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Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, Gulf Shores

4.6
#1 of 6 in Wildlife in Gulf Shores
Hiking Trail · Hidden Gem · Wildlife Area
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Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge is a 7,157-acre (29 km2) National Wildlife Refuge located in five separate units in Baldwin and Mobile Counties, United States, directly west of Gulf Shores, Alabama on the Fort Morgan Peninsula. The refuge serves as a resting and feeding area for migratory birds and as a sanctuary for native flora and fauna. The refuge is one of the largest undeveloped parcels of land on the Alabama coast.

Established in 1980, Bon Secour (the name, in French, means "safe harbor") is smaller than most other national wildlife refuges, and is divided into Sand Bayou, Perdue, Little Point Clear, Fort Morgan, and Little Dauphin Island.

The Perdue unit is the most developed. Most units are located on the Fort Morgan Peninsula in Baldwin County, except Little Dauphin Island, which is in Mobile County. More than 50,000 guests visit the refuge annually. The fiscal year 2005 budget was $404,000.

Protected habitats within the refuge include beaches and sand dunes, scrub forest, fresh and saltwater marshes, fresh water swamps, and uplands.
To visit Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge on your holiday in Gulf Shores, and find out what else Gulf Shores has to offer, use our Gulf Shores.
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Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
278 reviews
Google
4.7
TripAdvisor
  • Keep an eye out for the turn into the parking area. There is a small sign but it’s easy to miss. There is a fair amount of parking available, and it’s mostly shady. We took the Pine Beach Trail. It... 
    Keep an eye out for the turn into the parking area. There is a small sign but it’s easy to miss. There is a fair amount of parking available, and it’s mostly shady. We took the Pine Beach Trail. It...  more »
  • Very nice park. We walked the trail/path to the lake, climbed the stairs up to the observation deck and then on to the beach. The trail is wide and consists of hard packed dirt and stone. Very easy....  more
    Very nice park. We walked the trail/path to the lake, climbed the stairs up to the observation deck and then on to the beach. The trail is wide and consists of hard packed dirt and stone. Very easy....  more »
Google
  • A beautiful place for a walk! Winding trails through scenic lake and dune views that lead to a gorgeous beach. Very clean and quiet area as well. We were there for several hours and only encountered a few other people on the trails. We didn't manage to spot any alligators in Gator Lake, but it was still a lovely, peaceful day in nature.
  • Always do a hike here every time I'm in the gulf. It's a gorgeous park with plenty of wildlife. In October there's monarch butterflies and migratory birds in November. Summer months are hot, but still lots of things to enjoy, not to mention the peace and quiet. I will say I hope they get the boardwalks repaired soon. Drastically cuts into the distance.

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