Along with summer’s rainy season, the popular wet walks at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve are back. Hosted by The Friends of Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, these guided walks offer a rare opportunity to explore the cypress swamp up close.
The experience: What to expect
Participants will explore a trail typically closed to the public for an immersive experience in the watery heart of the slough. Water levels may reach waist high depending on rainfall.
Walks offer unique opportunities to observe wildlife, native plants and the ecosystem up close.
Requirements and tips
Walks last approximately two hours. Participants will encounter submerged slippery roots and cypress knees; this walk is not recommended for those with mobility or balance concerns.
Long pants are required; tennis shoes are recommended. Shorts, flip-flops, open-toed shoes, Crocs, boots and waders are not permitted.
Children must be at least 12 years old and accompanied by an adult.
Rain is not an issue, but lightning will cancel the walk.
History
In 1976, a group of Lee County students known as the “Monday Group” studied the role of forested wetlands in Florida’s ecology and recognized these habitats were disappearing. Their advocacy led to the preservation of Six Mile Cypress Slough.
Lee County voters supported the effort by approving funding to protect the land, and the preserve opened to the public in 1991. Today, Lee County Parks & Recreation balances conservation with recreation, supported by volunteer naturalists. The Interpretive Center opened April 18, 2008, as the county’s first certified green building under LEED standards.
If you go
Where: Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, 7751 Penzance Blvd., Fort Myers.
Info: leeparks.org or 239-533-7555
Driving directions: From I-75 take Exit 131, Daniels Parkway west towards Fort Myers. Turn right onto Six Mile Cypress Parkway. Turn right onto Penzance Boulevard into the preserve.
Cost: Friends members: $25 for all walks. Non-members: $40 for regular walks and $50 for special walks. Students (ages 12 and older): $25 for regular walks and $30 for special walks. A signed liability waiver is required. Reservations are required at sloughpreserve.org. Parking is $1 per hour per vehicle or $5 per day; Lee County Annual Parking Passes are accepted.
SCHEDULE
Regular wet walks
Special wet walks
About Lee Parks
Lee County Parks & Recreation has more than 250 positions, a $42 million budget and more than 31,500 acres of parks, preserves, facilities and other sites. The department oversees four recreation centers, 10 community centers, community parks, Conservation 20/20 lands, greenways, the Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail, four year-round pools, seven boat ramps, sports complexes including the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins spring training facilities, dog-friendly facilities and coastal beach parks. In partnership with the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau, the department also offers Parks, Points & Perks, a free digital pass that encourages exploration of more than 30 sites and rewards participants with prizes for checking in. The program runs through May 2026. Learn more at visitfortmyers.com/ParksPass.
Learn more about Parks & Recreation by visiting leeparks.org, email questions to leeparks@leegov.com, 239-533-7275 or visit leeparksandrecreation on Facebook and Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Immerse yourself in nature – Wet walks are back at the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
Reporting by Provided by Lee County Parks & Recreation, Fort Myers News-Press / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Provided by Lee County Parks & Recreation, Fort Myers News-Press | USA TODAY Network
