Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park
A swamp forest known as Florida's orchid capital. An easy boardwalk among giant cypress trees offers alligator sightings, and the interior is home to the Florida panther.
Fakahatchee Strand is a swamp forest stretching about 32 km. It is home to more orchid species than anywhere else in North America, including ghost orchids, as well as native royal palms. It is also a habitat for the endangered Florida panther. The easiest place to visit is the Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk on Route 41, a free boardwalk of about 700 m where you often see American alligators and wading birds. For a deeper exploration, drive or cycle the James Kapus Scenic Drive. The strand is about 45 minutes' drive from Naples and can be combined with a day trip to Everglades City.
Opening hours
Daily 8:00 am to sunset
Nearby sights
- Everglades City & Ten Thousand Islands
- Big Cypress National Preserve
- Smallwood Store
- Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
- Marco Island
- Tigertail Beach
- Keewaydin Island
- Naples Botanical Garden