One of the largest national wildlife refuges in the eastern United States, Loxahatchee protects 145,000 acres of the northern Everglades — the only remaining piece of what was once a continuous wetland system. The refuge is primarily sawgrass marsh and wet prairie, with tree islands of cypress and pop ash rising above the water. Alligators are abundant and visible from the levee paths; the birding is exceptional year-round but best between October and April when wading birds and migratory species are present in large numbers.
Two visitor-accessible areas sit at the eastern edge of the refuge. The Headquarters area off Lee Road has a boardwalk through cypress swamp (good for anhingas, herons, and barred owls), a freshwater fishing pier, and a canoe/kayak launch into the marsh. The Hillsboro area to the south has a similar boardwalk and is often less crowded. Rangers lead guided tours during peak season. Allow at least two hours; birders could easily spend a full day.