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Lake Trafford

Take an airboat adventure, view the corkscrew marsh and see its creatures in their natural habitat, while experiencing the thrill of a small airboat.  Picnic at Lake Trafford's Ann Olesky County Park while enjoying bank or pier fishing, and Mother Nature at her best.  For fishermen or the naturalist, Lake Trafford is one of Immokalee's most prized assets.  Enjoy Lake Trafford for its pristine beauty, and swamp like treasures of alligators, egrets, herons and much more.

Pepper Ranch Acquisition Project (Conservation Collier)

The Conservation Collier program, Collier County's taxpayer-funded conservation land acquisition program is considering purchase of the 2,500 acre Pepper Ranch, located just west of Immokalee, with frontage on Lake Trafford.  If acquired, this would be the largest property owned by the County under the Conservation Collier Program, which currently owns 732 acres in 13 different locations throughout Collier County.  The Pepper Ranch offers significant potential for satisfying acquisition criteria.  Its acquisition would protect water resources by buffering the Corkscrew Marsh area, provide aquifer recharge, permanently protect critical wildlife habitat and species, and provide opportunity for education and nature based recreation for county residents.  For more information, please contact Alexandra Sulecki at (239) 252-2961, or alexandrasulecki@colliergov.net. For more information about how the property meets Conservation Collier criteria, visit http://www.colliergov.net.
 

Okaloacoochee Slough

The state forest is comprised of 32,039 acres located approximately 10 miles north of Immokalee.  The area of the Okaloacoochee slough was heavily logged in the early 1900s, as this timber was ideal for making railroad cross ties for a growing railroad system that was developing in southern Florida.  During this time, sawmills began to spring up producing small towns dependent on these sawmills.  One of these early towns, Sears, once stood on the northern border of the forest.  However, a fire destroyed the mill and soon afterward the town of Sears disappeared.  During the same period, the Atlantic Land Improvement Company (ALICO) Inc. continued harvesting operations by utilizing two portable sawmills, which were referred to as the Twin Mills.  Although the two sawmills no longer exist on the forest, remnants of sawdust piles can be found on the forest near Twin Mills Grade.

The Okaloacoochee Slough, the forest's namesake, is a 13,382 acre pristine slough that is oriented north-south through the forest.  The natural systems of the Fakahatchee Strand and the Big Cypress Preserve are dependent on the water supplied by the slough.  The unique natural system provides a large roaming area of contiguous habitat for a variety of wildlife.  The forest is home to listed species such as Florida panther, Florida black bear, sandhill crane, wood stork, and gopher tortoise.

The forest offers a variety of recreational activities for visitors.  There are many miles of open forest roads available for hiking and bicycling.  Fishing in the canals, ponds, and ditches is accessible by vehicle.  Hunting is a popular activity in the forest.  All hunts are conducted on a quota system and include the spring gobbler hut, archery hunt, general gun hunt, special hog hunt, and a dove hunt.  The FWC coordinates all hunting activities held in the forest. Visit www.myfwc.com, for more information, or call 1888 FISH Florida (888-347-4356), or 1888 HUNT Florida (888-486-8356). Or, contact Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest, P.O. Box 712, Felda, FL  33930, (863) 612-0776.

 

Big Cypress National Preserve

The freshwaters of the Big Cypress Swamp, essential to the health of the neighboring Everglades, support the rich marine estuaries along Florida's southwest coast.  A long established recreational activity in the area, hunters were instrumental in protecting this corner of remote, wild Florida.  Hunting activities today include season for archery, muzzle loading and general gun.  Typical game species are white tailed deer, turkey, and hogs.  Alligator hunting is not allowed within the preserve. Visit www.nps.gov/bicy, for more information, or call (239) 695-1210. 33100 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee, Florida 34141.

 

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Nature lovers will enjoy the National Audubon Society's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, just 16 miles southwest of Immokalee.  The sanctuary is located at the northern tip of the Big Cypress Swamp.  Brilliantly colored birds, native to the Everglades, may be seen in their natural surroundings.  Boardwalks over the swamp make nature and bird watching a pastime everyone can partake in.

 

Seminole/Collier State Park

CREW (Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed)
Ninety percent of Florida's drinking water comes from underground reservoirs of porous rock called aquifers.  The Floridian aquifer exists underneath the entire  state.  In Southwest Florida, it is more than 1000 feet below the surface.  The CREW lands lie on top of a surface aquifer system that depends on local rainfall to be recharged.  The ability of the system to recharge itself is affected by how much and how long rainfall is allowed to remain on the land and be absorbed into the soil.  The CREW is a large natural wetlands area that provides for aquifer recharge. The natural trail offers over five miles of hiking through pine flat woods, hardwood hammocks, a popash slough, and along the 5,000 acre sawgrass marsh.  Known for the variety of native wildflower & plants, the trails are also home to hawks, egret, swallow-tailed kit, heron, deer, raccoon, turkey, the endangered Florida panther, and the threatened Florida black bear.

Directions: SR 82 to CR 850, turn left on CR 850, entrance is about 2 miles on your left. Visit www.crewtrust.org, for more information, or call (239) 657-2253. CREW Land & Water Trust, 23998 Corkscrew Rd, Estero, FL  33928, fax (239) 867-3230.

 

The Great Florida Birding Trail

Florida's heartland is for the birds!  As part of the 2,000 mile Great Florida Birding Trail, there are may points of interest throughout the Heartland region that have been identified as premier birding experiences.  Beautiful hiking trails await you, so don't forget your binoculars.  Visit www.floridabirdingtrail.com, for more information.