National Wildlife Refuge · Florida
Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge
Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge is listed in PAD-US 4.1 as roughly 1,843 acres in Highlands County, Polk County, Florida (National Wildlife Refuge), managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It may allow hunting, but PAD-US does not say so — confirm with the managing agency.
Approximate outline (north up) from simplified PAD-US boundaries
Area details
| Approx. size | 1,843 acres |
|---|---|
| Manager | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Manager type | Federal |
| Designation | National Wildlife Refuge |
| Public access (PAD-US) | Restricted access PAD-US definition: “requires a special permit from the owner for access, a registration permit on public land … or has highly variable times when open to use (e.g. seasonal Wildlife Refuge closure).” |
| County | Highlands County, Polk County |
| Reference point | 27.51495, -81.40839 A point inside the area — not an entrance or parking lot. Google Maps · OpenStreetMap |
| Source records | 2 PAD-US records combined |
Before you hunt here
- Regulations, seasons and licenses: check with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. This site does not list regulations.
- Managing agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: hunting on refuges
- Boundaries: PAD-US boundaries are approximate and simplified here. Use the agency’s official maps and respect adjacent private land.
Hunting on national wildlife refuges is allowed only where a refuge has opened specific areas and species under its own refuge-specific regulations, in addition to state rules. Check the refuge’s page or office.
Nearby public land (within 30 miles)
- State forest
Lake Wales Ridge State Forest
26,842 acres · 11.8 mi away
State: other or unknown agency
Open access - National Wildlife Refuge
Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge And Conservation Area
7,032 acres · 14.5 mi away
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Lake Wales Ridge Wildlife and Environmental Area
14,333 acres · 20.2 mi away
State: fish and wildlife agency
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Crooked Lake Wildlife and Environmental Area
1,147 acres · 20.2 mi away
State: fish and wildlife agency
Restricted access
Distances are straight-line between reference points, not driving distance.
Source: PAD-US 4.1 (USGS), records for “Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge” in Florida combined into one listing. How listings are built. Spotted an error? PAD-US is maintained by USGS with data from the managing agencies.