Day Two: Collier-Seminole Camping Trip

Naples, Florida: The swamp came to life with the sound of song birds, a sign that we made it through the night. We dodge the mosquitoes, snakes and rain to enjoy another day in the wilderness.

We broke down camp early, grabbed breakfast and then set out to explore the neighboring area. Our first stop was a return trip to Fakahatchee Strand. This time we did not drive all the way to the main entrance in Copeland, instead we decided to visit the Cypress Bend Boardwalk along Tamiami Trl. The 2,000 foot boardwalk extends into the swamp, passing plenty of flora and fauna along the way. On our way to the observation platform at the end of the boardwalk, we passed numerous alligators ranging in age and size.

Afterwards we headed west to the marsh trail at Ten Thousands Islands National Wildlife Refuge. The 2.4 mile marsh trail extends into the refuge with a three story observation tower in the beginning of the trail. Unfortunately, we did not complete the trail due to lack of shade and increasing temperature causing fatigue on the dogs. But the portion of the trail we traversed features abundant wildlife. We saw gators and many different species of birds. The view from the observation tower was spectacular, I could have sat up there for a while and observed the birds searching for food in the water.

Our last stop was back at our campground, Collier-Seminole State Park. We stopped by and viewed the historical items (Tamiami dredge, Blockhouse, Baron Collier Monument and Indian Village) before hitting the one mile nature trail. The trail traveled through thick hardwood forests with a platform overlook a salt flat. There wasn’t much wildlife activity on the trail, but the walk was very enjoyable. After complete the trail, we stopped by the boat basin to see the large gator and then hit the road for the long drive home.

The trip was an enjoyable experience. While we didn’t get lucky enough to see a Florida Panther or a black bear, we were happy with the wildlife we encountered on the trip. There is so much to explore in this region, I can’t wait to go back. Next trip, I would like to extend further east into Big Cypress, Florida Panther NWR and the Everglades.

Enjoy the slideshow of photos from day two of the trip.

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