The refuge consists of 2,765 acres of saltwater marsh, grassland, freshwater ponds and mixed deciduous woodlands. The great variety of habitat results in an equally great variety of wildlife. From the Spanish moss-festooned live oak stands to the grasslands, the quiet, observant visitor can be rewarded with ample viewing opportunities. All refuge roads and concrete runways are remnants from the Harris Neck Army Airfield, deactivated in 1944. A 4-mile public access route guides visitors through the refuge. Freshwater ponds and dikes support wading bird rookeries and represent an excellent example of wetland management. Vistas along the wildlife drive offer excellent views of the salt marsh, meandering waterways and upland hammocks. On the east side of the refuge from a high oyster shell bluff overlooking Barbour River, miles of pristine saltmarsh and a few of the island gems that make up Georgia's unique coastal shoreline can be seen.