Photo: Tabetha Moe, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge protects about 407,000 acres of the Okefenokee Swamp in southeast Georgia, the largest national wildlife refuge east of the Mississippi. Paddle blackwater trails through cypress and open prairies, walk a boardwalk to an observation tower, and count alligators from the canal bank.
Established in 1937, the refuge holds the headwaters of the Suwannee and St. Marys rivers, and nearly 354,000 acres are designated wilderness. It is a Wetland of International Importance and home to wood storks, sandhill cranes, red-cockaded woodpeckers and more than 600 kinds of plants.
- SizeAbout 407,000 acres
- Entry fee$5 per day; $15 annual pass
- Main entranceSuwannee Canal, near Folkston
- Visitor center912-496-7836
Three Ways In
East: Suwannee Canal Recreation Area
The main refuge entrance near Folkston, with the Richard S. Bolt Visitor Center, Swamp Island Drive, the Chesser Island Boardwalk, boat rentals and guided tours. Open from a half hour before sunrise to 7:30 p.m. March through October and to 5:30 p.m. November through February.
West: Okefenokee State Park
Formerly Stephen C. Foster State Park, near Fargo. Campsites, cabins, boat rentals and tours on the swamp’s wild west side, and an International Dark Sky Park for stargazing. 912-637-5274.
North: Okefenokee Swamp Park
A private nonprofit park near Waycross with exhibits and boat tours. It charges its own admission.
See all Okefenokee entrances, including the smaller Kingfisher Landing and Suwannee River Sill access points.
Things to Do
Hiking & the Boardwalk
The 0.75-mile Chesser Island Boardwalk leads out across the swamp to a 40-foot observation tower. Pets are not allowed on the boardwalks because of alligators.
Boating & Paddling
Day-paddle the canal and prairies or reserve an overnight wilderness canoe trip with camping platforms. Motors are limited to 10 horsepower on designated trails, and boats must be off the water by 6 p.m. (4 p.m. in winter).
Wildlife
Alligators, wading birds, sandhill cranes in winter and red-cockaded woodpeckers in the longleaf pines. See also photography and fishing.
Visitor center hours: The Richard S. Bolt Visitor Center is open Tuesday through Friday 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; it is closed Sunday, Monday and federal holidays. The refuge grounds keep their own, longer hours.
More Okefenokee Guides
Photos
AlligatorsCommon along the canal
Chesser Island HomesteadA restored swamper farm
Overnight PlatformsCamping deep in the swamp
Wading BirdsHerons, egrets and cranes
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, public domain; Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, public domain; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, public domain.
Sources we checked
Facts in this guide were checked in September 2026 against the agencies and operators that run these places:
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Okefenokee NWR visit – entrances, hours, fees and boating rules
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: About the refuge – size, history and habitats
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Hiking – trails and boardwalk
Spot something out of date? Email Contact@n-georgia.com and we’ll check it against the official source. Read how we research our guides.
Last updated: September 2026