The "Road to Nowhere" is a paved road (CR 361) that runs from Steinhatchee for 12 miles nearly all the way to the Gulf of America. Birders and wildlife watchers will want to explore the southern end (the last 6 miles) of the road, which skirts along the eastern boundary and eventually terminates inside the Big Bend Wildlife Management Area's Jena Unit. A map of the 11,651-acre Jena Unit is available on the FWC's website.
The north side of this 53,000-acre national wildlife refuge lies in Dixie County and has several recommended stops for birding and wildlife viewing. Shired Island Beach trails lead you through coastal hammocks, past mudflats and open beach. Dixie Mainline (B, C) is a 9-mile, unpaved road through pine flatwoods, bottomland hardwoods and marsh. Fishbone Creek (D), accessed from CR 357, has an observation platform with a vantage of salt marsh, plus a small boat launch on the creek. Salt Creek (E) has an ADA-accessible boardwalk to the salt marsh where Bald Eagles frequently nest.
A boardwalk meanders from the spring run to the Suwannee River, through a cypress stand. Florida Manatees are present in the spring run and river each winter, and from December 1 to March 30, the spring run is closed to paddlers to protect the manatees from disturbance. The park offers 8.5 miles of nature trails through cypress swamp and uplands; the best birding opportunities are near the river.
The “Road to Nowhere” is a paved road (CR 361) that runs from Steinhatchee for 12 miles nearly all the way to the Gulf of America. Birders and wildlife watchers will want to explore the southern end (the last 6 miles) of the road, which skirts along the eastern boundary and eventually terminates inside the Big Bend Wildlife Management Area’s Jena Unit. A map of the 11,651-acre Jena Unit is available on the FWC’s website.
The north side of this 53,000-acre national wildlife refuge lies in Dixie County and has several recommended stops for birding and wildlife viewing. Shired Island Beach trails lead you through coastal hammocks, past mudflats and open beach. Dixie Mainline (B, C) is a 9-mile, unpaved road through pine flatwoods, bottomland hardwoods and marsh. Fishbone Creek (D), accessed from CR 357, has an observation platform with a vantage of salt marsh, plus a small boat launch on the creek. Salt Creek (E) has an ADA-accessible boardwalk to the salt marsh where Bald Eagles frequently nest.
A boardwalk meanders from the spring run to the Suwannee River, through a cypress stand. Florida Manatees are present in the spring run and river each winter, and from December 1 to March 30, the spring run is closed to paddlers to protect the manatees from disturbance. The park offers 8.5 miles of nature trails through cypress swamp and uplands; the best birding opportunities are near the river.
The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail is a network of more than 500 premier wildlife viewing sites across the state. When you want to know where to go in Florida to see native birds, butterflies and more, head for the Trail.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Russell Office Park
1875 Orange Ave. East
Tallahassee, FL 32311