Saint Vincent National Wildlife Refuge
Saint Vincent National Wildlife Refuge
Saint Vincent National Wildlife Refuge
4.5
About
This barrier island is located in Florida's Apalachicola Bay.
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Saint Vincent National Wildlife Refuge and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
28 within 3 miles
Attractions
22 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
32 reviews
Excellent
24
Very good
6
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
0
travenop
Dexter, MI102 contributions
Jan 2022 • Couples
We Kayaked across from the boat launch at the end of Indian Pass Rd. (we stayed in the RV park there for 3 nights...perfect access spot) it was pretty windy but its a very short easy paddle across despite the tidal inlet.
There is a short clearly maked hike as well as a bunch of sand roads...my wife LOVED walking the beach and collecting shells. There are tons of them since its not very easy to access.
We hope to return and kayak the back side of the island. Very beautiful and unspoiled!
There is a short clearly maked hike as well as a bunch of sand roads...my wife LOVED walking the beach and collecting shells. There are tons of them since its not very easy to access.
We hope to return and kayak the back side of the island. Very beautiful and unspoiled!
Written 22 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nicste1
Durham, NC5 contributions
This island is amazing, however, we didn't take full advantage of it. Most of the cool wildlife as we found out after our trip, is located on the east end of the island, not the west. Try to find a ferry that goes to the east side, as your hike will be more interesting, and you won't have to pay a guy $10 per person for a 2 minute ride to the island from Indian pass.
Written 27 March 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Osito61
Wisconsin162 contributions
Mar 2015 • Couples
It takes a bit of extra effort to visit St. Vincent's refuge; one just cannot drive up to it. Some kayak, and the distance between the tip of Indian Pass and the island is short, but the crossing has a strong or stronger current (depending on the tide). If possible, try to visit with one of the monthly tours (information on the website; unavailable in summer).
The island is large, with varied terrain, and so the tour, where one sits in an open wheeled cart and is pulled along by a motorized vehicle, allows one to see parts of the island one could never reach on foot. Besides, for those of us who don't want to get too too close to alligators and snakes, it's nice at times to have a bit of distance from the wild.
The terrain varies from beach to savannah, to woods of varied character and feel (pines, live oak). There are, of course, many different kinds of birds, and to see these take flight in such a setting stirs the heart.
Just past the grave at the far end, there is a really lovely walk beneath the sinuous curves of grand live oaks that affords glimpses of ponds and glades.
Crossing the narrow pass to the island in a motor boat takes no more than a couple of minutes, but it is like stepping to another world. The place reminded me in a way, of the misty might of the forests of Vancouver Island. The climate and terrains are very different, but both places make one feel that nature reigns.
The island is large, with varied terrain, and so the tour, where one sits in an open wheeled cart and is pulled along by a motorized vehicle, allows one to see parts of the island one could never reach on foot. Besides, for those of us who don't want to get too too close to alligators and snakes, it's nice at times to have a bit of distance from the wild.
The terrain varies from beach to savannah, to woods of varied character and feel (pines, live oak). There are, of course, many different kinds of birds, and to see these take flight in such a setting stirs the heart.
Just past the grave at the far end, there is a really lovely walk beneath the sinuous curves of grand live oaks that affords glimpses of ponds and glades.
Crossing the narrow pass to the island in a motor boat takes no more than a couple of minutes, but it is like stepping to another world. The place reminded me in a way, of the misty might of the forests of Vancouver Island. The climate and terrains are very different, but both places make one feel that nature reigns.
Written 25 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dandl1986
Galena, OH617 contributions
May 2014 • Family
We went to st vincent island because my son wanted to see the samba deer and other wildlife. My twenty something's and their friends walked over six miles of trails and saw one white tail deer, a squirrel, and almost stepped on a snake. They hated the entire experience. My husband and I chose the beach side. We also saw a snake eating a lizard, a large colony of pelicans, dolphins playing in the surf, crabs, rays, shorebirds, and had one of the best shelling days collecting several small sand dollars and lovely shells. The waves were perfect, the beach was soft and sloped gently, and WE DID NoT SEE ANOTHer person for the four or so hours we stayed. It was perfect! The ferry will take you for $10 per person. Best vacation money I have spent in ages. I would not take young children at all. There is no shade at the beach only one restroom on the island and no where to sit and much too far to take things like beach chairs or toys. Highly recommend beach to adults who love photography, beach combing, or bird watching. Do not recommend interior trails to any but the toughest of hikers. We will visit this beach again!
Written 21 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Whitesell
Tallahassee, FL2 contributions
Sept 2017 • Couples
This refuge is on an island and you have to use a boat to get to it. It's a very short trip across a narrow channel but a boat is required. We got on the island and walked to the gulf side and saw one of the most stunning sights I'd ever seen. Garbage, garbage and more garbage. Unbelievable! Since no one lives on the island and there are not may tourists that leaves just one explanation. All that garbage floated in from the Gulf of Mexico. The garbage was only on the Gulf beach and spread out fairly evenly from the water to the tree line. It's a real sobering education about what humans have done to this planet. Our own Gulf of Mexico is just a watery garbage dump. A really really sad sight to see but also very educational about the true state of our planet and our environment. No wonder we all have cancer.
Written 4 February 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carrie H
Tennessee21 contributions
Beautiful secluded beaches. Watch for the sand spurs..wear jeans and tennis shoes through the woods.
Sept 2014 • Family
We loved the St. Vincent Wildlife preserve in Florida. Miles and miles of beautiful huge shells and they are as big as your hand. If they still have the animal in them, do not take them home. I was unaware of the sand spurs...little prickly things that attach themselves to your feet and legs. So, wear jeans/long pants through the woods to the beach and don't forget shoes that cover your toes. The sand is not sugar white and you cannot snorkel there as the water is dark, but the shells are already up on the beach ready for the picking!!! We are looking forward to going back, but will probably be taking a different ferry over to the island, as we were told on the phone that pick up time would be "all day til 5pm." Our captain said he was only picking up at 1230pm and anything after that would be $20/hour.
Written 1 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Icantdrive55
Apalachicola, FL33 contributions
Jul 2014 • Solo
Come see the way old Florida used to be. An island where time has stood still for centuries. Beaches where people are absent from the view. Feel the pressures of everyday life melt off your shoulders. Come to the island and enjoy the beauty! This is a island without electricity or water to drink. There is a bathroom on the west and east side. East side is near the cabin. Bring water and bug spray for the trip. Enjoy your stay :-)
Written 20 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michaell T
Columbus, Georgia77 contributions
Dec 2012 • Couples
Learning the history of this island is really a snake oil tale. From the native wildlife (gators, eagles, deer, wild hogs) to the much more exotic Sambar deer, you will see the natural state. A real treat. For any outdoor lover. Carry everything you need and carry it out again. There are no retail stores here!
Written 27 January 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jane263
West Chester, PA64 contributions
I went on a guided tour that is given monthly. I was taken to the island park via boat shuttle ($10 for roundtrip). The island supposedly has multitudes of wildlife--alligators, 2 kinds of deer, feral hogs, birds, snakes, amphibians. I thought we would see lots of wildlife, since we would be traversing the 9 mile length of the island. Other than a couple of birds, we only saw 3 alligators. The plant life was pretty much the same throughout the island. We stopped at an area and walked out to the beach--beautiful beach area. Lovely white sand, lots of shells, solitude. Just very disappointed that there wasn't much to see in the wildlife department.
Written 22 January 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
munderwood99
Tallahassee, FL99 contributions
Jun 2018 • Friends
Not really fair to share a review of a place I haven't visited in so long, but I will never forget it. I'm sure you still have to take a boat (or helicopter!) to get there. It is worth it to see a sandbar deer and utter unspoiled Florida wilderness, which is only going to become more rare.
Written 7 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, thanks for your help. We will be there in Mid March. The web site for the wildlife refuge doesn't seem to offer much info about touring, etc. Could you point me to other online resources?
Written 18 January 2016
Just found this ....
Winter/Spring Tour Schedule
Jan. 13 and 27; Feb. 10 and 24; March 9 and 23; April 13; and May 4.
Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. TA won't let me put the email in this post if you are not here on March 9 it may not matter.
Written 19 January 2016
No they are not on the island.
Written 21 April 2015
Showing results 1-3 of 3
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing