Composed of several parcels of land acquired in 2008 and 2010 by Conservation Collier, Rivers Road Preserve serves to protect imperiled wildlife, including the rare and evasive Florida Panther.
Near the north end of the preserve, a thin strip of woods leads to a tunnel under Immokalee Road, allowing safe passage for animals to access the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed properties.
A set of marked trails invite nature enthusiasts to explore subtropical flatwoods communities brimming with songbirds and native bromeliads.
Among the palmsResources
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Overview
Length: 1.5 miles
Trailhead: 26.263714, -81.648929
Address: 2021 Rivers Road, Naples, 34120
Fees: Free
Restrooms: No
Land manager: Collier County
Phone: 239-252-2495
Open sunrise to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome.
Directions
From the intersection of Immokalee Rd. and Interstate 75 in North Naples, head east on Immokalee Rd. for 5.7 miles, before turning right onto Rivers Rd. Continue on Rivers Rd. for 0.7 miles to a small parking area next to a sign for the preserve.
Hike
Beginning at the preserve kiosk, head eastward across River Road to a sign with a map and arrow indicating the direction of the trail.
Entering a cabbage palm flatwoods habitat, endemic South Florida slash pines line the sandy pathway alongside palmettos and shrubs covered in grapevines.
Trailhead kioskAt a tenth of a mile, the canopy opens as the trail makes a sharp turn towards a stand of tall cabbage palms extending high above the forest.
Bracken ferns and wild coffee border the grass carpeted pathway as it winds around a small artificial pond before continuing northward.
Palm pathwayA short loop begins at 0.3 mile where a sign displays the current location on a trail map.
Weaving through a dense jungle of young palm trees, the pathway reaches an edge of the preserve at the half mile mark.
From this point, a side trail leads west to Rivers Road, where the dirt road can be followed back to the trailhead. Turn to the right to remain on the loop trail.
Trail marker with mapEvidence of seasonal flooding is apparent where cypress trees rise up alongside the trail, their branches covered in bright green leaves in the springtime.
When the loop concludes at 0.7 mile, retrace your steps along the trail, passing the pond before reaching the trailhead at one mile.
Twin cypressesFollowing the trail southward past the kiosk, a bench sits alongside the trail, offering a spot to rest among a chorus of songbirds and crickets.
Clusters of coreopsis emerge from the grassy forest floor, sporting wiry stems with vibrant yellow flowers at the end.
Trailside benchTrail markers denote the path as it makes a half-mile loop through shady mesic flatwoods.
Tall wild coffee plants with strikingly shiny leaves border the trail, thriving in humid conditions under the canopy. At 1.5 miles, the second loop ends at the trailhead.
Wild coffeeTrail Map
Explore More!
Video
A walk at Rivers Road Preserve
Nearby Adventures
More worth exploring in this area.
CREW Bird Rookery Swamp Rich with wildlife, CREW Bird Rookery Swamp near Naples provides up to 12 miles of hiking/biking in Big Cypress habitats on tramways through a primordial swamp
CREW Flint Pen Strand Just four miles east of Interstate 75, get your feet wet in one corner of the vast the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed on the trails of Flint Pen Strand.
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Weaving beneath a canopy knit by old-growth cypress trees in a majestic swamp forest, the boardwalk at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is one of Florida's best hikes.
Dr. Robert H Gore III Preserve In a lesser-known corner of the Big Cypress Swamp, Dr. Robert H Gore III Preserve immerses hikers in truly wild South Florida landscapes on its nature trails.
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