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Fakahatchee Strand State Park

Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park

It’s the Amazon of North America, home of the ghost orchid. Protecting more than 85,000 acres, Fakahatchee Strand is Florida’s largest state preserve and most certainly our wildest.

Copeland      ( 25.950713,-81.360579 )      

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It’s the Amazon of North America, catching orchid lover’s fancies thanks to the best-seller The Orchid Thief (and its bizarre movie version, Adaptation).

Protecting more than 85,000 acres, Fakahatchee Strand is Florida’s largest state preserve and most certainly our wildest.

Fakahatchee Strand State Park
Biologist Mike Owen keeping track of orchids in the wild

Resources

South Florida Explorers Guide book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover

Overview

Location: Copeland
Trailhead: 25.950713,-81.360579
Fees: free. $3 to drive Jane’s Scenic Drive. Donation appreciated at Big Cypress Bend

Open 8 AM until sunset daily. Leashed pets welcome, but be aware this is panther territory.

Location


About the Park

The botanical delights of this watery wilderness include the largest number of the United States rarest species, including a record number of Florida royal palms.

There are endemic freshwater sponges, fourteen types of native bromeliads, and 44 different species of orchids, including the holy grail of orchid-lovers, the elusive ghost orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii).

Exploring this vast wild place takes a bit of nerve and wilderness savvy, except for one gentle introduction: the Big Cypress Bend boardwalk off US 41 west of Everglades City.

This half mile elevated walkway winds between ancient bald cypress shaggy with bromeliads.

Inside the main entrance, Janes Scenic Drive off SR 29 is the primary access to the wild, a narrow road where you just enjoy the drive, or pull off in a few designated spots to walk out on an old logging tramway into the tropical hammock.

Guided walks are offered during certain seasons; call ahead or check in at the park office for details.


Explore the park

John photographs a liguus tree snail in Everglades National Park

Adding to the Life List

Although John is a native Floridian, our research trip to South Florida became an opportunity for him to see many natural “firsts” in Florida that most people have on their life lists.

Enormous strap fern

Stranding Steves at Fakahatchee

Exploring Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park for a chapter of a new book we’re writing, a pair of park rangers named Steve guide us to the park’s beauty spots

ghost orchid

The Ghost Orchid

On a guided swamp walk into the Fakahatchee Strand, I discover how difficult it is to spot a ghost orchid on your own, let alone keep your bearings in this tangled tropical wilderness

Flag pond surrounded by alligator flag

Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk

Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park provides a peek into a notable natural landmark, a stand of old-growth cypress.

Visit their website

Category: Day Hikes, Florida State Parks, Hikes, Launch Points, Paddling, Parks, South Florida, Southwest Florida, Swamp Walks, TrailsTag: Big Cypress Swamp, Botanical, Everglades City, Favorites, Florida State Parks, Historic Sites, Naples, Opt Outside, Scenic Drive, Trams, Tropical Forests, Wildflowers, Wildlife Viewing

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Our recent park & trail updates in this region

Red blaze post amid pines

CREW Flint Pen Strand

CREW Flint Pen Strand
Cypress dome

CREW Cypress Dome Trails

CREW Cypress Dome Trails
Collier Seminole Hiking Trail

Collier-Seminole Hiking Trail

Collier-Seminole Hiking Trail
Collier Memorial at Collier-Seminole State Park

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