Established in 1931 as a sanctuary for migratory birds, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is a beautiful landscape of coastal marshes, islands, tidal creeks, and estuaries of seven Florida Panhandle rivers. As a Globally Important Bird Area, it provides a critical wintering habitat for migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and over 300 bird species.
With 43 miles of north Florida’s Gulf coast, the refuge is home to St. Marks Lighthouse whose current tower was built in 1842.
The Florida Trail, one of 11 National Scenic Trails in the U.S., also runs through the refuge.
St. Marks consists of four units: Aucilla River, Panacea, St. Marks, and Wakulla. We visited the St. Marks unit in January 2026.
East River Pool, Stony Bayou Pool, and Mounds Pools
Our first opportunity to see wildlife was the wetlands of East River Pool, Stony Bayou Pool, and the Mounds Pools.
We found belted kingfishers, great blue herons, great egrets, green-winged teals, palm warblers, and pied-billed grebes.
At a pull-off, a small, red-shouldered hawk perched on a bare trunk in the tall grass. On our way back out in the late afternoon, we saw two additional red-shouldered hawks in the same area.
One of the last wildlife sightings in the day was in the field opposite the pools. Two white-tailed deer wandered and nibbled for a bit before bounding away.
St. Marks Lighthouse and Levee Trail
In the 1820s, the town of St. Marks (originally known as San Marcos de Apalache) was considered an important port of entry. Both Apalachee Bay and the St. Marks River were difficult to navigate, and it was common for boats to run aground or be stuck in the muddy shallows.
St. Marks Lighthouse was originally built in 1830. However, a dispute arose over the construction method. The brick tower was rebuilt and put into service in 1831.
In 1842, erosion threatened the lighthouse and the decision was made to move it to another site farther inland. Once the new tower was constructed, the original lantern and illuminating apparatus were reinstalled. Its walls, four feet thick at the base, survived the Civil War, countless hurricanes, and the slow, steady erosion of time. It is the second oldest lighthouse in Florida.
In 1883, the tower was extended an additional ten feet to its current 88-foot height. Both the tower and light keeper’s house rest on a 12-foot-thick limestone base.
According to Friends of St. Marks Wildlife Refuge, the lighthouse tower has always been white with a black lantern top. Over the years, oil, kerosene, and electricity have powered the lamp.
The half-mile Lighthouse Levee Trail starts at the edge of the parking area. Its L-shape follows the levee along the shoreline.
Wildlife
The Lighthouse Pool was full of wading birds, shorebirds, and ducks! I spent far too long watching them fly and swim.
Great blue herons, great egrets, snowy egrets, and tricolored herons patrolled the small islands. In the shallows, white ibises probed the mud near bobbing greater yellowlegs. The deeper water belonged to the divers – hooded and red-breasted mergansers sliced the surface beside drifting lesser scaups.
A group of Forster’s terns created a dance of dives as they hunted for food.
From the levee, we spied brown pelicans and ring-billed gulls in the water and boat-tailed grackles on the rocky shoreline.
Headquarters Pond Trail
This universally accessible 0.25-mile trail leads to a small wooden observation deck at the edge of the pond.
Eastern phoebes, gray catbirds, northern mockingbirds, red-bellied woodpeckers, red-winged blackbirds, and yellow-rumped warblers sang joyful tunes.
Tower Pond Trail and Picnic Pond
This 1-mile trail loops around Tower Pond on sand, dirt, and pine needles. Its trailhead is opposite Headquarters Pond Trail and shares its parking lot.
A female northern cardinal crooned from her perch in the bushes next to the parking area.
Near Picnic Pond, a yellow-rumped warbler bounced from branch to branch on a tree along the path before finally settling near some Spanish moss. I was able to get the best photos of this species I have ever taken.
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge perfectly captures the rugged charm of northern Florida. With its lighthouse and trails tailored for every skill level, it’s a seamless blend of history and nature. Don’t miss the chance to see this coastal escape for yourself.