Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge

Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge is located on Wassaw Island near Savannah, Georgia. It is a barrier island which became a national refuge in 1969. Unlike most of the Golden Isles of Georgia it is not very developed and very little management practices have affected the natural character of the island.

The refuge consists of 10,053 acres of land with rolling dunes, salt marches, and maritime forests. The refuge is bordered by Wassaw Sound and Wilmington River on the north. To the south it is bordered by Vernon River and Ossabaw Sound. The Atlantic Ocean is of course on the east site. Salt marshes and tidal creeks are what separate the island from the mainland and Skidaway Island which is west.

Visitors can enjoy recreational activities such as bird watching, hiking, beachcombing, and other natural studies activities. The island consists of 20 miles of dirt road with seven miles of beach. The roadways can be the perfect trails for hikers. During the summer months the island is often more populated by people and wildlife. Herons, egrets and other birds migrate to the island for the summer. It is also possible to see loggerhead sea turtles laying eggs during the summer.