Outdoors
Lake Woodruff Refuge keeps DeLand close to river marsh
Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge gives the DeLand and De Leon Springs area a quiet St. Johns River marsh, birding, fishing, and trail stop.
Lake Woodruff is one of those places that makes inland Volusia County feel watery.
The refuge sits near De Leon Springs, with the St. Johns River forming its western side. It covers about 22,000 acres of marsh, swamp, creeks, hammocks, and uplands. That mix is why a short visit can feel much bigger than the map looks. You may be close to DeLand errands, but the refuge points you back toward birds, water, and the slow river country that runs through Central Florida.
Lake Woodruff was established in 1964 as a migratory bird refuge. That history still fits the place. The draw is not one big overlook or one famous animal. It is the chance to slow down around levees, water edges, open sky, and seasonal changes.
Plan the visit like a refuge visit, not like a city park stop. Check the current U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service page before going. Look for trail status, fishing details, hunting notices, water levels, sun, insects, bathrooms, and any closure that could change the day.
Where to see it
Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge near De Leon Springs in Volusia County. Check U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for current trail access, fishing details, hunting notices, water levels, bugs, and refuge rules before going.
Connected places
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Official sources
Last checked against these sources: July 6, 2026.
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