Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is open to public use year round. Though remote and relatively inaccessible, the Refuge offers a challenge to the adventurous outdoor enthusiast who chooses to venture there. Birders, photographers, and lovers-of-the-outdoors find the Refuge intriguing, but difficult in which to maneuver. Perhaps the best way to see the Refuge is by water. Canoes, kayaks, or small motor boats may be launched from the south end of Buffalo City Road . Fifteen miles of color-coded water trails allow visitors to observe a variety of habitat types. Also from that location, visitors may venture onto Sandy Ridge Wildlife Trail. Sandy Ridge is a handicapped accessible, half-mile walking trail, including a 2,300 foot boardwalk, that provides off-road access to the typical cypress swamp habitat.
