Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area
The area’s exceptional wildlife habitats, including floodplain forests, sawgrass marshes, and pine flatwoods, support both rare and common wildlife species. The Apalachicola River ecosystem boasts the highest diversity of amphibians and reptiles in the U.S., as well as the greatest number of freshwater fish species in Florida. Over 280 species of native birds have been observed at the WEA. We recommend visiting Old Ag Fields, Cash Bayou, Sand Beach Tower, and Bloody Bluff. Please note that this site is expansive, and drive times between locations can exceed an hour.
Featured Image: Apalachicola National Forest
Sites At This Location
Sand Beach
Sand Beach Road ends at a pier and wildlife viewing tower, in a nice hammock where Yellow-throated and Orange-crowned Warblers (winter) can be seen. East Bay can be full of birds between November and March. Scope for Forster’s Terns, Horned Grebes and rafts of Lesser Scaup and Bufflehead. Caspian Terns are occasional visitors. A Bald Eagles nest is visible from the tower, and Northern Harriers can be seen quartering the marsh during the winter months. In summer, Swallow-tailed Kites can be seen drifting over the trees. The area roads can be interesting for birding and butterflying, particularly Tank Island Road and Butcher Pen Landing. In spring (good) or fall (best), take the wildflower driving tour to see the spectacular patches of flowers along these roads. Also, look for Black Swallowtail, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Gulf Fritillary, Viceroy, and Cloudless Sulphur. Shallow streams across the road (low water crossings) have firm limestone bottoms, and are not an obstacle to 2WD vehicles, except during very high water. These are a hydrologically sensitive alternative to culverts.
Site Information
This Site is Free to Enter
View Seasonal Hunting Information
Managing Agency
FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Operational Hours: Open to public access year round.
Size: 1,534 acres
Old Agricultural Fields
This part of the Wildlife and Environmental Area lies on the river’s west side and includes roughly 1,100 acres of old agricultural fields mown and planted for hunting deer, turkey and quail. The same management techniques that benefit these species also make the area prime for wintering sparrows. Species you may encounter include White-throated, Swamp, Song, Savannah, White-crowned, Field, Vesper and Grasshopper. Mississippi and Swallow-tailed Kites feast on insects above the fields in summer; Southeastern American Kestrels, Cooper’s Hawks and Red-tailed Hawks can be viewed year-round. Get a map at the office on the way in and drive Tram, Boggy Branch, Bean Field, Palmetto and Indian Roads. Feel free to park on the roadside and walk the fields looking for sparrows. Ephemeral wetlands throughout the area are worth checking for wintering waterfowl also.
Site Information
This Site is Free to Enter
View Seasonal Hunting Information
Managing Agency
FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Operational Hours: Open to public access year round.
Size: 1,100 acres
Cash Bayou
If you’re traveling between Sumatra and Eastpoint, it’s worth taking a moment to pull off at the edge of Cash Bayou to take in the beautiful scenery at this site. As you take in the great views of the bayou from the fishing dock, scan for Bald Eagles and American Bitterns (winter), and listen for Brown-headed Nuthatches and Pine Warblers. Better yet, set off on your canoe or kayak from the paddle launch across the highway from the dock and search the bayou for Marsh Wrens, Clapper Rails and Least Bitterns (summer). You may get lucky and come across a River Otter! In July and August look for Swallow-tailed Kites and flocks of swallows heading south. See the paddling guide for more information.
Site Information
This Site is Free to Enter
View Seasonal Hunting Information
Managing Agency
FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Operational Hours: Open to public access year round.
Size: 68 acres
Bloody Bluff Tract
Along the drive down Bloody Bluff Rd., watch the edges for wintering sparrows including Chipping, Swamp and Song, and listen in spring for Bachman’s Sparrows. The boat ramp provides access to the Apalachicola River for boaters and paddlers. The river trail near the boat ramp at the end of the road can be good for songbirds like Yellow-throated Warbler and Blue-headed Vireo, and Swallow-tailed and Mississippi Kites frequent the river run. Most roads in this area can be interesting for birding (Creek Rd. and Old County Rd. have been productive for sparrows in the past) and several species of rare plants occur. In fall, butterfly viewing can be excellent; look for Question Mark, Red-spotted Purple, Southern Cloudywing and Long-tailed Skippers. This site is very rustic and there are some low water crossings on the dirt roads, but these washes are hard bottomed (and accordingly passable in 2WD except in times of very high water).
Site Information
This Site is Free to Enter
View Seasonal Hunting Information
Managing Agency
FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Operational Hours: Open to public access year round.
Size: 2,173 acres
