On property once part of Buckingham Army Air Force Base, Wild Turkey Strand Preserve protects over 3,000 acres of sensitive land in the Estero River watershed.
The base was home to an aerial gunnery school during World War II. Many historic relics of this era remain.
The preserve is highly accessible, with a system of well-maintained rubberized walkways and boardwalks leading to many of the scenic spots.
The Gunner’s Trail can be explored on the surfaced portions, or as a 1.9 mile loop through seasonally wet prairie environments.
Rubberized walkway in flatwoodsResources
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Overview
Location: Fort Myers
Length: 1.9 mile loop
Trailhead: 26.570828, -81.694316
Address: 11901 Rod and Gun Club Rd, Fort Myers
Fees: Free
Restrooms: At trailhead, along with non-potable well pump
Land manager: Lee County
Phone: 239-707-3325
Open sunrise to sunset. No pets allowed.
Directions
From Interstate 75 in Fort Myers, head east on SR 82 for 7.9 miles, then turn right onto Rod and Gun Club Rd. In less than a tenth of a mile, turn left at the entrance to the preserve. Continue for 0.2 mile to the end of a paved road.
Hike
The parking spots surround a charmingly landscaped area with covered picnic tables, an information kiosk with paper maps, and a pitcher pump.
On the southeast corner, the trail begins along an inviting ADA accessible rubberized pathway.
TrailheadIn a tenth of a mile, the path splits, offering a handful of choices for exploring the park. The accessible pathway continues for nearly 0.3 mile in each direction.
Turning right leads to an observation platform with panoramic views of a wet prairie, while the trail to the left showcases the historical structures on site.
Concrete bases for gunnery mountsTaking a left at this junction to begins the loop as a gently winding pathway courses through pine flatwoods accented with saw palmettos and beautyberry bushes.
In a quarter mile, the trail passes a collection of curious concrete cubes with an accompanying information plaque.
Pine flatwoodsReaching the end of the rubber path, a small building surrounded by cabbage palms stands alongside a sign with historic aerial imagery of the property.
The exact purpose of this structure is unknown, although it is proposed that it was a sort of storage unit.
Historic structureAcross from the building, the unpaved trail begins as a sandy path and traces the edge of a low-lying area, passing another concrete building on the other side.
At the half mile mark, a long boardwalk crosses over a seasonally wet prairie.
BoardwalkRed-blazed posts indicate the direction of the trail as it extends towards the eastern portion of the preserve.
Cypress saplings and wax myrtles dot the open landscape as the trail cuts through seas of golden grasses.
Prairie trailNear the halfway point, a wooden walkway skirts alongside the edge of a wetland habitat, ending at an observation deck perfect for spotting birds attracted to aquatic ecosystems.
At 1.5 miles, the trail passes another lookout with spectacular views before rejoining the accessible rubber pathway.
Observation deckLeading west through a small oak hammock, the path emerges at an open prairie where one final boardwalk crossing leads to the end of the loop.
Turn to the left, reaching the trailhead in 0.1 mile.
Walkway and boardwalkTrail Map
Explore More!
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Nearby Adventures
CREW Marsh Trails At 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.
CREW Cypress Dome Trails On 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.
Hickey Creek Mitigation Park Walk along a blackwater stream that sluggishly seeps towards the Caloosahatchee River on the way to a panorama of pines and palmettos along Hickey Creek.
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve Winding 1.4 miles through the slough, the broad wheelchair-accessible boardwalk at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in Fort Myers leads you into a dark cypress strand.
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