lakewoodruffnationalwildliferefuge

Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge was purchased by US Fish & Wildlife Service through the Federal Duck Stamp Program. It was established in 1964 as a migratory bird refuge. Located in Volusia County near DeLeon Springs, the 22,000-acre refuge is bordered by the St. John’s River and includes swamps, marshes, uplands, hammocks, and creeks.

Look for bears, bobcats, manatees, otters, raccoons, opossums, and rabbits. Gopher tortoises, alligators, lizards, snakes, turtles, salamanders, toads, and frogs may cross your path.

There are 230 species of birds at Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge. How many songbirds, shorebirds, wading birds, and hawks will you see? The refuge boasts the 2nd largest pre-migration roost of swallow-tailed kites in the United States.

For more information click here: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Lake_Woodruff/

Photo Credit: Alex Clark
Swallow-tailed Kite – Andy Waldo.

Spring-to-Spring Trail

Volusia County’s Spring-to-Spring Trail is an apt name for a trail that will link several of the state and county parks that feature natural springs. It is planned for more than 26 miles and should take approximately 3 hours to complete. The paved, path will be ideal for walkers, joggers, skaters, bicyclists as well as those with disabilities. Trailheads are Debary Hall Historic Site, Gemini Springs Park, Lake Monroe Park, Lake Beresford Park, Blue Spring State Park, and Grand Avenue in Glenwood. To date, 15 miles have been completed.

The Spring to Spring Trail is planned for the diversity of the land and wildlife. You will see open fields to jungle-like conditions and you may encounter bald eagles, rabbits, armadillos, alligators, otters, coyotes, and deer.

The most northern segment starts near the base of De Leon Springs State Park. De Leon Springs is known for its lakes, creeks, and marshes. The trail travels south along Grand Avenue. To the west lies the Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge. Here freshwater marshes and swamps provide critical habitat for nesting, migrating, and wintering birds. This 6-mile segment ends at W. Minnesota Avenue. The next part of the trail is an 8.9-mile segment that begins on the southwestern outskirts of DeLand. The trail travels over 2 miles along Lake Beresford. The trail then travels along Blue Spring State Park through an environment that features hammock and magnolias trees. This park is a designated manatee refuge. You can learn more about this endangered animal through ranger programs as well as view them from an observation platform during the winter when manatees gather in the warm waters of the spring. The last part of the trail route is the most scenic. It traces the northwestern shoreline of Lake Monroe.

The Spring Trail is one segment of the much larger St. Johns River to Sea Loop. Eventually, the trail will stretch all the way from DeLeon Springs to New Smyrna Beach and Titusville.
Download a map of the Spring-to-Spring Trail here: https://www.volusia.org/…/park…/trails/spring-to-spring.stml
Photo:http://www.sportsvolusia.com