Sabine National Wildlife Refuge - Louisiana

Sabine NWR, located in southwestern Louisiana, is 124,511 acres, the largest coastal marsh refuge on the Gulf Coast. The western edge of the refuge covers much of the eastern edge of Sabine Lake (Port Arthur, Texas covers most of the western edge). The eastern edge of the refuge abuts a large portion of the west edge of Calcasieu Lake. Hwy 27 is the only road of any size that goes through the refuge, near the eastern end, with Hackberry to the north and Holly Beach to the south, the nearest towns of any consequence. 

The Wetland Walkway is a 1.5 mile trail that alternates between a cement path and and wide-plank boardwalk (set upon the marsh) about four miles south of the refuge office, off Hwy 27. We drove north from Holly Beach to do this walk. The Blue Goose Trail, which is north of the refuge office, has a wildlife observation platform. I originally planned to visit it as well, but decided to skip it based on other things I wanted to get in later. Most other activity within the refuge would need to be boat based. 

Near the beginning of the Wetland Walkway.

From the boardwalk. 

We visited the worst time of day for seeing wildlife, in the early afternoon. The only wildlife we saw on the Wetland Walkway was alligators. The birds were all on telephone poles beside Hwy 27 and the dead wild boar was also just off the road. 

Wild boar - along the side of the road. 

A small alligator.

A larger alligator.

 

Belted kingfisher

Crested caracaras

Ferruginous hawk

Ospreys

Great egret

Red-tailed hawk