This list is a tour for the experienced, fit, and well equipped hikers looking to get away from the crowds at other parks. These sites have NO AMENITIES : no toilets, no potable water, no boardwalks, and some do not even have parking lots. The properties are owned by the South West Florida Water Management District "SWFWMD" and are open to public recreational use on a secondary basis. These are wild places. Many of the trails are simple foot paths that are minimally maintained. Some trails are intermittently blazed, or not marked at all. They have abundant space, wildlife, and solitude.
If you are up to the challenge of a totally self supported hike through the forests, swamps, sandhills, and prairies of rural Florida, have we got a tour for you!
Before you get started with the list, watch this video-many listed sites are in here.
****Be aware that many facilities share a name with others from other agencies. State Forests, State Parks, County Parks, Wildlife Management Areas, National Wildlife Refuges, and SWFWMD properties might have a similar, or exactly the same name as another agencies property.
The properties are listed by county, from north to south. Click on the link to be taken to the SWFWMD web page for that property. Before you go, print a map of the trails your going to challenge because there may not be any at the trail head kiosk.
