Updated in September 2026, this Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge guide covers admission, opening hours, parking, accessibility and what to see.
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge is a 7,157-acre national wildlife refuge on the Fort Morgan Peninsula near Gulf Shores, Alabama. As of September 2026, the Centennial Trail’s boardwalks remain closed for safety reasons, though the rest of that trail and all other refuge trails stay open. This guide was updated in September 2026 and reflects that current closure, along with the refuge’s visitor centre hours. The refuge’s name comes from the French for “safe harbour,” a fitting description for one of the last undeveloped stretches of Alabama’s coastline.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Trails: sunrise–sunset, 7 days a week, year-round; Visitor Contact Station: Mon–Fri 9am–1pm CST |
| Ticket prices | Free entry; America the Beautiful passes sold at the visitor centre |
| Address | 12295 State Highway 180, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 |
| Nearest transport/parking | On Highway 180, Fort Morgan Peninsula; reachable by car or the Mobile Bay Ferry |
| Typical time needed | 1 to 3 hours |
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge opening hours
Refuge trails and beach access points are open from sunrise to sunset, 7 days a week, year-round.
- The Visitor Contact Station and Administrative Office are open Monday through Friday, 9am to 1pm CST, excluding federal holidays.
- As of September 2026, the Centennial Trail’s boardwalks are closed for safety reasons; you can still walk the trail up to the boardwalk on both sides.
- Call 251-540-7720 for updates on any unexpected closures.
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge ticket prices
Entry to Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge is free.
America the Beautiful passes, including the Annual, Senior, Access, Military, and 4th Grade passes, are sold at the visitor contact station Monday through Friday, 9am to 1pm, by cash or check only.
Opening hours and admission details were checked on the official website and last updated in September 2026. You can check current details on the official U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Bon Secour page.
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge is not part of a commercial city pass scheme such as Go City or CityPASS. Since entry is free, the America the Beautiful passes sold here mainly benefit visitors also planning trips to other fee-charging federal sites nearby.
How to get to Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
The refuge office and visitor centre sit on State Highway 180, on the Fort Morgan Peninsula.
You can reach the refuge by driving through Mobile and heading south to Gulf Shores, or by taking the Mobile Bay Ferry from the west side of Mobile Bay.
Parking at Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
Free parking is available at refuge trailheads and the visitor contact station.
How long to spend at Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
Most visitors spend 1 to 3 hours at Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, depending on how many trails they walk.
Birders and photographers visiting during spring or fall migration season often spend closer to half a day, especially if they join one of the refuge’s guided walks.
Accessibility at Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
The Gator Lake Trail is a universally accessible, wheelchair-friendly loop trail, taking about an hour to complete.
Other refuge trails cross sandy or uneven terrain and aren’t rated as accessible; contact the refuge in advance with specific questions.
What to see at Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
Established by Congress in 1980, Bon Secour protects one of Alabama’s largest remaining undeveloped stretches of coastal barrier habitat, spread across five separate units: Sand Bayou, Perdue, Little Point Clear, Fort Morgan, and Little Dauphin Island.
The refuge is an important stopover for neotropical migratory songbirds during spring and fall migration, and provides habitat for threatened and endangered species including the green, loggerhead, and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, and the Alabama beach mouse.
Pine Beach Trail (2.06 miles, moderate) connects the Jeff Friend and Chan West Pine Beach trails, taking visitors through the transition from maritime forest to dune swales.
Centennial Trail (1.65 miles, moderate to strenuous) features a saltwater lagoon on one side and a freshwater lake on the other, with an observation tower at the 1-mile marker overlooking Gator Lake.
Chan West Pine Beach Trail (0.78 miles) follows a dune ridge to the Lagoon, while the Gator Lake Trail (0.78-mile loop) is an easy-to-moderate, wheelchair-accessible route through maritime forest and wetlands.
Paddlers can access Little Lagoon via a canoe and kayak launch on the Jeff Friend Trail, and refuge staff, volunteers, and partners offer guided bird walks, dune hikes, and night prowls throughout the year.
Bon Secour is administered as part of a wider refuge complex alongside Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge and Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge, both across the state line in Mississippi.
Practical visitor tips
| Focus | Tip |
|---|---|
| On-site logistics | Bring a hat, sunscreen and bug repellent, since biting insects are present year-round and especially plentiful in summer. |
| Layout | Bring plenty of water, since it’s easy to become dehydrated while hiking. |
| Entry process | Stick to the Gator Lake Trail if you need a wheelchair-friendly or universally accessible route. |
| Crowds | Only foot traffic is allowed on trails; bicycles are not permitted. |
| Timing | Visit the visitor contact station Monday–Friday morning to buy an America the Beautiful pass or speak with staff. |
Frequently asked questions about Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge free to visit? | Yes, there is no entry fee. |
| Are pets allowed at Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge? | No, except registered service dogs. |
| Can you ride a bike on the refuge trails? | No, all refuge trails are for foot traffic only. |
| Is the Centennial Trail open? | The trail itself is open, but its boardwalks are currently closed for safety reasons. |
| Is there a wheelchair-accessible trail at Bon Secour? | Yes, the Gator Lake Trail is a universally accessible loop trail. |
Things to do near Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
- Fort Morgan – a 19th-century masonry fort at the mouth of Mobile Bay, a short drive away on the same peninsula.
- Waterville USA – a waterpark and amusement park in Gulf Shores, roughly 20 to 25 minutes’ drive.
- Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo – a 25-acre zoo in Gulf Shores, roughly 20 to 25 minutes’ drive.
- Gulf State Park – beaches, trails and a fishing pier, roughly 20 to 25 minutes’ drive.
- Gulf Shores public beach – Gulf Coast sand and surf, a short drive away.
Alternative attractions
- Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge, Gautier, MS – part of the same refuge complex, protecting the endangered Mississippi sandhill crane, roughly 1 to 1.25 hours’ drive.
- Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Moss Point, MS – also part of the same refuge complex, covering wet pine savanna and marshland, roughly 1 to 1.25 hours’ drive.
- Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Fairhope, AL – a free reserve with boardwalk trails through tidal wetlands, roughly 45 to 55 minutes’ drive.
- Perdido Key Area, Gulf Islands National Seashore, FL/AL – an undeveloped barrier island beach, roughly 45 minutes to 1 hour’s drive.
- Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuary, Dauphin Island, AL – a bird sanctuary reachable via the Mobile Bay Ferry, roughly 1 to 1.5 hours’ drive plus the crossing.
More Alabama travel
Other Alabama travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Visitor guide to DeSoto Falls near Mentone, Alabama.
- What to know before visiting the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
- How to get the best out of Bellingrath Gardens near Mobile, Alabama.
- Push buttons at the Exploreum Science Center in Mobile.
- What to know before visiting Colonial Fort Conde in Mobile.
