Shingle Creek, operated by the South Florida Water Management District, features a hardwood swamp, pine islands, and a wide variety of wildlife. Located within the hustle and bustle of urban Orlando, Shingle Creek is a great place to unwind by hiking, biking, and camping. Stop by to walk on the boardwalk or have a picnic. Trail under development.

Phone: (800) 250-4250
website: sfwmd.gov

The Disney Wilderness Preserve
2700 Scrub Jay Trail
Kissimmee, FL 34759

The Disney Wilderness Preserve is a 12,000-acre sanctuary of natural communities that sustains 16 endangered and threatened species. Located just south of Orlando at the headwaters of the Everglades ecosystem, the preserve is owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy. The Disney Wilderness Preserve has a visitor center with interpretive exhibits and offers guided buggy tours through the prairie. The preserve also has a hiking trail that provides opportunities to see a wide variety of birds.

Phone: (407) 935-0002
Fax: (407) 935-0005
website: nature.org/florida

Lake Kissimmee State Park
14248 Camp Mack Road
Lake Wales, FL 33898

In addition to the camping, hiking, backpacking, horseback riding trails, and boating, Lake Kissimmee State Park is also a living history site on the weekends and holidays. The site of a cow camp in the late 1800’s, Lake Kissimmee State Park gives a historical perspective of central Florida. Personal interpretive programming helps orient and educate visitors to the history of the site.

Phone (863) 696-1112
website: www.floridastateparks.org

Prairie Lake Unit, Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area
25 miles South of St. Cloud on SR 523 (Canoe Creek Rd)

Prairie Lake Unit is situated in the midst of the highest concentration of nesting bald eagles in the United States. The dry prairie habitat fosters much bird life, and regardless of when one visits, chances of seeing a bald eagle are high. In addition to bird watching, visitors can also hunt, fish, hike, and camp while at Prairie Lake Unit.

Phone: (352) 732-1225
website: myfwc.com/recreation/three_lakes/default.asp

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park
33104 NW 192nd Avenue
Okeechobee, FL 34972

This park features over 20,000 acres of undisturbed dry prairie, the largest of its kind in the state. Kissimmee Prairie Preserve also offers many non-consumptive activities for visitors, such as camping, hiking, biking, birding, and much more. White-tailed deer and wild turkeys are common in the family campground when in season.

Phone (863) 462-5360
website: www.floridastateparks.org

A significant feature of this 8500 acre tract are the beautiful oak and cabbage palm hammocks that separate the river floodplain from the upland pastures. Visitors can enjoy fishing, hiking, camping, canoeing, and picnicking. An array of birds, raccoons, skunks, and deer, as well as the occasional panther or black bear, provide for excellent wildlife photography. Operated by the South Florida Water Management District

Call toll free in Florida for information: (800) 432-2045
Direct number: (863) 462-5260
website: www.sfwmd.gov

This is a unique place in the lake region of Florida where the waters of the Kissimmee River meld with Lake Okeechobee on the way to the Everglades. LOST Trail features abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. Some of the species you may be lucky enough to see are the bald eagle, snail kites, and sandhill cranes. While there, visitors can fish, bike, jog, canoe, or launch a boat from the marina. Herbert Hoover Dike is also located on the premises.

Phone (305) 451-3005
website: www.myflorida.com

Phone (863) 983-8101
website: www.saj.usace.army.mil/recreation/index.html

DuPuis Management Area
State Road 76, approximately 3 miles East of Lake Okeechobee
Indiantown, Florida

The DuPuis Management Area on the northern edge of the original Everglades presents opportunities to ride horses, camp, hunt, and walk along an interpretive trail. A visitor center complete with exhibits teaches about the cultural aspects of the reserve, including the indian mounds. The large expanse of pine flatwoods and cypress swamps allows for excellent wildlife viewing. Deer, turkey, caracara, and feral hogs are a few of the species you may see during your time here.

Phone: (561) 924-5310
website: www.sfwmd.gov/org/clm/lsd/dupindex.html

Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
10216 Lee Road
Boynton Beach, FL 33437-4796

For information, phone (561) 734-8303.
Visit our website at loxahatchee.fws.gov

The 671,831-acre Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area forms the northern and central core of the Everglades. From the Miami Canal rest area on Interstate 75, which bisects the area, visitors will see a vast sawgrass marsh dotted with tree islands. The sawgrass reaches heights of 10 feet or more and provides important habitat to ground nesting birds such as the American and least bittern. Tree islands provide critical habitat for white-tailed deer, Florida panther, bobcat, migratory songbirds and many other species. A variety of wading birds and raptors, such as the snail kite, may be seen at this site. Visitors may launch boats at one of several boat ramps, picnic, and learn more about the fascinating creatures of this area from interpretive kiosks. More extensive educational exhibits are under development.

Phone: (954) 746-1789
website: myfwc.com/recreation/everglades/default.asp

For over 30 years Biscayne National Park has been protecting and preserving a nationally significant marine ecosystem with mangrove shorelines, shallow bay waters, lush subtropical islands, and living coral reefs. Explore the mangroves on a walking trail. Canoeing, kayaking, snorkeling and scuba diving are popular ways to enjoy the tropical landscape.

Phone number: (305) 230-PARK
website: www.nps.gov/bisc/

Everglades National Park - COE Visitor Center
40001 State Route 9336
Homestead, FL 33034

Everglades National Park preserves and protects over 1.6 million acres of some of the best and most complete examples of the natural and cultural history of South Florida. Everglades National Park has three entrances on the Everglades Trail - wonderful opportunities are available at each entrance including boat rides at the western entrance, a tram to an observation tower at Shark River Valley Loop Road, and a series of interpretive features along the road to Flamingo - ending at Florida Bay.

Phone number for general park information from Monday through Friday:
(305) 242-7700
website: www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm

Shark River Valley Loop Road
Tamiami Trail

Everglades National Park preserves and protects over 1.6 million acres of some of the best and most complete examples of the natural and cultural history of South Florida. Everglades National Park has three entrances on the Everglades Trail - wonderful opportunities are available at each entrance including boat rides at the western entrance, a tram to an observation tower at Shark River Valley Loop Road, and a series of interpretive features along the road to Flamingo - ending at Florida Bay.

Phone number for general park information from Monday through Friday:
(305) 242-7700
website: www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm

Big Cypress National Preserve includes over 729,000 acres of cypress swamp, pinelands, hardwood hammocks, sawgrass prairies, and mangrove forests. As the seasons change from the wet summer to the dry winter, visitors can view a variety of animals, from alligators to wading birds, and enjoy fishing along the scenic drives. Adventurous visitors can take a swamp walk, canoe trip, or bike ride on their own or on a ranger-led trip for a closer look at this environment. Rangers at the Big Cypress Visitor Center can provide you with information to help you plan your trip. Here, you can also view exhibits and a 13-minute film on the preserve.

Phone number (239) 695-1201
website: www.nps.gov/bicy

Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park
137 Coastline Drive,
Copeland, FL 34137

Featured in Susan Orlean’s book The Orchid Thief and the subsequent movie Adaptation, this park has one of the most remarkable concentrations and variety of orchids in the United States. The black bear, Florida panther, and Everglades mink are also found within the Fakahatchee. A self-guided boardwalk is available for the public to enjoy a leisurely walk through the original growth cypress trees, or for the more adventuresome, approximately 60 miles of hiking trails are available. Park staff offers guided swamp walks during the months of November through February.

Phone: (239) 695-4593
website: www.floridastateparks.org

Collier-Seminole State Park
20200 East Tamiami Trail
Naples, FL 34114

Collier-Seminole State Park has a wealth of vegetation and wildlife that is typical of the Everglades region of Florida. Enjoy hiking, camping, biking, and birding (best during fall and winter months) amongst the mangroves and tropical hardwood hammocks. Also, see the walking dredge used to build the Tamiami Trail.

Phone Number: (239) 394-3397
website: www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/district4/collier-seminole/index.asp

The Rookery Bay Reserve provides opportunities to observe wildlife, explore habitats and learn about estuaries. Visitors can also enjoy hiking, boating, and fishing. A new and much anticipated environmental learning center is under construction and opens January 2004.

For information, phone (239) 417-6310
Visit our website at www.rookerybay.org

Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge provides habitat for panthers, bears, wood storks, ibises, and egrets. Refuge staff manage habitat with prescribed burns, exotic plant removal, restoration projects, law enforcement, and with partnerships. The refuge is mostly closed to the public, but take a walking trail to experience the habitat of the panther - and look for tracks! Trail is under construction. Call for current information.

Phone number for refuge information: (239) 353-8442
website: floridapanther.fws.gov