tricks for finding and watching wildlife that will help keep both you and wildlife safe! Entrance Fees and Passes The refuge is a federal fee area and entrance passes are required for all visitors. Entrance fees are waived for visitors during Fee Free Days (see below), if the visitor is in possession of a current and signed Federal Duck Stamp or America the Beautiful Interagency Pass. Entrance fees are included in the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area (SCRA) Hunt Permit fee. No separate entrance fee is required for SCRA hunt permit holders. Visitors entering Cowhouse Island or Kingfisher Landing do not pay an entrance fee. Fees collected are used to directly assist with providing safe and meaningful experiences to refuge visitors, including improvement to the refuge's canoe trails, roads, trails, publications, and other maintenance to visitor facilities.  Separate fees apply for concessionaire operated tours and rentals. Entrance fees are included in the overnight camping permit fee. No separate entrance fee is required for camping permit holders. All passes admit the passholder and up to 3 adults (age 16 or older) in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle. Separate fees apply for commercial vehicles. Please be prepared to show your hard copy pass or digital pass on your mobile device. Passes are non-transferable, non-refundable, not replaceable if lost or stolen, and are void if altered or reproduced. The person who signed the pass must be in the vehicle. 2026 Fee Free Days Presidents Day (February 16, 2026) Memorial Day (May 25, 2026) Flag Day/President Trump’s birthday (June 14, 2026) Independence Day weekend (July 3–5, 2026) 110th Birthday of the National Park Service (August 25, 2026) Constitution Day (Sept. 17, 2026) First Sunday of NWR Week (October 11, 2026) Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday (Oct. 27, 2026) Veteran’s Day (November 11, 2026)  Pass Options A variety of passes can be purchased in-person onsite at Okefenokee Adventures and Stephen C. Foster State Park. You can purchase a daily of annual Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge digital pass online by visiting Recreation.gov  or at the digital fee machine before entering the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area. We recommend that you print out or download your Recreation.gov pass on your mobile device in advance of your visit as cellular service may be limited.  Pass Name Cost Details Daily Pass $5.00 Per vehicle. Valid for seven days only at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. Annual Pass  $15.00 Per vehicle. Valid only at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. Commercial Vehicle Varies $5.00 for 9 or fewer passengers $25.00 for 10-25 passengers $50.00 for 26 or more passengers Federal Duck Stamp   $25.00 Valid for one year, July 1 to June 30, at all National Wildlife Refuges that charge an entrance fee. Resident Annual Pass $80.00 Available to U.S. citizens and residents. Non-Resident Annual Pass $250.00 Anyone can purchase but available for non-U.S. residents. Senior Annual Pass $20.00 Available for U.S. citizens and residents who are age 62 or older; valid for one year from purchase month. Senior Lifetime Pass $80.00 Available for U.S. citizens and residents who are age 62 or older; pass does not expire. Military Annual Pass Free Annual pass for current U.S. military members and their dependents. Documentation is required. Military Lifetime Pass Free For Gold Star Family members and U.S. military veterans; pass does not expire. Documentation is required. Access Pass Free For U.S. citizens and residents with documentation of permanent disability; pass does not expire. 4th Grade Pass Free For current U.S. 4th grade students with valid Every Kid Outdoors voucher . Pass valid from September 1 to August 31 annually.  Volunteer Pass Free Free annual pass after completing 250+ hours of volunteer service on public lands. Activities Camping Boating - non-motorized Fishing Wildlife watching Photography Hiking Hunting Boating - motorized Education programs Auto tour Picnicking Ranger-led programs Dog walking View All Activities Trails Visit the Hiking or Trails page for more information. Related Documents Name Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge General Brochure PDF May 5, 2025 Other Facilities in the Complex Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is managed as part of the Okefenokee Complex. 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