This is a must do at least once type of experience. The park is about a 2.5 mile boardwalk trail of natural preserved land. This can be an educational or a peaceful experience. I personally enjoy the walks during the cooler days of the year. In the summer, the heat and the mosquitoes are a serious deal. I will be one of those who will say that you'll not see all the wildlife you see on some reviews. This isn't a zoo where animals are on display. It all depends on what time of the year you visit and how close you pay attention to your surroundings. I've been here many times and have only seen a few birds. The cost of admission is about $14. You'll find a gift store, food, and drinks at the visitors center. Use the rest room before you head out. Don't forget water and bug spray. read more

Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary - Hiking Near Me - Naples, Florida

Enjoyed my afternoon at the sanctuary. Well worth the drive. Saw numerous birds and alligators. Got a great video of an anhinga swimming below me! read more

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My mom brought me here on a Sunday morning. She is a walking enthusiast and her friends told her about this place. It's out in the woods. I put on sunscreen and bug spray. A sign says it's not a bug heavy area, and I didn't have any mosquito issues, but it's southwest Florida ya know? I'm not taking any chances. Off the beaten path so maybe plug this into your GPS. Plenty of parking outside. It's in the middle of the swamp. You park, go inside to the main building. You have to enter the building to get to the boardwalk path. Con: $14 is kind of steep for a 2 mile walking path. Don't get me wrong, it's cool. It's an elevated boardwalk over swampy areas. A bird parked itself on a handrail 2 feet away from me, and I saw a baby alligator, but I don't know if it's necessarily worth $14, especially if you come with a group. Then again, I was more focused on the walking than the intense sightseeing. There were intense people walked around dressed like they were on an African safari, including binoculars. Pros: Well maintained and friendly staff. My mom really liked their gift shop. Clean bathroom. I am definitely going to recommend it to my family and friends. A fun Naples morning activity. Note on handicap accessibility: If you are in an electric wheelchair, you mind need to switch to the push-style wheelchair. There are some huge logs on the boardwalk, and I saw that a dude couldn't make it through the full path. They have some you can borrow I think. read more

I have to tell you, I've been to a lot of wetlands and conservation areas in the USA and this is one of the top 5 I've ever experienced. Its not only well run and maintained but the variety of wildlife and the range of "landscapes" is impressive. Really, well worth the price of admission. read more

A great peek into natural Florida. I wish they gave out a basic bird/tree sheet along with the map.

I love this place! Friendly staff. Great volunteers. If you love nature and hikes- this is the place for you to visit. We've seen so many special critters here. Come early to see the most activity. read more

Found closed and gated at 5:20 pm (25 min BEFORE dusk ) on 1/6/2020. Hours not indicated on way-finding signs. Quite disappointing and surprising as birds typically return to rookeries around sunset. read more

It's a nice little getaway from the everyday, if you want a bit of nature. It's a nature reserve, which previously belonged to the Indians, but was, of course, taken from them. There's nothing much to see, besides from the swamp, the trees, the birds and - if you're lucky - an alligator. The nature's beautiful, and the trees change quite a lot during the relatively short walk. We were also lucky to see an alligator with it's little babies that were about 20 cm's long (7.9 inches) - so cute. The trail going around the swamp is quite short - about 2,5 miles (4km), so you can walk the whole tour in about 2 hours if you do a few photo stops. There are volunteer rangers walking around the trail who are really helpfull and can tell you about the different trees, birds, sights etc. Remember your student ID, if you have one - there's a discount! ($6 for students, $14 for adults). read more

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Two words: free strollers! Free wheelchairs too. They make the two mile circular boardwalk trip accessible to the whole family. There were a few telescopes set up for viewing of a hawk nest and a rare ghost orchid. The entry fee may seem high but it goes directly to maintaining the facility. Plus kids under 6 are free, your admission is good for two consecutive days, and there is a $2 coupon online at http://southwestflorida.welcomeguide-map.com read more

Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary - Happy resident - Hiking Near Me - Naples, Florida

I love corkscrew swamp. The board walk is accessible for anyone and there is an option to walk the long trail or the short trail. There are different habitats throughout the boardwalk so there's lots to see. Inside the center there is a nice gift shop with lots of well priced items. There's a small area to eat with sand which's, pizza and drinks. If it's raining you can sit inside or outside to view the feeders without getting wet. Your $14 fee is good for two days. My only complaint is that their guides are too loud. Several times while birdwatching on the boardwalk we were approached by groups led by staff with blue shirts. The guides were all talking very loudly and often frightened what we working looking at. As an Audubon Center I feel that they should be teaching guests to be quiet in nature and it starts with the guides. read more

We've been at least 6 times. Outstanding, relaxing, adventure, educational. If you have 2 hours and a camera, Go! Check out all the photos! (Tip:Bring water to stay hydrated.) We've been at least 6 times. Outstanding, relaxing, adventure, educational. If you have 2 hours and a camera, Go! Check out all the photos! (Tip:Bring water to stay hydrated.) read more

Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary - Fun with my Camera at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Sony RX-100 (love this camera). Macro! Cooperative subject. Get YOUR shot. - Hiking Near Me - Naples, Florida

It's not the place to come and catch up with an old friend if you have a lot to say. This is a quiet place to come enjoy nature and hold hands on a stroll. It's a place to come alone and soak up the solitary of being alone with some binoculars. There's no signs that say, "sssshhhh" but the serious birders around you will tell you with their eyes. I felt a little bad for the family who brought their rambunctious 3 year old boy. The kid was having a great time chasing things and yelling but it really didn't go with the tenor of the sanctuary. I love the boardwalk that runs for over 2 miles in a loop. So awesome to be able to walk without getting muddy. There's little benches and points where you're encouraged to just sit, watch and listen. I came here in the dead of winter. I wonder if the place feels louder and more lively in the spring or summer? read more

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A very special place, and the crown jewel of the National Audubon Society which purchased the land in 1905 to protect the wading birds nesting within Corkscrew Swamp. We took the 2 hour lecture/tour with the volunteer naturalist who was great! We learned so much from this transplant from our hometown! If you have the time and interest, I strongly recommend attending this daily tour that is included in the entrance fee. We then finished the 2.25-mile boardwalk. It meanders through pine flatwood, wet prairie, around a marsh and finally into the largest old growth Bald Cypress forest in North America. These impressive trees, relatives of the redwood, tower 130 feet into the sky and have a girth of 25 feet. Their massive branches are draped with mosses, lichens, bromeliads and ferns. read more

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Heads up... First of all it's a little scary once you get closer to this place because it's in the middle of nowhere behind what looks to be a space neighborhood. You can't bring food in so eat before you go and bring water because the trail is almost 2.5 miles. The admission is $12 for adults. For the first quarter mile there was nothing. If you can remove your shoes, walk slowly, don't talk or keep your voice down. Sound carries and alert critters. I saw beautiful butterflies, neon (lubber) grasshopper, and nothing for a while. If you are able to be patient and sit that's when the magi happens. I stopped to watch a red hawk and suddenly a slew of otters came rambling through. I was told by the staff that it's extremely rare to see otters and that I was very lucky. It's a cool place. Definitely worth going to if you are a patient person. I would not bring children or babies here. Not for kids. Another cool thing that happened as I was traveling down immokolee rd a bobcat ran across the road!! read more

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AS CLOSE TO WILDLIFE AS YOU CAN GET The plentiful wildlife are NOT in cages. In fact they can easily crawl into the little bit of civilization for miles: a long boardwalk. A couple times a little snake totally startled us--one was just wriggling along on the boardwalk's rails as if it was another tree branch. And don't forget to look up--not only to see the plentiful vegetation and bird varieties, but keep an eye out for huge cobwebs that can sometimes creep into your head space. LUCKILY THIS HASN'T TRANSFORMED INTO A DISNEY CONGA LINE With the exception of the (very rare) school group, it's easy to feel like you're completely alone with nothing but the sounds of nature. Other visitors are often very respectful of nature. If you see a group of them stopped and pointing at something, that's normally a sign to keep an eye out for nature at its best. The scenery of the swamp is very different than most other trails in America--beautiful in a wet and wild way. KEEP THESE IN MIND Wear pants--mosquito season in Florida is real. Most of the trail is shielded from the sun by thick trees overhead, but the early parts are pretty exposed to the hot sun. I think my little group walked for about 3 hours (we were ogling everything though) on the trail which only goes one direction. There are no restrooms, shops, or stores once you begin so come prepared! There is a (rather high) admission fee-- I feel it's high because there are smaller parts of the Everglades you can see for free without having to visit Corkscrew. read more

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I have been to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary twice and I've had phenomenal experiences both times. It is about a 40 minute drive from Naples, so be prepared for that. However, once you get there, it's a magical escape into the swamp. The Sanctuary starts with a large visitor center that has bathrooms, a gift shop, and information about the Swamp Sanctuary. Everyone we interacted with who worked there was very informative and it seemed like their work was truly their passion. After the visitor center, there's an elevated boardwalk that you can use to walk through the swamp. There's a smaller loop and a larger loop. The first time I was there with a friend and we did the larger loop. It was fairly easy walking as the elevated boardwalk is flat. Staff had tied ribbons to the handrails of the boardwalk at certain locations to point out specific sites. We saw baby alligators, a beautiful owl, and birds. The second time at Corkscrew, I took my parents (both former biology teachers) for a nighttime tour. This was a wonderful experience that I would highly recommend. You meet up with a ranger and a small group of fellow adventurers around 8pm (in the summer). The tour lasts until 10:30pm. The group walks around the elevated boardwalk in the dusk and then dark listening to nature and occasionally using red-light flashlights to see things like alligators in the swamp below the boardwalk. It was a very unique experience and the ranger who led the tour was clearly very knowledgeable and passionate about the land. One warning: my family and I knew to cover up and wear long sleeves, socks and shoes, pants, etc. because of mosquitoes. I'm so glad that we did - it was very necessary. Even my leggings were not really enough and I had a ton of mosquito bites on my legs - I should have worn stiffer pants that were away from my body more to avoid this. So if you go, wear clothing that covers up your body and bring bug spray. Also wear shoes that you can stand and walk in for two and a half hours. read more

This was first time here. It was very informational. Nice easy walk with beatiful foliage. It was rainy season so not many animals. Highly recommend an early morning walk its so peaceful and not to hot. This walk is easy for anyone and all ages. Very flat and places to rest if you need to. read more

Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary - Hiking Near Me - Naples, Florida

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What a beautiful place! We took almost 3 hours to walk the 2.25 mile boardwalk. It was an easy walk and could have been much faster, but we took our time, slowed down and took it all in. We saw a LOT of birds, a few lizards and one snake. The staff in the visitor center was friendly and helpful. Unfortunately, we got there towards then end of the day so we didn't get a chance to see everything in the visitor center after we made our way through the boardwalk. I would definitely visit again, especially if we're in the area during a different season. I suspect it feels very different during each season. read more

Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary - Hiking Near Me - Naples, Florida

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Look at this as a nice walk and a contribution to help preserve nature. We didn't see much wildlife--a raccoon and a few birds--I see more in my mother's development in south Naples. read more

This place was amazing!!! We saw great wildlife and had a great day in nature. Birds included: spoonbills, egrets, Carolina Wren, Swallow-tailed Kite, and many others. We also saw alligators, snakes, and turtles! Plan to spend several hours walking and standing (although there are places to sit) and don't rush through, enjoy your time outside! You can bring binoculars or rent them for $3. read more

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I walked and walked and I didn't see anything. So disappointing. Then at the end we saw an adult alligator, two baby alligators, owl, 5 different birds and A raccoon. It was worth the money. I would love to come back. Each time that you come back, you will see something different! read more

I was very excited to come to the sanctuary, as I imagined it would have an abundance of wildlife, and especially, birds, since the Audubon seal usually encompasses ornithology. In addition, I was looking forward to a mini road trip and getting away from Miami. I had read that Roseate Spoonbills can sometimes be found here, so that was the biggest incentive in coming here. The sanctuary is located north of Naples, in an area that is practically in the middle of nowhere. The closest restaurants are about 10 miles away, so if you're planning to be here a while, I advise you to eat beforehand. I do not recall seeing many gas stations either, so that's something else you may want to consider. Arriving here was not difficult and along the way, I encountered the elusive Roseate Spoonbills, so I decided to snap some shots, just in case, though I figured I would get more chances upon arrival. My friend and I parked and entered the visitor center, as we needed a map. It was there that we found out that not only is admission $14 per person, which is rather steep, but if you wanted a map, you had to pay $3. I found this to be outlandish, as the place is really not that big (the boardwalk is only about 2 miles long). I have been to nature preserves that had many more, lengthier nature trails and either had no admission fee or it was a flat per vehicle entrance fee that was reasonable and we have never had to pay to get a map of the place either. Ever. We figured since it's an Audubon place, the wildlife sightings would make up for the steep admission fee. Not too long after our walk, we encountered a Ribbon Snake, which was unusual for us, despite our many nature outings. Other than that though, I did not see any wildlife that I hadn't seen before, elsewhere. We encountered a couple of nice docents along the way that were friendly, but the map was very confusing and improperly labeled, so we took a wrong turn. Unfortunately, that made us bump into another docent who was not at all pleasant and told us we had to continue straight and could not turn anywhere or stop to take pictures because they were closing soon. She said we better not dare take any turns. I didn't much care for that empty threat of hers, and she left a bad taste in our mouth. My friend and I were actually surprised that they close this early, as most parks and preserves close at sunset, but not here. Even when we followed her advice of walking straight and not deviating, we had some time to kill and could only just stand around the exit for fear of being reprimanded. We saw some people far behind us, walking to the exit very slowly and were frustrated by the fact we let her intimidate us. Other than the usual Florida wildlife, I am glad I took pictures of the Roseate Spoonbills outside the property grounds, because there was not a single one at Corkscrew. As I said, you can see the same type of wildlife we saw here in other nature preserves without paying this much in admission fees, and without being rushed out of there. The one interesting aspect about this place was the fact they had these historical cypress trees, some of which were pre-Columbian, and were nicely labeled. That is something you may not find in other swamps or preserves, but alligators, wading birds and marshes are something that to most inhabitants of Florida, especially lovers of the outdoors, are considered recurrent. As a lover of nature, I found Rafael F.'s review very concise and agree with the points he made. I would not mind recommending this place if money is no object to you, if you live in Naples or you're visiting the Naples area for an extended period of time, but if you're driving for over an hour and expecting to find some kind of wildlife and flora goldmine, you probably will be somewhat disappointed. read more

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On 5/20/2021, my wife and I spent the morning at the Naples Fishing Pier. While on Rt 75, on the way home, we saw the signs to the Corkscrew Preserve, and at the spur of the moment, decided to visit the facility. Not knowing that this is an Audubohn Society facility, we asked the lady at the front desk whether they honor the "Florida State Parks" card or the "Senior Pass for National Parks" card. She reacted very annoyed and rudely asked us to step to the side so she can service the customers behind who paid admission online. The line was not long, only my wife and I and the two young ladies behind us. There were no signs that online payments get served first. I felt very insulted by her attitude. She probably thought we were trying to get a freebee. After paying for the admission, she kinda toned down, tried to smile, by then, she was trying to do damage control. The facility has a rundown look, poorly maintained. There were hardly any birds, two Anhingas and a Blue Heron, maybe its the time of the day and the season, but the experience was not a good one. We didn't get her name, she was short, long dark hair, overweight. Can't recommend the facility! MTB MD read more

This is a really nice place to go to get back to nature. Admission is only $10 and it's a very peaceful place. There is a really nice boardwalk that keeps you away from scary animals (gators) and really allows you to get some good looks at butterflies, birds and the various shrubbery Florida has to offer. I was a little bummed that I didn't see any gators when I went here, but they were in a bit of a drought. I plan on going gator stalking again when I find out that the water levels have gone up a bit. The people that work in the service area are very kind an knowledgeable. They are eager to share information with visitors. There are nice information placards sporadically throughout the nature walk as well. read more

It's really expensive and they don't allow dogs. I would recommend Koreshan State Historic Site instead. Just as much if not more wildlife, some really cool history, it's not as far from Naples and they allow dogs. read more

This is labeled as a 2.25 trail but it's more of 1.5 miles. Came here during the mid-smack of summer. Lots of spiderwebs on the boardwalk and since there's lots of rain, then you get mosquitoes. It was a pretty cool experience. Got to get in touch with nature and see some pretty cool animals. Towards the end of the trail, we finally saw an alligator. He was just hanging out under the boardwalk. Respect the animals and they'll respect our space as well. read more

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I've never seen anything like this before! We spent a whole day here, it's really a great escape for the imagination. I recommend bringing water, we didn't realize it was about 2-3 miles long when we embarked. I've been to the Audobon Society's Egret nesting Sanctuary in Bolinas, north of San Francisco, but it pales in comparison. The sheer amount of wildlife that we saw here was incredible. We saw wood peckers, cardinals, monarch butterflies, a mallard, egrets, herons, turtles, alligator, baby alligators too, snakes, geckos, and a raccoon. We got to watch an alligator hunt an egret and swim around in the bird wading area- the views are amazing and you get to be a good distance to these guys. The flora was astonishing as well. Ferns and air plants growing on top of other plants. Strangler figs making beautiful spiral structures up the trunks of other plants. This is a truly special place. read more

It seemed like a beautiful place but we were mishandled by one of the employee's/volunteers, felt uncomfortable and left. We decided to bring our 10 month old daughter hoping she would either sleep in the stroller or watch the animals happily. Unfornunately, as any 1o month old will do, she was kind of bored, so the easy fix was to put some cheerios in front of her on her stroller. We had probably walked 100yds and this employee came up to us very forcefully about us having food on the boardwalk. I will admit there was a sign that we did not see stating no food. We tried to apologize to her, we even suggested we'd gladly leave for a refund. She refused. People misread or don't see signs all the time. A simple, "I'm sorry you must not have seen the sign we don't allow food here" would have been great, we would have put the food away and continued, but this woman was upset. Unfornunately, I think the place was beautiful. We did not get a refund, and attempted to walk around the boardwalk with out food, but the experience with the staff made us uncomfortable and we decided to leave. It is a quiet atmosphere, I would suggest you reconsider before bringing a child that might make noise. read more

A privately-owned (by Audobon) swamp sanctuary that is open to the public. There is an extensive boardwalk trails system that wends through the swamp. Very beautiful and tranquil. You may even be lucky enough to see a gator or two. Small admission fee (about $10 I think) but well worth it. read more

Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary - Hiking Near Me - Naples, Florida

Corkscrew is an amazing place. I've been here several times and I see something different every time. The boardwalk is easy to navigate for all ages and capabilities, even people in wheelchairs. A crew of enthusiastic, friendly volunteers circulate to answer questions and point out unique creatures and plants. I added several birds to my life list on the last visit, plus watched a cottonmouth water moccasin, alligator and a momma raccoon with three babies. Alligator roars echoed through the forest. Standing on the boardwalk among trees that are hundreds of years old, it's possible to imagine what old Florida was like. We are so lucky that far-thinking people preserved this bit of old-growth forest from logging. Try to do the long boardwalk circuit if you can; if not, there's a shortcut that provides plenty of interesting views. The visitor's center has a small gift shop, cafe and clean restrooms. The entrance fee is well worth it, and make an additional donation if you can. This place is rare and precious. read more

Beautiful walk on the boardwalk. We saw woodpeckers, ibis, egrets, turtles (getting it on), tiny lizards, and a couple of lazy gators. The swamp itself is beautiful and magical, with lovely plants and trees everywhere. There's an area of marsh as well, but we didn't see much wildlife there. The only disappointment was the volume of other guests! They've posted in two places to stay quiet, but people were having conversations at full volume. They were so disruptive and scared off some of the birds and other wildlife. read more

On our trip to Naples,I debated about going to airboat ride or Corkscrew... I am so glad I brought everyone to Corkscrew. The 2 mile boardwalk seemed shorter than my daily walks at home. The ambiance was eternal. The beauty of nature: the cypress, the open sky, the crystal sounds of birds humming...quieted my mind. Best $10 I've paid for a moment of peace, just being there... We saw papa and mama alligators in the shade and 2 baby alligators playing in the watering hole. read more

This is the most amazing thing I've visited in the Fort Myers area. However, please know what you're getting yourself into: this is not a zoo, you are not guaranteed to see anything, and if you don't like birds or alligators, you'll likely be disappointed. Now that we've got that out of the way, seriously, this place is amazing. You do like birds, right? Good, because we saw literally hundreds of birds when we visited in February. Waterfowl of all kinds, plus other things, like a barred owl roosting inches from the boardwalk, and a raccoon darting through the underbrush, and a good half dozen or so alligators. When we were there, everything was hanging out at the lettuce lakes, and I do mean everything: wood storks, a roseate spoonbill, anhingas, herons, egrets, ibises, plenty more that I'm forgetting. A volunteer was on the radio telling everyone to come to the lettuce lakes and just generally nerding out about the whole thing. But even in the rest of the swamp, it was easy to spot things like vultures and pileated woodpeckers (just follow the sound). Unfortunately, they would probably not let me live here. read more

Well worth the $10 admission price and especially great to come during the mid March time which it is still officially considered the dry season in Florida which doesn't bring the humidity and thunderstorms of the summertime. The boardwalk trail will bring you through 2.25 miles of quite a variety of environments (six distinct habitats to be exact) with lots of interesting sights along the way. With all the stops along the way to view the sights, you can easily spend a solid three hours. There seem to be an abundance of dedicated bird watchers & volunteers along the trail that are always on the lookout for anything that flies. We were fortunate to stumble upon some kind of owl (which hadn't been seen for months according to the Corkscrew Sanctuary volunteers) and they had the appropriate viewing equipment for anybody to see it up close which was a nice perk. We also spotted some kind of "rare" bird but I couldn't tell you what it's name was; only that it looked like a type of ibis. A small price to pay to get up close and personal to Florida nature. read more

Interesting experience, we didn't had the chance to see any snakes but was something different to walk into the woods. The mosquitos are a little upsetting so be prepared. read more

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We had a great time. I was anticipating it would be good, but it exceeded our expectations. It was a nice way to get some exercise while being surrounded by quiet nature. We were impressed with the long boardwalk, and we saw river otters playing, a large alligator, hawks, and several other fun animals. The trees were enormous in places and there was plenty of shade, which made it an enjoyable adventure. Would definitely go back. read more

Absolutely loved this place. It was one of my favorite places we went on our trip. It is such a peaceful place and you can see and hear a lot of wildlife. The boardwalk was very lovely. It's a 2.2 mile loop through the swamp. We saw a mother alligator with babies, a raccoon, anhinga, red shoulder hawk, warblers and wood storks. If you want to see nature, I recommend this place . read more

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Even having gone during mid day, Corkscrew was worth every penny. A mere $12 admission, knowing that the $ is going to Audubon, this place is sure to please Afro the avid nature and bird lover. If you bring small children, please exercise kindness and politeness to those that are there to actually appreciate serenity and nature. Screaming kids in the sanctuary will not bring the birds out. And that is the whole purpose of visiting. read more

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On first time vacation to Naples area and visited the Corkscrew sanctuary. Very nice! It was New Year's Eve, so we didn't get to see the flora in full bloom or any nesting wood Storks. We did observe numerous wading White Ibises, Great Egrets, Little Blue Herons, a Red Shouldered Hawk in its nest, several Anhingas, a Red Bellied Turtle and, of course, numerous songbird species. The two-mile boardwalk is perfect for viewing the swamp. The great thing about winter is that the swamp is bug-free. The gift shop is nicely stocked. The drive out from Naples was on well marked roads and took about fifty minutes. read more

We loved this sanctuary! It is set up so nicely- the walk is through the shady forest for the most part. We got to see some fun critters in their natural habitats- for instance, an alligator eating his meals at the lettuce lakes, a white ibis, many beautiful butterflies, inchworms of many colors, countless landmark trees and many incredible flowers. The staff was super kind and helpful in pointing out interesting stuff. We will definitely return next time we're in Naples! read more