West Coast of Florida Hikers Driving Tour.
Big Bend to the Everglades
Stop 1
Forest Capitol Museum State Park- Museum and interpretive homestead.
$5 fee 2 hours max.
204 Forest Park Drive Perry, Florida 32348
Stop 2
Geothe State Forest- Trailwalker trails, boardwalk, carnivorous pitcher plants.
No Fee. 2-6 hours
9110 SE CR 337 Dunnellon, FL 34431
Black Prong Trail (north) and Tidewater Trail (south) are part of the Florida Forest Services "Trailwalker" program. The Black Prong trail has the pitcher plants and a boardwalk.
Big Cypress Boardwalk- Cow creek road, north of SR 12, has huge cypress trees over 900 years old.
Click Here for a video of Florida Wildlife
Stop 3
Rainbow Springs State Park- formal and native gardens, nature trail, first magnitude spring.
$5 fee 2-4 hours
$5 fee 2-4 hours
19158 S.W. 81st Place Road Dunnellon, Florida 34432
A native garden, which is a special attraction to butterflies and hummingbirds, lies behind the formal cultural gardens.
A nature trail winds back behind the gardens through natural oak hammock
and sandhill communities. This trail runs 2.5 miles from the Visitors'
Center.
Rainbow Springs State Park- Virtual Hike- Click Here
Rainbow Springs State Park- Virtual Hike- Click Here
Stop 4
Withlacoochie Gulf Preserve Trails, Boardwalk, Observation tower.
No fee 1 hour
1001 Old Rock Road Yankeetown Florida 34498
This little town put together this 413 acre estuarine wild land preserve, with a boardwalk through wetlands and salt marshes.
Stop 5
Cross Florida Barge Canal- Landmark, ecological disaster, bike and hike trail.
No Fee 1 hour
Just south of stop 4 on US 19, under the tall bridge. The canal is arrow straight to the gulf. A bike and hiking trail runs along the south side of the canal. The limestone blasted from this trench ended up in many of the buildings in nearby Yankeetown.
Stop 6
Crystal River Archaeological State Park- Museum, Indian Mounds.
$5 fee 2 hours max.
3400 N. Museum Point Crystal River, Florida 34428
Click Here for a video tour of some of Florida's Indian Mounds
Stop 7
Crystal River Preserve State Park- Multiple Trails.
No fee. Up to 6 hours depending on trails hiked.
3266 N. Sailboat Avenue Crystal River, Florida 34428
Churchhouse Hammock Trail and Boardwalk. (South on US 19 from main trail heads)
Click here for virtual hike video of Churchhouse Hammock Boardwalk.
Eco-walk Trail is a 2 mile loop trail. The trailhead to the Eco-walk Trail is located at the intersection of North Tallahassee Road and Curtis Tool Road.
Ft. Island Trail is off US Hwy. 19 in Crystal River.
Dixie Shores Trails. Entrances to the Dixie Shores Trails are located off Ft. Island Trail.
Lake Loop Trail is located on the right hand side of Dixie Shores Drive. The trail is approximately a mile long and winds around three man-made lakes.
Hammock Island Trail is located on the left-hand side of Dixie Shores Drive and is approximately ¾ of a mile. This trail carries you from coastal scrub through a salt marsh and onto a hammock island.
Stop 8
Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area- Driving tour with side hikes, two trails, one boardwalk.
$5 fee 2-4 hours 16121 Commercial way (US 19) Brooksville Fl. 34614
$5 fee 2-4 hours 16121 Commercial way (US 19) Brooksville Fl. 34614
A driving tour will take you from upland pinelands,
through transition zones to deep within the largest and most
pristine hardwood swamp south of the Suwannee River. Two stops along old forestry tramways allow hikes into the swamps.From the Indigo Road/3 Bridge Road Trailhead are
two marked trails through flatwoods, sandhills, cypress domes, and
scrub. The east trail is the Cypress Circle trail and has a pinned log primitive boardwalk as part of the trail.
Stop 9*
Weeki Wachi Springs State Park- Tourist attraction and first magnitude spring.
$13 fee 6 hours max
$13 fee 6 hours max
6131 Commercial Way Spring Hill, Florida 34606
Mermaid show, water park, or take a river boat cruise and canoe or kayak on the Weeki Wachee River.
Stop 10
Key Vista Nature Park-Hiking trail, Observation Tower with view of Anclote Key Lighthouse
$2 Fee 2 hours
2700 Baillies Bluff Rd. Holiday, FL 34691
Start your hike south out of the parking lot through the coastal strand habitat that shows impact from 4 tropical storms in the last 6 years. At the coast, climb the tower for a view of the Gulf of Mexico, the Anclote Lighthouse, and the coast for miles in both directions. Hike clock-wise and come back to the parking lot along a coastal stream habitat.
Key Vista Park Hike on stop motion Video
$2 Fee 2 hours
2700 Baillies Bluff Rd. Holiday, FL 34691
Start your hike south out of the parking lot through the coastal strand habitat that shows impact from 4 tropical storms in the last 6 years. At the coast, climb the tower for a view of the Gulf of Mexico, the Anclote Lighthouse, and the coast for miles in both directions. Hike clock-wise and come back to the parking lot along a coastal stream habitat.
Key Vista Park Hike on stop motion Video
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Stop 11
James E. Grey Preserve- boardwalk, nature trail, Pithlachascotee River.
No fee 1 hour
Plathe Rd., New Port Richey, FL
No fee 1 hour
Plathe Rd., New Port Richey, FL
Click here for a virtual tour of the Grey Preserve Boardwalk
Stop 12
North Anclote River Nature Park Observation deck, miles of trails, connects to Pinellas Trail.
No Fee 2 hours
No Fee 2 hours
550 Dixie Highway Tarpon Springs , FL 34689
Stop 13
John Chesnut Park 3 boardwalks, observation tower on Lake Tarpon
No Fee 2 hours
2200 East Lake Road Palm Harbor, FL 34685
The north shore boardwalk is almost hidden at the northern edge of the park.
Click Here for Video Tour of North Shore Boardwalk Trail
The Cypress Swamp Boardwalk connects to the Observation Tower, is centrally located, and the busiest.
Click Here for Video Tour of Cypress Swamp Boardwalk
The Wildlife Officer Peggy Park Memorial Boardwalk is on the south end of the park. It crosses a swamp, parallels the lake shore, and curves east along Brooker Creek. It connects to a trail that follows the creek east to the park boundary.
Click Here for Video of Peggy Park Memorial Boardwalk
2200 East Lake Road Palm Harbor, FL 34685
The north shore boardwalk is almost hidden at the northern edge of the park.
Click Here for Video Tour of North Shore Boardwalk Trail
The Cypress Swamp Boardwalk connects to the Observation Tower, is centrally located, and the busiest.
Click Here for Video Tour of Cypress Swamp Boardwalk
The Wildlife Officer Peggy Park Memorial Boardwalk is on the south end of the park. It crosses a swamp, parallels the lake shore, and curves east along Brooker Creek. It connects to a trail that follows the creek east to the park boundary.
Click Here for Video of Peggy Park Memorial Boardwalk
Stop 14
Phillipie Park- Safety Harbor Culture type origin site- Indian Mound
No Fee 1 hour
2525 Philippe Pkwy. Safety Harbor, FL 34695
No Fee 1 hour
2525 Philippe Pkwy. Safety Harbor, FL 34695
Stop 15
Weedon Island Preserve Hiking and canoe trails, 2 Boardwalks, Museum/ Visitor Center No Fee
1800 Weedon Dr NE St Petersburg, FL 33702
Weedon Island Preserve is an expansive 3,190-acre natural area located on Tampa Bay. It is comprised mostly of marine ecosystems with some uplands. Indigenous peoples occupied this site for thousands of years. Today, the preserve protects this wide diversity of natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. There are virtual video tours of the boardwalks below.
Tampa Bay View Boardwalk at Weedon Island Video- Click here
Tower Circle Boardwalk at Weedon Island Video - Click Here
1800 Weedon Dr NE St Petersburg, FL 33702
Weedon Island Preserve is an expansive 3,190-acre natural area located on Tampa Bay. It is comprised mostly of marine ecosystems with some uplands. Indigenous peoples occupied this site for thousands of years. Today, the preserve protects this wide diversity of natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. There are virtual video tours of the boardwalks below.
Tampa Bay View Boardwalk at Weedon Island Video- Click here
Tower Circle Boardwalk at Weedon Island Video - Click Here
Stop 16
Sawgrass Lake Park Education Center, Boardwalk, Observation Tower No Fee 2 hours Max.
7400 25th St. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33702
7400 25th St. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33702
Sawgrass Lake Park is 400 acres in size and allows people to walk through one
of the largest maple swamps on the Gulf Coast of Florida. The park’s
mile-long boardwalk and half-mile dirt trail provide opportunities to
see birds, butterflies, plants and animals in their natural settings
within the most densely populated county in Florida. Herons, egrets,
ibis, wood storks, alligators and turtles can be seen along the canals
and lakes. Thousands of birds migrate through the park
during the fall and spring, attracting birders and eco-tourists
from all over the country. A virtual video tour is available below.
Boardwalk at Sawgrass Lake Virtual Tour Video- Click Here
Boardwalk at Sawgrass Lake Virtual Tour Video- Click Here
Stop 17
Boca Ciega Millennium Park Boardwalk, Observation Tower, Hiking Trail No Fee 2 Hours
12410
74th Ave. N. Seminole, FL 33772
In this park, a 35-foot wooden observation tower offers a panoramic view of Boca Ciega Bay. The park supports seven natural communities: pine flatwoods, coastal oak hammock, mangrove swamp, salt marsh, bay head and wetlands.In 2007 a major discovery of Pleistocene age fossils offered a much older history of Boca Ciega Millennium Park. Fossil bones of Columbian Mammoth, Giant Sloth, Giant Armadillo, Saber Tooth Cat, Camel and many more amphibians, reptiles and fish are now at the Museum of Natural History in Gainesville. A video virtual tour of the boardwalk is available below.
Boardwalk at Boca Ciega Millennium Park Video tour- Click Here
In this park, a 35-foot wooden observation tower offers a panoramic view of Boca Ciega Bay. The park supports seven natural communities: pine flatwoods, coastal oak hammock, mangrove swamp, salt marsh, bay head and wetlands.In 2007 a major discovery of Pleistocene age fossils offered a much older history of Boca Ciega Millennium Park. Fossil bones of Columbian Mammoth, Giant Sloth, Giant Armadillo, Saber Tooth Cat, Camel and many more amphibians, reptiles and fish are now at the Museum of Natural History in Gainesville. A video virtual tour of the boardwalk is available below.
Boardwalk at Boca Ciega Millennium Park Video tour- Click Here
Stop 18
Ft. De Soto Park Trails, Historic Fort, Beaches $5 fee (+$.50 toll)
3500 Pinellas Bayway S., Tierra Verde, FL 33715
The largest park within the Pinellas County Park System, Fort De Soto park consists of 1,136 acres made up of five interconnected islands (keys). These keys are home to beach plants, mangroves, wetlands, palm hammocks, hardwoods and scores of native plants. Each of these species plays a vital role in the preservation and protection of the natural environment. A 1-mile nature trail in the Arrowhead Picnic area, and a 3/4 mile nature trail in the Soldiers' Hole area provides a glimpse of some the native fauna and flora. A 2,200 foot Barrier-Free Nature Trail is a self-guided interpretive trail providing access to nature for all visitors to Fort De Soto Park, regardless of their physical abilities.
3500 Pinellas Bayway S., Tierra Verde, FL 33715
The largest park within the Pinellas County Park System, Fort De Soto park consists of 1,136 acres made up of five interconnected islands (keys). These keys are home to beach plants, mangroves, wetlands, palm hammocks, hardwoods and scores of native plants. Each of these species plays a vital role in the preservation and protection of the natural environment. A 1-mile nature trail in the Arrowhead Picnic area, and a 3/4 mile nature trail in the Soldiers' Hole area provides a glimpse of some the native fauna and flora. A 2,200 foot Barrier-Free Nature Trail is a self-guided interpretive trail providing access to nature for all visitors to Fort De Soto Park, regardless of their physical abilities.
Emerson Point Preserve Trails, Boardwalks, Indian Mound, Observation Tower No Fee 2 hours
5801 17th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221
Take I-75 to exit 224. After exiting, head west on U.S. 301. Once downtown, nstead of turning on U.S. 301, continue west on 10th Street West. Stay on this road, heading toward Snead Island. After crossing the bridge, take the immediate right (across from the Yacht Club). Turn left at the first stop sign and drive west into Emerson Point Preserve. Parking is available at the Temple Mound, Observation Tower, Canoe Launch, and Point Parking lots.
Emerson Point has a special location at the mouth of the Manatee River where it meets Lower Tampa Bay. Explore the preserve's unique history and wander the shady trails through the tropical hammock. It is a 365 acre preserve located at the tip of Snead Island in western Palmetto.Historical resources include the Portavant Temple Mound, southwest Florida's largest Native American Temple Mound, and the surrounding midden complex. Multi-use trails and boardwalks are aligned so that the natural habitat and cultural resources will be protected.There are several nesting boxes erected and an observation tower on a hill overlooking the bay.
5801 17th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221
Take I-75 to exit 224. After exiting, head west on U.S. 301. Once downtown, nstead of turning on U.S. 301, continue west on 10th Street West. Stay on this road, heading toward Snead Island. After crossing the bridge, take the immediate right (across from the Yacht Club). Turn left at the first stop sign and drive west into Emerson Point Preserve. Parking is available at the Temple Mound, Observation Tower, Canoe Launch, and Point Parking lots.
Emerson Point has a special location at the mouth of the Manatee River where it meets Lower Tampa Bay. Explore the preserve's unique history and wander the shady trails through the tropical hammock. It is a 365 acre preserve located at the tip of Snead Island in western Palmetto.Historical resources include the Portavant Temple Mound, southwest Florida's largest Native American Temple Mound, and the surrounding midden complex. Multi-use trails and boardwalks are aligned so that the natural habitat and cultural resources will be protected.There are several nesting boxes erected and an observation tower on a hill overlooking the bay.
Stop 20
De Soto National Memorial and Riverview Point Preserve
De Soto National Memorial
The Visitor Center is located at 8300 De Soto Memorial Hwy Bradenton, Florida 34209 and includes stunning displays of historic armor, weapons, and related period items. Helmets and armor are available to try on.The newly re-modeled theater and museum features a wide array of exhibits of Spanish and Native American artifacts. The new museum exhibits are designed to be rotating with new items and art that will be displayed periodically. Our theater shows our parks film Hernando De Soto in America throughout the year. During season the film is shown on a time schedule to coincide with scheduled living history programs.
The Nature Trail has a boardwalk and winds along the shoreline and through several Florida ecosystems, including a mangrove forest like the one that De Soto's men would have encountered when they landed. There are two remnant Indian Mounds at the border of the Memorial property and Riverview Point Preserve. Trails include interpretive signage and waysides that tell the story of the De Soto Expedition and the natural history of the area.The Living History Camp is opened December through April . Rangers and volunteers dressed in period clothing will present talks on a variety of historical topics related to the De Soto Expedition and Florida's Native Americans. There will also be weapons and Spanish and native craft demonstrations throughout the day.
Riverview Pointe Preserve is located at 8250 DeSoto Memorial Hwy Bradenton, FL 34209 and is an 11-acre site located in northwest Bradenton, Florida. The site is adjacent to the DeSoto National Memorial but is managed by Manatee County's Natural Resources Department. Although small in acreage, the preserve is home to a variety of wildlife and uplands and coastal habitats including the rare scrub ecosystem, oak hammock, and mangrove forest. This location is also home to a thriving gopher tortoise colony. Riverview Pointe Preserve is part of a large prehistoric coastal village inhabited by Florida Indians from about 356 B.C. to 110 A.D. The village and midden complex ran from the Riverview Pointe property northward into the De Soto National Memorial. The village complex included a huge temple mound, several smaller mounds, and a central freshwater spring, yet none of these features remain today. Most, if not all, of the complex was destroyed during the early twentieth century when its shell was mined for roadfill.It is the location of the giant cross and a monument to the De Soto Expedition.
De Soto National Memorial
The Visitor Center is located at 8300 De Soto Memorial Hwy Bradenton, Florida 34209 and includes stunning displays of historic armor, weapons, and related period items. Helmets and armor are available to try on.The newly re-modeled theater and museum features a wide array of exhibits of Spanish and Native American artifacts. The new museum exhibits are designed to be rotating with new items and art that will be displayed periodically. Our theater shows our parks film Hernando De Soto in America throughout the year. During season the film is shown on a time schedule to coincide with scheduled living history programs.
The Nature Trail has a boardwalk and winds along the shoreline and through several Florida ecosystems, including a mangrove forest like the one that De Soto's men would have encountered when they landed. There are two remnant Indian Mounds at the border of the Memorial property and Riverview Point Preserve. Trails include interpretive signage and waysides that tell the story of the De Soto Expedition and the natural history of the area.The Living History Camp is opened December through April . Rangers and volunteers dressed in period clothing will present talks on a variety of historical topics related to the De Soto Expedition and Florida's Native Americans. There will also be weapons and Spanish and native craft demonstrations throughout the day.
Riverview Pointe Preserve is located at 8250 DeSoto Memorial Hwy Bradenton, FL 34209 and is an 11-acre site located in northwest Bradenton, Florida. The site is adjacent to the DeSoto National Memorial but is managed by Manatee County's Natural Resources Department. Although small in acreage, the preserve is home to a variety of wildlife and uplands and coastal habitats including the rare scrub ecosystem, oak hammock, and mangrove forest. This location is also home to a thriving gopher tortoise colony. Riverview Pointe Preserve is part of a large prehistoric coastal village inhabited by Florida Indians from about 356 B.C. to 110 A.D. The village and midden complex ran from the Riverview Pointe property northward into the De Soto National Memorial. The village complex included a huge temple mound, several smaller mounds, and a central freshwater spring, yet none of these features remain today. Most, if not all, of the complex was destroyed during the early twentieth century when its shell was mined for roadfill.It is the location of the giant cross and a monument to the De Soto Expedition.
Stop 21
Robinson Preserve Boardwalks, Trails, Observation Tower No Fee 3 hours
1704 99th Street Northwest Bradenton, FL 34209
Robinson Preserve is located in northwestern Bradenton, in the Palma
Sola area, across the street from the Palma Sola Botanical Gardens (also free and a suggested side trip).
This 487-acre preserve has undergone an incredible transformation from disturbed farmland to coastal and wetland habitats. Miles of hiking and bicycle trails, boardwalks, and excellent wildlife viewing are available. Just minutes from the De Soto National Memorial and Riverview Point Preserve.
Click here for a virtual hike of Robinson Preserve
Stop 22
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve Nature Center, Extensive Boardwalk System $5 Fee 3 hours
Features a fully ADA accessible 1.2 mile long boardwalk trail system with seating enclaves, shelters, observation decks and a photo blind, and amphitheater. A 11,000-square-foot Interpretive Visitor Center has educational displays and “Explorer’s Companion” self-guided trail brochures, picnic areas, restrooms and water fountain.
7791 Penzance Blvd. Fort Myers, Florida 33966
Located on Six Mile Cypress Parkway, 1.5 miles north of Daniels Parkway, Exit #131 off I-75Features a fully ADA accessible 1.2 mile long boardwalk trail system with seating enclaves, shelters, observation decks and a photo blind, and amphitheater. A 11,000-square-foot Interpretive Visitor Center has educational displays and “Explorer’s Companion” self-guided trail brochures, picnic areas, restrooms and water fountain.
Stop 23
Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge Motor Tour, Indian Mound, Hiking Trail $5 fee (+$7 Toll)
1 Wildlife Drive Sanibel, FL 33957
1 Wildlife Drive Sanibel, FL 33957
***The WILDLIFE DRIVE WILL OFFICIALLY CLOSE ON MONDAY MAY 20 for construction.
The Wildlife Drive will be closed through the summer for resurfacing and anticipated reopening is October 1. The refuge and trails remain open.
The J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge is located on the subtropical barrier island of Sanibel in the Gulf of Mexico which has a $7 toll bridge from the mainland. The refuge is part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States. It is world famous for its spectacular migratory bird populations.The separate Bailey Tract has several hiking trails.The refuge consists of over 6,400 acres of mangrove forest, submerged seagrass beds, cordgrass marshes, and West Indian hardwood hammocks. Approximately 2,800 acres of the refuge are designated by Congress as a Wilderness Area. The refuge's visitor/education center, features interactive exhibits on refuge ecosystems, the work of "Ding" Darling, migratory flyways, the National Wildlife Refuge System, and a hands-on area for children. The Center is open daily except most federal holidays. The Center hours are January - April from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and May - December from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Center is located two miles west of Tarpon Bay Rd. on Sanibel Captiva Rd.
The J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge is located on the subtropical barrier island of Sanibel in the Gulf of Mexico which has a $7 toll bridge from the mainland. The refuge is part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States. It is world famous for its spectacular migratory bird populations.The separate Bailey Tract has several hiking trails.The refuge consists of over 6,400 acres of mangrove forest, submerged seagrass beds, cordgrass marshes, and West Indian hardwood hammocks. Approximately 2,800 acres of the refuge are designated by Congress as a Wilderness Area. The refuge's visitor/education center, features interactive exhibits on refuge ecosystems, the work of "Ding" Darling, migratory flyways, the National Wildlife Refuge System, and a hands-on area for children. The Center is open daily except most federal holidays. The Center hours are January - April from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and May - December from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Center is located two miles west of Tarpon Bay Rd. on Sanibel Captiva Rd.
Wildlife Drive (motor tour) is open Sunday through Thursday. *** See note on Construction closure above. This is to give the wildlife an opportunity to feed along the Drive
on Fridays with no human disturbance. It also gives refuge staff the opportunity to
do maintenance along the road without endangering the public and allows
biologists to do surveys and other research without human interference.
Stop 24
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary & Blair Audubon Center Historic Boardwalk $12 Fee 3-4 hours
375 Sanctuary Road West Naples, FL
34120
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is located
northeast of Naples, Florida, in Collier County. It is at the end of Sanctuary
Road West, north of Immokalee Road (County Road 846), approximately 15
miles east of Exit 111 on I-75. A 2.25-mile raised boardwalk takes visitors
through four distinct environments: a pine upland, a wet prairie, a cypress
forest, and a marsh. Interpretive signs along the boardwalk and a field
guide and Children's Activity Book available at the admissions desk in
the Blair Center allow each visitor to take the self-guided tour. Benches
and rain shelters are along the trail. For those who do not wish to walk
the full 2.25 miles, an optional trail shortens the walk to one mile. Volunteer
naturalists are usually on the boardwalk to answer questions.The Welcome Center has a multimedia presentation, bookstore, and informational displays.
Click here for a video tour of Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.
Stop 25
Collier Seminole State Park Boardwalk, Historic Bay City Walking Dredge $5 fee 2 Hours
20200 E. Tamiami Trail Naples, Florida 34114
The 7,271-acre park lies partly within the great mangrove swamp of southern Florida, one of the largest mangrove swamps in the world. Collier-Seminole also contains one of the three original stands of the rare royal palm in Florida. The park is the site of a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark, the last existing Bay City Walking Dredge. Built in 1924, it was used to build the Tamiami Trail Highway (U.S. 41) through the Everglades and Big Cypress Swamp, linking Tampa and Miami and opening southwest Florida to travelers. The park has three trails for hiking or biking. A 0.9 mile walking/nature trail and boardwalk is located by the boat basin. There is a 3.5 mile mountain bike/ hiking trail, and a 6.5 mile hiking Adventure Trail. During the rainy season, water may cover parts of the adventure trail.
20200 E. Tamiami Trail Naples, Florida 34114
The 7,271-acre park lies partly within the great mangrove swamp of southern Florida, one of the largest mangrove swamps in the world. Collier-Seminole also contains one of the three original stands of the rare royal palm in Florida. The park is the site of a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark, the last existing Bay City Walking Dredge. Built in 1924, it was used to build the Tamiami Trail Highway (U.S. 41) through the Everglades and Big Cypress Swamp, linking Tampa and Miami and opening southwest Florida to travelers. The park has three trails for hiking or biking. A 0.9 mile walking/nature trail and boardwalk is located by the boat basin. There is a 3.5 mile mountain bike/ hiking trail, and a 6.5 mile hiking Adventure Trail. During the rainy season, water may cover parts of the adventure trail.
Stop 26
Picayune Strand State Forest. Historic swampland in Florida Site. No Fee 4 Hours Max.
2121 52nd Ave. SE Naples Florida
2121 52nd Ave. SE Naples Florida
Picayune Strand State Forest is located in southwest
Florida in western Collier County, approximately two
miles east of the town of Naples. The forest can be accessed
on Everglades Boulevard from the north or Janes Scenic
Drive from the east. Public parking and restroom facilities
are located at 2121 52nd Ave. SE, west of Everglades
Blvd.
The Sabal Palm Hiking
Trail is a 3.2 mile trail that gives hikers an opportunity to view the
many cypress trees that were considered too small to harvest by loggers
of the 1940s and 50s. Some of these cypress trees are now over 100 years
old. Bird watchers might be
able to catch a glimpse of wood storks, hairy woodpeckers and
red-cockaded woodpeckers. Picayune Strand State Forest is part of the Trailwalker Hiking Program.
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