Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges
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Welcome

We are the Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges, a nonprofit organization.

The mission of the Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge is to provide active advocacy and physical support for the successful stewardship of the Refuges. 

Refuge News

  • As the government continues cutting programs, we are concerned for our small Refuge staff.
  • A contract has been awarded to fix the Shell Mound Pier. The work will start in mid-June.
  • Refuge has secured $6 million dollars in hurricane disaster monies - projects are being prioritized.
  • $1.9 million has been secured to repair Dixie Mainline and Nature roads.​
Read more news is on our blog.
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Shell Mound Pier after 2024 Repair - It will look like this again soon!

Status of the Refuge Roads and Trails

On the Levy County side:
  • The Nature Drive - OPEN
  • Shell Mound - OPEN. Fishing pier is CLOSED due to damage and is scheduled for repair in June 2025.
  • Dennis Creek Trail- OPEN
  • The River Trail  boardwalks- permanently CLOSED.
    • An Update on Replacing the River Trail is here.
    • A Story about its Destruction is here.
  • Tram Ridge Trail is OPEN. See the trail guide here.
  • Gate 10 Road - OPEN
  • Gate 43 off Gate 10 Rd- OPEN for Hunting Season.
  • Atsena Otie Trail is OPEN but there is no boardwalk.​
Picture of a downed tree blocking the Tram Ridge Trail
Downed trees sometimes block roads and trails after storms.
On the Dixie County side:
  • Dixie Mainline- OPEN
  • The 7 side roads off CR 349- OPEN for Hunting Season
  • Fishbone Creek- OPEN
  • Shired Island boat ramp- OPEN
  • The Salt Creek Trail- OPEN
  • The Tall Pine Trail- OPEN

Seahorse Key Open House Schedule

2024-2025
Canceled due to extensive damage to the facilities at Seahorse Key during Hurricane Helene.
The Lighthouse is OK.

What are Open Houses like?

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About Hunting

Permit quotas are in effect this year.
Overview
FWS Hunting Regulations
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Submit safety & law enforcement data

Visit Both of our Refuges

​The Lower Suwannee Refuge is open daily from dawn to dusk for appropriate recreational uses including boating, hiking, fishing, biking, and birding. FWS Lower Suwannee Information Brochure.

The Cedar Keys Refuge is made up of 13 small islands offshore from the City of Cedar Key. Atsena Otie Island​ and the sandy beaches of the other islands are open to visitors. They must be accessed by personal boat. All interior and/or vegetated areas of the islands, other than Atsena Otie, are closed to visitors in order to protect the resident and transient birds nesting on them. Also, the waters and beaches around Snake Key (~100m) are closed to all entry March through June, since Snake Key is a major nesting area. Entry to closed areas on any of the islands is by permit only. FWS Cedar Keys Information Brochure.
shore birds roosting at Seahorse Key
Seahorse Key
View of Guld of Mexico from Shell Mound trail
The Shell Mound pier
Suwannee river seen from end of River Trail
Suwannee River seen from the River Trail
Long leaf pines along Tram Ridge Trail
Tram Ridge Trail
Friends members visiting the private Vista property on a field trip during the 2020 Annual Meeting
Vista property
USFWS Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge website
USFWS Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge website

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Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges
P. O. Box 532
Cedar Key, FL 32625
[email protected]
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.


  • Home
    • Our Blog
  • About
    • About Friends >
      • Who We Are
      • What We Do
      • Current News
      • Contact Us
    • About the Refuges >
      • Our Refuges
      • Places of Interest
      • Hunting Brochure
    • Members
  • Join
    • Donate
  • Maps
    • Paddling Guides
    • Refuge Maps
    • Trail Brochures
    • Places of Interest
  • Vista
    • What is Vista
    • Friends' role
    • The Future
    • Cooks General Restoration
    • Window Restoration
    • Lumbering
  • Wildlife
    • Wildlife Gallery
  • Hunting
    • Overview
    • Maps
    • FWS Hunting Brochure
    • Alternative Mobility Permits
    • Hunter SignUp
  • Fishing
  • Junior Ranger
  • Search
  • Store