Location
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is located in Southwestern Florida, situated north of Naples and east of Bonita Springs. The sanctuary is comprised of wetlands in the Western Everglades and includes the largest remaining virgin bald cypress forest in the world.
A 2.25 boardwalk is a great way for families to explore the swamp. The boardwalk winds around the sanctuary's two "lettuce lakes," which are wide, shallow bowls of water that is an important source of water for wildlife. The boardwalk also navigates open prairies, pine flatwoods, and into the ancient bald cypress forest. The cypress trees are relatives of the redwood and tower up to 130 feet high and have trunks 25 feet wide. Hanging from their branches are mosses, lichens, ferns and other vegetation.
The sanctuary provides habitat for a number of threatened species, including Florida Panther, Big Cypress Fox Squirrel, Florida Black Bear, American Alligator, Gopher Tortoise, Wood Storks, Florida Sandhill Crane, Limpkin, Roseate Spoonbill, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron and White Ibis. The Audubon Society provides a wildlife checklist for Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.
