Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
12295 Alabama 180, Gulf Shores, Alabama
In French, "Bon Secour" means “safe harbor,” and this swathe of land along the Gulf Coast is a sanctuary for migratory birds, sea turtles, and other flora and fauna. One of the largest undeveloped land areas on the Alabama coast, with beaches, dunes, marshes, and scrub forests, the refuge is good for hiking, kayaking, and birding.
Bon Secour comprises five "units," separate areas of protected land. Most, besides Little Dauphin Island, are on the Ft. Morgan Peninsula. The refuge lies near Mobile, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida, making it an easy day trip destination—check with the visitor center for scheduled guided bird walks, dune hikes, and nighttime hikes. Paddlers can book guided Gulf Shore kayaking outings or launch at the Jeff Friend Trail trailhead for a ride through the Little Lagoon.
Bicycles are not allowed on any of the trails.
Unless they're service animals, pets are not permitted in the refuge.
Biting insects are especially active in the summer—bring bug repellant.
There is no entry fee to visit the wildlife refuge.
The Refuge Visitor Center is on State Highway 180 on the Ft. Morgan Peninsula in Gulf Shores, Alabama—it's about a 70-minute drive from Mobile and one hour from Pensacola. Mobile Bay Ferries depart from Dauphin Island to Fort Morgan seven days a week throughout the year.
The small visitor center is open Monday through Friday from morning to early afternoon but can close abruptly—call ahead to make sure it's open. All trails and beach access locations are open from sunrise until sunset daily throughout the year. Visit in fall and spring to see migrating birds.
One of the highlights of visiting Bon Secour is encountering wildlife. The refuge was established to protect habitats for migratory songbirds and endangered species such as loggerhead sea turtles and minuscule Alabama beach mice. Hundreds of bird species have been spotted on the refuge in migration season, from ospreys to hummingbirds
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