Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary: The Old-Growth Cypress Boardwalk

Nothing else in Southwest Florida prepares you for the moment the boardwalk turns into the old-growth section and the canopy closes 130 feet overhead. These bald cypress are five and six hundred years old — the logging that took the rest of Florida's cypress simply never reached this stand, and Audubon bought it in 1954 before anyone could correct the oversight.

The walk itself

A 2.25-mile boardwalk loop, flat, fully accessible, with a shorter cut-across if the weather turns. Budget two hours to do it properly, more if you stop at every volunteer with a scope — and you should, because they are the reason you'll see anything.

What you'll see, by season

• December to April — dry season, wildlife concentrates at the remaining water; wood storks nest, alligators pile up, best birding of the year
• June to September — the swamp refills, the lettuce lakes go emerald, fewer people, more mosquitoes
• July to August — peak ghost orchid bloom on the famous super-orchid, when it decides to cooperate
• Year-round — barred owls, red-shouldered hawks, otters, and the occasional black bear track

Practicalities

Open daily from 8am (7am seasonally). Bring insect repellent from May onward, water, and binoculars if you own them. Photography is better in the first two hours — the canopy light goes flat by midday. The drive is about 45 minutes northeast of downtown Naples on Immokalee Road.