Getting Outside in Collier County: Where to Start

You do not have to drive far in Collier County to be somewhere wild. The Gulf is on one side, the Everglades on the other, and a surprising amount of protected land sits in between. Here is a starting list for anyone who wants to spend more time outside.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary protects one of the last old growth bald cypress forests left in North America. A raised boardwalk carries you through pine flatwoods, wet prairie and deep cypress swamp without ever getting your shoes wet.

Go early. Mornings are cooler, the light is better and the birds are busy. Bring binoculars if you have them and take your time. The sanctuary rewards people who stop walking and start looking.

Naples Botanical Garden

The Botanical Garden is the easiest introduction to tropical plants you will find, arranged in garden areas that each have their own character. Families come for the children’s garden, walkers come for the paths, and plant people come and simply stay.

Rookery Bay

Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve protects a huge stretch of mangrove estuary south of Naples. Its learning center is a good first stop if you want to understand what you are looking at, and the water itself is best seen by kayak or paddleboard.

Gordon River Greenway and Baker Park

For something closer to town, the Gordon River Greenway offers paved and boardwalk trails along the river, connecting to Baker Park and the Naples Zoo. It is a good place for a run, a bike ride or a stroller walk, and it is shaded more than you might expect.

The beaches, and how to pick one

Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park at the north end has dunes, a pass and some of the best shelling around. Vanderbilt Beach is wide and popular. Lowdermilk Park is the family choice, with a playground and easy parking. Clam Pass has a boardwalk through mangroves that makes the walk in half the fun.

Three things locals do

Check the tide before you go shelling. Go out after a summer storm passes, when the air is washed clean and the light turns gold. And carry water, always, even in January.

Have a favorite spot we missed? Tell us at [email protected]. We are building this list with help from people who actually go outside.