Along the southwest coast of the Florida peninsula, stretching south from Tampa Bay to Naples, coastal density means many smaller parks and local beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. Public lands cluster around river basins, particularly the Myakka River and the Peace River, and along the western edge of the Big Cypress Swamp.
Look for some of the region’s largest public lands immediately west of Interstate 75, where watersheds have been preserved and wetlands abound. There is a surprising bounty of county natural areas that see light usage despite their hiking, biking, and paddling trails.
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