Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge

National wildlife refuges offer us all a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings.
Crystal River, one hour north of Tampa, on the Gulf Coast, is the only wildlife refuge dedicated to the protection of the West Indian manatee. There are several ways to enjoy the refuge. You can explore the displays at the visitor’s center located on Kings Bay, where volunteer staff will answer questions. You can visit the Three Sisters Springs property to walk the boardwalk, view the springs, or enjoy the trails. To swim or paddle in the Three Sisters Springs, you can rent a vessel/paddle craft nearby or bring your own and launch at a boat ramp on Kings Bay. Visitors can even put on a wetsuit and snorkel to immerse themselves in the underwater world of the manatee.

Explore our Visitor Center and Nature Store to learn about manatees and their habitat.
Crystal River NWR has several activities available to visitors such as wildlife viewing, interpretation, guided tours, environmental education, boating/paddling, fishing and photography.

Much of Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge is only accessible to visitors by water. There are a few points of access to visit the refuge by land. First, the Visitor Center and Nature Store, located 1502 SE Kings Bay Drive, Crystal River, FL, provides a beautiful view of the islands on King's Bay and a chance to learn about manatees and their habitat.

The refuge doesn’t offer any water-access facilities. However, there are several City boat ramps and private ramps (with a fee) that provide access to refuge waters. If you are interested in visiting other parts of the refuge (other than Three Sisters Springs boardwalk), you can use your own vessel, rent a vessel, or book a guided tour. Paddle craft are allowed inside of Three Sisters Springs between April 1 and November 14. The refuge does not provide guided manatee tours itself, but instead has allotted Special Use Permits to many businesses in Kings Bay to provide them. The current list of refuge permitted tour operators has details on who offers several different types of rentals and guided tours. However you choose to meet a manatee, remember to keep calm and enjoy the moment! It’s a privilege and responsibility to make sure we treat this beloved threatened species with the utmost care and respect.

The manatee season at Crystal River NWR begins November 15 and ends March 31. This is when the seven warm water manatee sanctuaries are in effect. During the winter months, manatees come to the springs of Crystal River NWR to conserve the energy necessary to survive the cold Gulf waters. Remember when you are visiting Crystal River, you are visiting the manatees home. The Manatee Manners videos are designed to provide visitors with the necessary awareness that prevents

Hiking
Boating- non-motorized
Wildlife watching
Birding
Photography
Scuba diving
Picnicking
Fishing
Ranger-led programs