Big Cypress North Loop
Big Cypress National Preserve 14.9 milesTraverse a vast mosaic of pinelands, prairies, and cypress swamps on a spectacularly scenic loop along the Florida Trail developed and maintained by the Florida Trail Association.
Caracara Prairie Preserve
Immokalee 5.3 milesNamed after a striking bird of prey known to frequent this part of the state, a well-marked loop trail winds across shady hammocks, cattle pastures, and open prairies.
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Naples 2.3 milesWeaving 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.
CREW Bird Rookery Swamp
Naples 4.5 milesRich 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 Cypress Dome Trails
Estero 4.4 milesOn this 4.4 mile loop, experience an impressive array of habitats in Florida panther habitat - from sandy flatwoods to flooded cypress swamps - in the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed.
CREW Marsh Trails
Fort Myers 3.1 milesAt CREW Marsh, a network of well-marked paths crisscrosses the northwestern tip of the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed, providing loops of up to 3.1 miles along a vast marsh.
Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge
Explore the habitat of Florida's apex predator on a pair of short hiking trails in one small corner of the vast territory that the endangered Florida panther roams.
Leslie M. Duncan Memorial Trail
Immokalee 0.4 milesTry a tiny sample of the vast mosaic of habitats within the 26,000-acre Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge on this short accessible-with-assistance loop.
Nancy Payton Preserve
Naples 1.9 milesIn an essential refuge for native plants and animals surrounded by expanding development in the Naples area, two loop trails span a sandy forest of pines, palms, and cypress trees.
Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest
LaBelle 24.0 milesProtecting the headwaters of the Big Cypress Swamp south of the Caloosahatchee River, expansive Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest preserves the heart of wild South Florida.
Okaloacoochee Slough Tram Loop
LaBelle 5.6 milesSlightly elevated from surrounding swamplands, the Tram Loop at Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest travels through iconic South Florida prairies and pine forests that are home to the elusive Florida Panther.
Panther Prowls & Gator Growls
Will you see a panther when hiking at Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge? I was fortunate to hike with a panther biologist and go on a tracking expedition, but we still came up empty-handed when it came to finding a big cat.