CorkscrewSwamp is on my list of the best places I’ve ever visited. I am not sure what it
was. It may have been the beauty of the swamp or maybe the cypress trees or may
be the fact that we saw amazing wildlife like a Red Shoulder
Hawk or a BLACK BEAR!! Yes, it was the black bear. Don’t get me wrong, going
to this place doesn’t guarantee seeing a black bear. In fact we were VERY lucky
to see one. But if you get there early, and walk very, very quietly you may see
AMAZING wildlife.
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| Black bear |
The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is located northeast of Naples, Florida. It is owned and operated by the NationalAudubon Society. The Sanctuary’s 13,000 acres are within the Big Cypress National Preserve. In it, you can see distinct environmental areas including pinelands, freshwater marshes, wet prairie, cypress swamps and hardwood hammocks. The place itself is a big river, like South Florida used to be.
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| Red Shoulder Hawk |
On the two-mile long boardwalk you will admire this country’s largest remaining stand of 400 to 700 year-old virgin bald cypress. The biggest and most majestic cypress trees I’ve ever seen. You may also encounter wildlife life the Florida panther, alligators, different species of birds like the wood stork and anhinga and the Black Bear! (I still can’t believe we saw one!! :)
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| Inside the Swamp |
For more information you can visit Audubon’s official webpage or visit their facebook page
Hours of operation:
October 1
through April 10: 7 AM to 5:30 PM
April 11 through September 30: 7 AM
to 7:30 PM
Location: view map
Admission Fees2011:
Adults - $10.00
Full-time college
students - $6.00
Audubon Members - $5.00
Children (ages 6-18) -
$4.00
Children under 6 – Free
Camping: No
