PLANNING UPDATE for Proposed Boundary Expansions at 10 National Wildlife Refuges in Coastal Georgia and South Carolina Lowcountry at the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex and South Carolina Lowcountry Refuges Complex.
Highlights of the Proposal:
- Hunting and other permitted recreational uses would continue on existing public recreational areas, including state Wildlife Management Areas under jurisdictions of the states. The Service is not seeking to manage those existing public conservation areas; the Service is seeking to add lands to the existing conservation network in this important landscape.
- The proposal would not affect state navigable waters; fishing and boating would continue on those waters under state regulations.
- Being included within the proposed boundary expansion area would not affect how owners use their property or to whom they may choose to sell their property. The boundary expansion simply allows the Service to acquire lands that meet our conservation priorities through purchase from willing sellers or donations.
- If finalized, the proposal would conserve about 10% of the outlined Conceptual Focus Areas, aligning with Georgia and South Carolina goals, both State Wildlife Action Plans, and the Southeast Conservation Blueprint. Implementation of the proposed expansions could take many decades.
- The Service's policy is to work with willing sellers.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes Major Boundary Expansions for National Wildlife Refuges in Coastal Georgia and South Carolina Lowcountry at the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex and South Carolina Lowcountry Refuges Complex. Click here to learn more.
Dogs and other domestic pets are not allowed on refuge lands, including all trails and beaches. This is especially important on the beaches of Wassaw and Blackbeard Island NWRs to protect declining shorebird and seabird populations that rely on these areas for survival. In addition to the potential for disturbance to wildlife and other visitors, dogs are easy prey for American alligators which are abundant on all refuges in the Complex. You may have your pet while driving the wildlife drives at Savannah and Harris Neck NWRs, but they are not allowed to leave your vehicle.
Visit Us
National wildlife refuges offer us all a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings. There are wildlife-dependent recreational activities offered year-round at Savannah National Wildlife Refuge including hiking, bicycling, wildlife viewing, photography, fishing and hunting.
All refuge lands and trails, including the 4.5-mile Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive, are open 365 days a year from sunrise to sunset, unless otherwise posted. There is no physical address for the Wildlife Drive, but if you come to the Visitor Center first, using the address below, there is signage at the entrance that will direct you to the drive. This signage is outside of the entrance gate, so its always accessible outside the limited visitor center hours of operation.
The Visitor Center, located at 694 Beech Hill Lane, Hardeeville, SC, is open Monday - Friday from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, excluding all federal holidays.
Please do not use ride services such as Uber and Lyft to visit the refuge as most sites require driving to and from, and cellular service is not always available.
Activities
There are wildlife-dependent recreational activities offered year-round at Savannah National Wildlife Refuge including hiking, bicycling, wildlife viewing, photography, fishing and hunting.
Trails
There are trails accessible from the Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive that are open to hiking and bicycling. All of these trails are wide, earthen dikes covered with grass and would only be suitable for a bicycle with thicker tires.
There are also trails accessible from the Kingfisher Pond Recreation Area. These trails are single-track, meandering through wooded areas and are also open to hiking and bicycling.
Related Documents
The full refuge map below represents the entire refuge, while the refuge trail map represents the small portion of the refuge where most visitor use occurs, including the Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive. The Beech Hill Nature Trail Guide is to be used while exploring the Beech Hill Trail located behind the Savannah NWR Visitor Center.
Other Facilities in the Complex
Savannah NWR is one of seven refuges administered by the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex which is headquartered at the Savannah NWR Visitor Center located in Hardeeville, South Carolina.
Rules and Policies
There are many fun and interesting things to do and see during your visit to Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, but it is our job to ensure the habitat that our wildlife calls "home" is protected. Below are some important regulations that help keep both visitors and wildlife safe.
- The refuge is open during daylight hours only; overnight use and/or camping (including campfires) are not permitted.
- Some areas may be closed seasonally to protect wildlife from human disturbance. Such areas are posted "Area Beyond This Sign Closed."
- Feeding, capturing, or harassing wildlife is strictly prohibited unless authorized by permit.
- Launching, landing, or disturbing of wildlife by aircraft (drones) on the refuge is prohibited.
- Dogs, cats, and other pets are not permitted on the refuge unless confined inside a vehicle.
- Picking or cutting vegetation is prohibited.
- All of the refuge's archaeological and natural resources are protected. Artifact hunting/collecting is not allowed.
- Automobiles must remain on the wildlife drive. Hikers and bicyclers are encouraged to stay on marked trails.
- The refuge, unless otherwise posted, is open to hiking, biking, wildlife observation, interpretation, environmental education, and photography. It is also open, in certain areas and times of the year, to hunting and fishing; review refuge hunting and fishing regulations for details.