Pine Island National Wildlife Refuge
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Located in southwestern Florida, Pine Island National Wildlife Refuge is a must-visit destination for nature lovers.
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Summary
Covering over 17,000 acres, the refuge is home to a variety of ecosystems, including mangrove forests, salt marshes, and seagrass beds.
One of the main reasons to visit Pine Island National Wildlife Refuge is to observe the incredible array of wildlife that calls the refuge home. Visitors can see a variety of bird species, including herons, egrets, and ospreys, as well as sea turtles, dolphins, and manatees.
There are several points of interest to explore within the refuge, including the Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge, which is home to a variety of tidal creeks and mangrove islands. Other popular spots include the Calusa Shell Mound Trail, which leads visitors through ancient shell mounds created by the Calusa people, and the Pine Island Sound Aquatic Preserve, which offers visitors the chance to explore the refuge's clear waters.
Interesting facts about Pine Island National Wildlife Refuge include its status as one of the largest undeveloped mangrove islands in the United States. The refuge is also an important nesting site for sea turtles, with loggerhead, green, and Kemp's Ridley turtles all using the refuge's beaches to lay eggs.
The best time of year to visit Pine Island National Wildlife Refuge is between November and April, when the weather is cooler and there is less rainfall. Visitors should also be aware that the refuge is only accessible by boat, so planning ahead is essential.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park
Calusa Land Trust and Nature Preserve of Pine Island
Aquatic Preserve Matlacha Pass
Lighthouse Point
Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge