National wildlife refuge

Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge

Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge is a national wildlife refuge in Highlands County, Florida run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is open from sunrise to sunset, year-round. Camping is not allowed.

Check current closures and fire restrictions for Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge on the managing agency's own page.

Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge
Photo: Bill Lea, Public domain

Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge map

Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.

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Fire restrictions

This unit's own agency alerts list no fire restriction as of Oct. 5, 2026. We do not check a statewide fire-order feed for FL, so that is not a statement that no order exists, and not a green light for a fire. Check with the land manager and your county before you light anything.

County and local burn bans may also apply on private, state, or county land nearby. On federal land, follow the land manager's order; off it, follow the strictest county or local rule that applies. When both touch your trip, obey both.

Common questions

Yes. Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge is open from sunrise to sunset, year-round.
No. Camping is not allowed on Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge.

Hours, fees, and visitor center

Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge is open from sunrise to sunset, year-round.

What visitors do here: hiking, hunting, fishing.

Source: fws.gov, checked 2026-09-30.

Wildlife

  • InvertebrateThreatened and endangered species

Source: fws.gov, checked 2026-09-30.

Camping

Camping is not allowed on Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge.

Source: fws.gov, checked 2026-09-30.

Getting there

  • Nearest town: Sebring, 3.7 miles

Source: www2.census.gov, checked 2026-09-30.

The sentences on this page are generated by software from the sourced records above, not written by hand. How this content is made.