St. Marks Refugewildflowers
September sees a blaze of brilliant autumn wildflowers, with sulfur, swallowtail and skipper butterflies feeding along the roadsides, per the Fish and Wildlife Service. No official report yet this season.
Next 7 days at St. Marks Refuge
- TodaySunny89° / 70°7% rain
- ThuSunny89° / 73°17% rain
- FriChance Showers And Thunderstorms88° / 72°44% rain
- SatChance Showers And Thunderstorms88° / 72°52% rain
- SunChance Showers And Thunderstorms85° / 70°63% rain
- MonShowers And Thunderstorms Likely84° / 66°67% rain
- TueChance Rain Showers80° / 63°49% rain
Today: sunrise 7:30 a.m., sunset 7:25 p.m., light until 7:49 p.m. · moon waning gibbous, 78% lit (our calculation)
Your guide to the area
Best spots around St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
- Lighthouse Road (CR 59)The refuge's main road: turn off US 98 and drive 3 miles to the visitor center, then on to the lighthouse at the end of the road; the gate opens at 6 a.m.
- Plum Orchard Pond TrailRight behind the visitor center and Nature's Classroom
Nearby
- Wheeler Refuge345 miAprilSatShowers And Thunderstorms Likely
- Nantahala National Forest347 mimid-March to mid-May, trail by trailSatShowers And Thunderstorms
- Noxubee Refuge347 mi5 separate phases, from FebruarySatShowers And Thunderstorms
- Cherokee National Forest362 milate March through the month of AprilSatShowers And Thunderstorms
- Pisgah National Forest362 milate March to mid-May, cove by coveSatShowers And Thunderstorms
- Great Smoky Mountains383 miUsually mid- to late AprilSatShowers And Thunderstorms
The year at St. Marks Refuge
- Boats allowed in refuge pools March 15 through October 15 (non-motorized or electric only)NowMar–Oct
- Mar: Spring migration begins: ibis and white pelicans pass through as the ducks head north (March)Mar
- Apr: Warbler and shorebird migration peaks early in AprilApr
- Apr: Mississippi and swallow-tailed kites along the roads and pools (April)Apr
- May: Larger groups of West Indian manatees in the lighthouse waters (May)May
- Jul: Large flocks of white ibis, eastern kingbirds and purple martins along Lighthouse Road (July)Jul
- Aug: Baby alligators hatching; blue-winged teal arrive, the start of the fall migration (August)Aug
- Sep: Autumn wildflowers, with sulfur, swallowtail and skipper butterflies along the roadsides (September)NowSep
- Flint Rock (Newport Hunt Area) open for general hunting season, September to AprilNowSep–Apr
- Oct: Migrating monarch butterflies arrive in OctoberOct
- Waterfowl peak between Thanksgiving and ChristmasNov–Dec
Questions people ask
When is peak wildflowers in St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in 2026?
September sees a blaze of brilliant autumn wildflowers, with sulfur, swallowtail and skipper butterflies feeding along the roadsides, per the Fish and Wildlife Service: September. That's general timing for this place, not a peak date or a forecast.
Is it blooming in St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge right now?
There's no official report yet this season.
When are the flowers gone?
November usually brings cold weather, and butterflies and wildflowers become scarce.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, St. Marks NWR: Species (Seasons of Wildlife) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Can I pick flowers?
No. Collecting or taking plants, animals, natural features or artifacts on the refuge is prohibited.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, St. Marks NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Does the refuge describe a spring bloom peak?
No. The flower display its calendar describes is in September, in autumn; it gives no spring peak.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, St. Marks NWR: Species (Seasons of Wildlife) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Which butterflies share the September roadsides?
Sulfurs, swallowtails and skippers feed along the roadsides, per the refuge.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, St. Marks NWR: Species (Seasons of Wildlife) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Where are the best spots in St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge?
Lighthouse Road (CR 59): the refuge's main road: turn off US 98 and drive 3 miles to the visitor center, then on to the lighthouse at the end of the road; the gate opens at 6 a.m.; Plum Orchard Pond Trail: right behind the visitor center and Nature's Classroom.
What is St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge like through the year?
Waterfowl peak between Thanksgiving and Christmas (Nov–Dec), Migrating monarch butterflies arrive in October (Oct), Warbler and shorebird migration peaks early in April (Apr), Boats allowed in refuge pools March 15 through October 15 (non-motorized or electric only) (Mar–Oct), Spring migration begins: ibis and white pelicans pass through as the ducks head north (March) (Mar), Mississippi and swallow-tailed kites along the roads and pools (April) (Apr), Autumn wildflowers, with sulfur, swallowtail and skipper butterflies along the roadsides (September) (Sep), Larger groups of West Indian manatees in the lighthouse waters (May) (May), Large flocks of white ibis, eastern kingbirds and purple martins along Lighthouse Road (July) (Jul), Baby alligators hatching; blue-winged teal arrive, the start of the fall migration (August) (Aug) and Flint Rock (Newport Hunt Area) open for general hunting season, September to April (Sep–Apr).