St Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge Campground

Although the Creek provides outdoor activities, it is poorly managed . Critical points in the park have no signage or warnings. It can be a death trap for hikers who maybe new to the area. We stumbled upon a trail that had no visible warning about alligators and snakes that hikers or visitors could encounter but sure enough we walked right into a swamp full of Alligators and snakes . There wa... Although the Creek provides outdoor activities, it is poorly managed . Critical points in the park have no signage or warnings. It can be a death trap for hikers who maybe new to the area. We stumbled upon a trail that had no visible warning about alligators and snakes that hikers or visitors could encounter but sure enough we walked right into a swamp full of Alligators and snakes . There was no guard rails or fence around the swamp . Well we lived to tell the story . I would recommend to be vigilant and take safety equipment if going to the St.Catherine Creek.

My wife and I were visiting the area from San Antonio, TX and we were pleased by the reception we received at the headquarters. A marine biologist was on duty, and she was generous to educate us about the Alligator Gar and invasive species of fish threatening the ecological balance. Also, the interior of the headquarters was bright and welcoming. The exterior of the headquarters could be welcomi... My wife and I were visiting the area from San Antonio, TX and we were pleased by the reception we received at the headquarters. A marine biologist was on duty, and she was generous to educate us about the Alligator Gar and invasive species of fish threatening the ecological balance. Also, the interior of the headquarters was bright and welcoming. The exterior of the headquarters could be welcoming and educational, as well, but the total lack of weeding and care for the gardens detracts from it. The trails, while fairly well marked, are in need to clean up and some erosion abatement. It is obvious that no wildlife official has taken a look at the trails in some time, which is a disservice to the public who need to be out in our natural areas.

We visited in Winter and were very disappointed. Apparently, the birds congregate in the "Swamp" area, which is closed from November through March. And they posted the road closure sign pretty far down a one-lane road. I had to back up about a quarter of a mile to turn around. The Gilliard Lake portion is a mucky swamp area not really walkable unless you bring some sort of muck boots. In fact, the... We visited in Winter and were very disappointed. Apparently, the birds congregate in the "Swamp" area, which is closed from November through March. And they posted the road closure sign pretty far down a one-lane road. I had to back up about a quarter of a mile to turn around. The Gilliard Lake portion is a mucky swamp area not really walkable unless you bring some sort of muck boots. In fact, the entire area was one big mud pit. I would not recommend driving the roads without a two-wheel drive sedan. The area appears to cater more to hunters than birders. We had planned a full day of birding, but all we saw were two wood ducks and a flock of pelicans.