Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Main Entrance

Sunday morning we headed to the main entrance of Okefenokee. 

It was a short 10 minutes from our hotel. 

Unfortunately, the visitors center, gift shop and museum were closed due to covid.  But the Park partners with a private company that provides boat tours and kayak rentals (at a rate about 2x as high as the state park, so if you want to kayak, go to the other side)

I will say, it was a nicer looking center than the state part though. 

We decided to do the 6 mile self guided Swamp Island Drive.  There were 12 stops along the way.  The forest here has a pretty thick understory of Saw Palmetto. 

J was very interested in seeing the Chesser Island Homestead. 

Unlike Billies Island, these were real buildings, not a picture on plexiglass.  

J, once again, appreciated the flat ground and no rocks.  His comment was, you could probably dig a post hole in 3 minutes. 

The weather was perfect, low humidity for the south and temps in low 80's.  That made the thought of living there even more desirable.  Plus, the insect load was pretty low that morning. 

Other than the park rangers doing some maintenance, we were the only ones there.  I had asked about Indian Mounds at the state park and got the response "are you sure you are in the right place?"  I saw this mound and asked the park ranger if it was and Indian Mound and he said yes.  The park system no longer advertises anything about them to keep them protected. 

From there we headed to the 0.75 mile Chesser Island Boardwalk. 

Lots of things to see, water lilies, 

Catbirds,

and snakes to name a few.  

The boardwalk ended at a 40 foot tall lookout tower.  

The view as beautiful. 

Lots of spanish moss. 

and a view for miles.. 

Up next, Scar Face at marker #4.