Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary - Naples Florida

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is a National Audubon Society sanctuary located in southwest Florida, north of Naples, Florida and east of Bonita Springs.

A 2.25-mile raised boardwalk takes visitors through four distinct environments:

• A pine upland
• A wet prairie
• A cypress forest
• A marsh

Signs along the boardwalk describe the wildlife, plants and ecosystem. There is a field guide and Children's Activity Book available at the admissions desk. Benches and rain shelters are along the trail. For those who do not wish to walk the full 2.25 miles, an optional trail shortens the walk to one mile.

The Corkscrew Swamp Boardwalk tour takes from 1-3 hours.

The entire boardwalk is handicap accessible. Both wheelchairs and strollers are available without charge for use while on the boardwalk.

Wildlife sightings vary depending on the time of year, the weather, and even the time of day. Birds, reptiles, mammals, insects, and a variety of native plants including wild orchids may be seen from the boardwalk. The photos provided were taken late July 2007. A Ghost Orchid was in bloom and a high powered telescope was set up to view it. I didn't realize it was so rare a such a big deal until I had an opportunity to research this endangered plant. It's actually a federal offense to touch it!

A complete checklist of wildlife that might be seen from the boardwalk is printable, just click here. I'd like to go back when there is more water to see more wildlife. The tour was interesting even with dry conditions. The trees are awesome and very old - hundreds of years. The Strangler Fig Trees look like they're out of The Wizard of Oz.

I was surprised to learn that natural predators such as mosquito fish and dragonflies control the population of mosquitoes, so they are not a great nuisance in the swamp. I was prepared to get eaten alive and it didn't happen. Because of the canopy the boardwalk is cool and comfortable even though the temperature in the sun was over 90 degrees.

Due to draught the water levels were low and there weren't any alligators, but there were deer, squirrels, lizards, lumber grasshoppers, frogs and snakes. The sounds are priceless - everything is singing and there almost no man made sounds except for footsteps.

Admission is $10 and under depending upon age and Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is open every day unless there is violent weather.

Corkscrew Swamp is only 25 miles from Bonita Springs.

If you're in the area Corkscrew Swamp is a must. Kids will love it!