Really Florida!

The day before yesterday, David and I visited two of the three parts of the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.  We took a look at the 20-Mile Bend entrance, as well as the Boynton Beach entrance.  It’s changed, yet stayed the same.

The LNWR is a pretty big place, and most of it is, alas, off-limits to people.  But the canal circling the refuge is available to the public, and the Boynton Beach entrance has more facilities, such as a boardwalk, visitor center, etc.

Now I didn’t bring my camera along with me (the trip was spur-of-the-moment, after I had left the camera at the house), so the photos I have on this post are from the last trip I made to the LNWR.

20-Mile Bend Entrance

This is fairly remote, at least for Palm Beach County.  You take Southern way out west to 20-Mile Bend, and follow the signs on the south side of the road.  This part is obviously not heavily used (no other people there on a Monday afternoon), and is the domain of the boat, both small powerboats and the canoe/kayak variety.

Really — there isn’t anything else to do here — no trails to walk, no visitor’s center, and only a portable outhouse for when nature calls.  But the payoff is that nature rules!  Because it’s lightly used, you might find yourself alone on the canal, which is bordered by grasses and wildlife.

If you go out boating (no matter what kind), take extra precautions — the water is deep and there are few shallow places along the banks where you might be able to get back into the boat if you take a spill. And because you may very well be alone on the water, there isn’t anyone else to help you — definitely bring a cell phone, and hope that it works (it’s a rather remote area and scanty cell coverage).

Oh yeah, and alligators are part of the wildlife experience.

Boynton Beach Entrance

This is a more widely used are of the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, and has a visitor’s center with a boardwalk behind it.  At the moment, the boardwalk is being re-built, so only portions are available for a stroll.  But even so, we saw signs of wild pigs, heard hawks and viewed some gorgeous scenery.  Hopefully the boardwalk will be fully completed by the end of the fall.

We went over to the boat ramp, to see what it looked like, and found that they rent canoes.  No one was around to tell me prices, though.  The ramp is steep to drive your automobile up and down, and not a big turn-around area at the ramp area itself; if you want to boat, you’re best off with a canoe or kayak; powerboats are better suited to the 20-Mile Bend entrance.

In addition to the boardwalk, there is a marsh trail, where you will see all manner of birds, large and small.  In the fall especially, I hear that this refuge is chock-full of them.  And if the marsh trail and boardwalk aren’t enough, there are 50+ miles of trails on the levy rimming the canal.

If you need a rest in the shade, there is a pavilion area near to the marsh trail (although on the other side of the marsh). It looks out over the marsh and there is plenty of wildlife to observe. Lovely area to rest and relax and enjoy nature.

So that’s it for the time being. See you later!

It ocurred to me that if you do want to do some MacArthur Beach State Park kayaking, there are a few more things you probably should know.  And I apologize for not having photos — I’m waiting to get a digital camera that is waterproof before I take one along!

MacArthur Beach State Park Kayaking Tips

You can bring your own kayak or you can rent one from the park concession. 

If you choose to rent one, you can do so between the hours of 9 AM to 3 PM.  Last I checked, it was $10/hr for a single kayak, $20/hr for a double.  The rental kayaks are the sit on top kind.  You need to go into the visitor’s center to get the rental.

There is a guided tour by one of the park rangers every day, tides permitting.  It’s $20 per person (includes the kayak rental) and the tour is around 2 hours long.  When David and I went last year, it ended up being close to 3 hours, and it was a blast!

Occasionally there are kayak fishing lessons offered at the park, if that appeals to you.  There are plenty of fish in the lagoon area!  However, keep in mind that you need a saltwater fishing license.

If you’re bringing your own kayak, watch for the sign showing the put-in location.  If you’ve gotten to the visitor’s center, you’ve missed it.

Again with bringing your own kayak, it’s a short walk from where you unload to where you actually put into the water.  However, it is a bit on the steep side, and walk carefully, as there are mangrove roots ready to trip you.

Whether you are renting a kayak or bringing your own, you must pay the park fee to enter.  Right now it’s $5 per verhicle, for up to 8 people in the vehicle.  However, if you are going on the guided tour, you do not need to pay the park entry fee, as you register at the park entrance station.