Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge
Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge is a 8,000-acre national wildlife refuge in Lee County, Florida, established in 1908, run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is closed to all public use: no one may land on or enter it.
Current notices posted by the managing agency. Checked Oct. 5, 2026.
- Closure: This refuge is closed to the public Due to the sensitive nature of its habitat, Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge is closed to the public, open for wildlife.
Check current closures and fire restrictions for Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge on the managing agency's own page.
Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge map
Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
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.
Hours, fees, and visitor center
What visitors do here: wildlife viewing, an auto tour route.
Sources: fws.gov, checked 2026-09-30; fws.gov, checked 2026-09-30.
Wildlife
- InvertebrateThreatened and endangered species
Source: fws.gov, checked 2026-09-30.
Camping
Camping is not allowed on Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge.
Source: fws.gov, checked 2026-09-30.
Getting there
- Nearest town: Punta Rassa, 2 miles
Source: www2.census.gov, checked 2026-09-30.
Public lands next to Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge
- State parkEstero Bay Preserve State Park is 0.2 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
- National wildlife refugePine Island National Wildlife Refuge is 0.6 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
- State parkCayo Costa State Park is 2.7 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
- fws.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- recreation.gov (accessed 2026-09-29)
- www2.census.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- fws.gov (accessed 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.