Day Hiking Southwest Florida: A Guide to the Best Trail Adventures in Greater Naples and Fort Myers

by Johnny Molloy

Overview

“Hikers, history buffs, and birders will enjoy this veteran author’s directions and thoughtful observations. Molloy’s difficulty ratings and habitat descriptions make this an excellent read for those wanting to explore the Caloosahatchee, Sanibel, and the many trails in this unique ecosystem."—Susan Young, coauthor of 25 Kayak & Canoe Trips in East-Central Florida

 

“From Corkscrew Swamp to Collier-Seminole State Park, Molloy does a thorough job. The hikes are clearly laid out with practical information, GPS coordinates, historical facts, and even whether leashed dogs are permitted. Ideal for both experienced and novice day hikers.”—Doug Alderson, author of Encounters with Florida’s Endangered Wildlife

 

Whether you’re looking for a shady jaunt in a tropical hardwood forest, an exhilarating trek across palmetto prairies, or a detour down forgotten roads into years past, Day Hiking Southwest Florida is your guide to the perfect outdoor adventure.

Johnny Molloy, outdoorsman extraordinaire, shares forty of his favorite “frontcountry” hikes through city, county, and state parks and their surrounding wildlands. Destinations include Caracara Prairie Preserve, home to several endangered species including the Florida black bear and crested caracara; Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, a subtropical island oasis for migratory birds; and Wild Turkey Strand Preserve, site of a World War II airfield training base. With a variety of trail lengths and difficulty levels, this guidebook offers many possibilities for all outdoor explorers, from the tourist to the longtime Florida hiker seeking new scenery.

Best of all, the concise format provides everything necessary to get started. For each hike Molloy provides a detailed map, driving directions with GPS coordinates, photographs, and notes about trail junctions, stream crossings, trailside features, and more. Day Hiking Southwest Florida opens up the natural world for you to explore in this vibrant slice of the Sunshine State.

 

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780813049465
Publisher:	University Press of Florida
Publication date:	03/11/2014
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	1,080,133
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Johnny Molloy is the author of more than fifty outdoor guide books, including The Hiking Trails of Florida’s National Forests, Parks, and Preserves; Hiking the Florida Trail; Beach and Coastal Camping in Florida; and From the Swamp to the Keys.

Table of Contents

Hike Locator Map viii

Hikes at a Glance x

Preface and Acknowledgments xv

Introduction 1

1 Charlotte Harbor Preserve 9

2 Footprints Trail 14

3 Babcock Ranch Ecotour Trail 19

4 Prairie Pines Preserve North Loop 24

5 Prairie Pines Preserve South Loop 29

6 Caloosahatchee Creeks East Preserve 34

7 Telegraph Creek Preserve 39

8 Caloosahatchee Regional Park 44

9 Hickeys Creek Mitigation Park 49

10 Pine Island Flatwoods Preserve 54

11 Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve 58

12 Calusa Nature Center 63

13 Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve 68

14 Wild Turkey Strand Preserve 73

15 Tram Trail 78

16 Twin Mill Trail 83

17 Indigo Trail at Ding Darling Refuge 88

18 Sanibel-Captiva Nature Center 93

19 Bailey Tract at Ding Darling Refuge 98

20 Matanzas Pass Preserve 103

21 Estero Bay Preserve Hike 108

22 Koreshan State Historic Site Hike 113

23 CREW Marsh Hike 118

24 CREW Cypress Dome Hike 124

25 Caracara Prairie Preserve 128

26 Black Island Trail 133

27 Lovers Key Trail and Beach Walk 138

28 Bird Rookery Swamp Loop 143

29 Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary 148

30 Barefoot Beach Preserve Hike 153

31 Clam Pass Park 158

32 Lasip Mitigation Park 163

33 Duncan Trail 168

34 Sabal Palm Trail 173

35 Rookery Bay Hike 178

36 Collier-Seminole Hiking Adventure Trail 183

37 Royal Palm Nature Trail 188

38 Collier-Seminole Hike/Bike Trail 193

39 Marsh Trail 198

40 Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk 203