Local, State and National Parks in SWFL
Did you know Southwest Florida is home to 7 National Parks & Refuges, 9 State Parks, and numerous local parks? And that’s just tracking Lee and Collier County mostly. There are even more in our surrounding counties of Charlotte, Glades, Hendry, Monroe, etc.
Big Cypress National Preserve - Photo Credit: Reinhard Link, Flickr
National Preserves in SWFL
Big Cypress National Preserve is our one National Park under the official U.S. National Park Service designation. It is a huge hunk of land located between us and Miami. If you’ve traveled across the Alligator Alley, you’ve seen it! Next time you’re traveling that way, be sure to stop off and explore Florida in its natural state.
National Wildlife Refuge’s in SWFL
Caloosahatchee National Wildlife Refuge - Located in North Fort Myers, just across the bridge from downtown Fort Myers
Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge - In Immokalee, along Alligator Alley, near Big Cypress National Park
J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge - On Sanibel Island, near the west end of the island, just before crossing into Captiva Island
Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge - A little island between Cape Coral and Pine Island
Pine Island National Wildlife Refuge - Another little island near Cayo Costa State Park, just above Cabbage Key
Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge - A smaller chain of islands located just south of Marco Island
Park Pass Information:
The America The Beautiful Passes allow access to National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands. Click here to learn more about the park passes.
Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge - Photo Credit: Diana Robinson, Flickr
Southwest Florida State Parks
Cayo Costa State Park - Cayo Costa is located north of North Captiva, and just south of Boca Grande
Daniels State Preserve - Located near Miramar Lakes, just east of I-75
Koreshan State Park - Located in Estero, right off of the Tamiami Trail
Estero Bay Preserve State Park - Located in Fort Myers, backs up to the Estero Bay and Fort Myers Beach
Mound Key Archaeological State Park - On the Estero Bay near the mouth of the Estero River
Lovers Key State Park - Beach site on the border of Bonita Springs and Fort Myers Beach
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park - Beach site located in North Naples
Collier-Seminole State Park - Located 17-miles south of Naples, just east of Marco Island
Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park - Even further east than Collier-Seminole, located in Copeland, FL
Park Pass Information:
Florida State Parks offer an annual pass. More information can be found online by clicking here.
Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park - Photo Credit: USFWS, Flickr
Local Parks in SWFL
There are 39 local parks in Lee County. You can find a list of those in our blog post by clicking here. Collier County has another seven regional parks, 12 community parks, and 15 neighborhood parks, and five aquatic parks listed on their website, linked here.
More articles about our SWFL area parks and conservation lands:
7 Nature Escapes To Discover in SWFL
You Must Visit At Least 5 of these 39 Lee County Parks
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