Power Pack
Outdoor pursuits abound at Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge By W.H. “Chip” Gross
10 AUGUST 2012
tional wildlife refuge, its 7,000 acres of varied wildlife habitats—beaches and sand dunes, scrub forest, fresh and saltwater marshes, freshwater swamps and uplands—is still a lot of land to explore. But likely the best thing about Bon Secour is that it lets you experience a touch of wild Alabama coast—the refuge has been named one of the ten natural wonders of the state—while at the same time having the convenience of nearby condos, shopping, restaurants, golf courses, night life and the other activities of Gulf Shores. Like I said, something for everyone. And did I mention it’s all free? Well, at least Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge is…
PHOTOS BY W.H. “CHIP” GROSS
If you enjoy the out-of-doors and are looking for a family-friendly location offering something for everyone, Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, just a few miles west of Gulf Shores, fits the bill. And did I mention it’s free? The refuge offers excellent birding, hiking, fishing and wildlife photography, to name just a few of the outdoor activities, but is best known for its miles and miles of white-sand beaches bordering the Gulf Coast. When the public beaches at Gulf Shores are packed with people on spring break, the beaches at Bon Secour are amazingly vacant. Nearly deserted might be a better description. And as a result, it’s easy to find your own piece of oceanfront paradise where you can wiggle your toes in the warm sand while your kids play along the shore. The four marked hiking/birding trails through the refuge include Jeff Friend (wheelchair accessible), Centennial, Pine Beach and Gator Lake. A large, covered wildlife viewing tower overlooks Gator Lake, and yep, there are alligators in Gator Lake, so watch your step if you venture off any of the main paths. “Gator Lake used to be freshwater,” says Sean Williams, park ranger, “but storm surge during the last few hurricanes has temporarily turned it to saltwater. The alligators don’t stay in the lake much anymore because of that, but they do come there to feed occasionally. Gator Lake will eventually become freshwater again; we just don’t know how long the changeover will take.” The refuge’s name, Bon Secour, comes from the French meaning “Safe Harbor.” It’s an appropriate moniker, as the area provides sanctuary for migrating birds, nesting loggerhead and Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles, as well as the endangered Alabama beach mouse. Considered relatively small for a na-
W.H. “Chip” Gross is the outdoors editor for Country Living magazine in Ohio. He and his wife try to visit Bon Secour every year.
To get there Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge (www.fws.gov/bonsecour) is located about ten miles west of Gulf Shores. From State Route 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway) on the north edge of town, take State Highway 180 approximately eight miles west to the refuge headquarters where you can pick up a free refuge map. To access the beach, turn south off State Highway 180 onto Mobile Street (just past the refuge headquarters) and drive to the parking lot at the end of the road.
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