Corkscrew Swamp Audubon Sanctuary

Finally got around to visiting the Corkscrew. I completely support the conservation efforts here but have to also say that halfway into the walk, everyone had had enough and was ready to go home.
As a nature lover, I found my visit unfulfilling; we saw an Egret, a woodpecker, and one alligator. As an orchidist, I shifted my gaze intently in hopes of spotting orchids in the trees. To my surprise, I spotted very few, so I am assuming that they make their homes deep in the heart of the corkscrew, away from the boardwalk. As a plant nerd, I was expecting to spot more of a variety of plant life. Tillandsia, strap ferns, and water lettuce can excite me for only so long. The Cypress were amazing and it really was wonderful to witness their magnificence first hand. I like how the oldest Cypress trees were named (for example, Leonardo DaVinci) and signage revealed the story behind each. I also enjoyed the other signage throughout the corkscrew which provided insight on the history of what is now the sanctuary. There are various view points off the path and also a shortcut. I wish we had taken the shortcut.
There’s a $ 14 entrance fee, which honestly speaking, I think is great for those avid individuals who wish to bird watch, etc. Personally, I think that a suggested donation is perfect for those wishing to simply walk the path. That being said, the $ 14 admission fee allows you to return the next day. The staff here are absolutely wonderful and helpful.

It’s a nice little getaway from the everyday, if you want a bit of nature. It’s a nature reserve, which previously belonged to the Indians, but was, of course, taken from them.
There’s nothing much to see, besides from the swamp, the trees, the birds and — if you’re lucky — an alligator. The nature’s beautiful, and the trees change quite a lot during the relatively short walk.
We were also lucky to see an alligator with it’s little babies that were about 20 cm’s long (7.9 inches) — so cute.
The trail going around the swamp is quite short — about 2,5 miles (4km), so you can walk the whole tour in about 2 hours if you do a few photo stops. There are volunteer rangers walking around the trail who are really helpfull and can tell you about the different trees, birds, sights etc.
Remember your student ID, if you have one — there’s a discount! ($ 6 for students, $ 14 for adults).

A well maintained, peaceful boardwalk. Docents are strategically placed along the walk to assist in locating well camouflaged wildlife, identify flora and fauna and answer general sanctuary questions. The staff is friendly and well informed.
A great place for the serious nature photographer or the soul who simply needs to walk among nature. Singles and families alike.

Corkscrew is an amazing place. I’ve been here several times and I see something different every time. The boardwalk is easy to navigate for all ages and capabilities, even people in wheelchairs. A crew of enthusiastic, friendly volunteers circulate to answer questions and point out unique creatures and plants. I added several birds to my life list on the last visit, plus watched a cottonmouth water moccasin, alligator and a momma raccoon with three babies. Alligator roars echoed through the forest. Standing on the boardwalk among trees that are hundreds of years old, it’s possible to imagine what old Florida was like. We are so lucky that far-​thinking people preserved this bit of old-​growth forest from logging.
Try to do the long boardwalk circuit if you can; if not, there’s a shortcut that provides plenty of interesting views. The visitor’s center has a small gift shop, café and clean restrooms. The entrance fee is well worth it, and make an additional donation if you can. This place is rare and precious.

Absolutely loved this place. It was one of my favorite places we went on our trip. It is such a peaceful place and you can see and hear a lot of wildlife. The boardwalk was very lovely. It’s a 2.2 mile loop through the swamp. We saw a mother alligator with babies, a raccoon, anhinga, red shoulder hawk, warblers and wood storks. If you want to see nature, I recommend this place.

This a must for an everglades, Florida nature experience. It could be a lot to walk. It can be hot, but that’s all part of the setting. It is nicely marked & it’s a fun journey through native vegetation with wildlife surrounding. We went for a family day & thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We started early, completed our tour, then grabbed our packed picnic from the car. We ate in the dining area inside the visitor center cooling off & hydrating. It was a beautiful day & money well spent toward the conservancy of the swamp!

Haven’t been here in probably 10 years. Good take in. Was wishing we would had seen a bit more wildlife but that’s the chance you take. It’s possible the screaming kids ahead of us scared everything away.

Heads up… First of all it’s a little scary once you get closer to this place because it’s in the middle of nowhere behind what looks to be a space neighborhood. You can’t bring food in so eat before you go and bring water because the trail is almost 2.5 miles.
The admission is $ 12 for adults.
For the first quarter mile there was nothing. If you can remove your shoes, walk slowly, don’t talk or keep your voice down. Sound carries and alert critters.
I saw beautiful butterflies, neon (lubber) grasshopper, and nothing for a while. If you are able to be patient and sit that’s when the magi happens. I stopped to watch a red hawk and suddenly a slew of otters came rambling through. I was told by the staff that it’s extremely rare to see otters and that I was very lucky.
It’s a cool place. Definitely worth going to if you are a patient person. I would not bring children or babies here. Not for kids.
Another cool thing that happened as I was traveling down immokolee rd a bobcat ran across the road!

Nice place. The large trees are beautiful. My mom wished there was more wildlife. We saw a lot of the birds in the guide book (and heard some too: owl; woodpecker). We were able to spot some alligators and a raccoon, but nothing big like a panther. Other people spotted animals and wrote it on the chalkboard at the visitor’s center (opossum, etc)
Overall, I thought it was pretty. It’s only a 2.25 mile walk on the boardwalk — I did it in sandals. I recommend it if you’re in the area. The whole area has fast LTE coverage if you’re wondering!
It’s open at 7 AM, 365 days a year. I would go early and beat the heat. Also, BRING BUG SPRAY!

This was my second visit to the swamp. For the $ 12 admission charge you get 2 days of non-​stop activity by the birds. There is a wooden Boardwalk that goes out in different directions for miles. It was a clear day when I went there so I was able to see 23 different species. They also have volunteers along the way to point out things of interest and ID some birds or gators. They have spotting scopes to get a close view for you as well. They will also rent a pair of binoculars for your use. There is a well supplied gift shop and a snack shop with drinks and a variety of snacks for sale. This is a must visit location especially if you are a Birder.

One of my favorite, and most treasured gems in Naples. This place is the real Florida and gives you an alluring glimpse into the wildlife and habitats that make this place so special — beyond the beaches. It’s a little out of the way but worth the drive. Every time I’ve gone, I’ve seen a variety of wildlife, alligators, turtles, birds and fish — and occasionally something more. Its quiet and enchanting with such an abundance of life and exotic plants and trees that you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into another place and time. I’d recommend blocking off 2.5−3 hours to really take your time and meander the entire boardwalk. Highly recommend!

This is a great place to see some Florida wildlife in the wild. No cages or animal displays here. All animals you see are in their natural habitat and in their natural state which is quite beautiful. I saw alligators, turtles and variety of birds ie storks, cranes, and swallows. It is a 2.5mile trail outside above but through swamp basically so wear comfortable shoes, sunblock and bugspray!

This place was fantastic! We saw LOTS of gorgeous birds and other wildlife. Also enjoyed our beautiful morning walk through the swamp. Great little gift store too. A MUST for any bird enthusiast!

Mrs. K. said to Paul K. we are going to have forced fun. Forced fun is when she MAKES me go somewhere she just knows I would never go unless she forced me. What an amazing place, swamps, cypress tree, alligators, birds, snakes, oh and mosquito’s.
Dang those mosquito’s really can bite. I don’t mind those pesky bugs as long as I don’t get sick from their bites. I am kind of a one way street like that. You can bite me but don’t make sick. I am sure some of my IPhone pictures do not do much justice to what I saw but if I say there is an egret in the picture you are just going to have to trust me there is one.
I really enjoyed my forced fun trip.

Two words: free strollers! Free wheelchairs too. They make the two mile circular boardwalk trip accessible to the whole family. There were a few telescopes set up for viewing of a hawk nest and a rare ghost orchid. The entry fee may seem high but it goes directly to maintaining the facility. Plus kids under 6 are free, your admission is good for two consecutive days, and there is a $ 2 coupon online at

This is a great attraction, but it’s pricey. My five year old daughter always wants to go when we’re in Naples. We once saw a grasshopper the size of a pop can… we almost shat on the boardwalk. It gets a little boring about half way through, and the price is steep at $ 12 per person.

On first time vacation to Naples area and visited the Corkscrew sanctuary. Very nice!
It was New Year’s Eve, so we didn’t get to see the flora in full bloom or any nesting wood Storks. We did observe numerous wading White Ibises, Great Egrets, Little Blue Herons, a Red Shouldered Hawk in its nest, several Anhingas, a Red Bellied Turtle and, of course, numerous songbird species.
The two-​mile boardwalk is perfect for viewing the swamp. The great thing about winter is that the swamp is bug-​free.
The gift shop is nicely stocked. The drive out from Naples was on well marked roads and took about fifty minutes.

Came here with my father and sister. What a beautiful place! I enjoyed taking pictures of so much wildlife and the guides are very helpful. This place is a true gem! FYI, students get ½ price. Adults are $ 12, but my sister was able to get in for $ 6 with her student ID. Come early in the morning to avoid the crowds and see the most wildlife.

We loved this sanctuary! It is set up so nicely– the walk is through the shady forest for the most part. We got to see some fun critters in their natural habitats– for instance, an alligator eating his meals at the lettuce lakes, a white ibis, many beautiful butterflies, inchworms of many colors, countless landmark trees and many incredible flowers. The staff was super kind and helpful in pointing out interesting stuff. We will definitely return next time we’re in Naples!

Dieser Ausflug hat sich wirklich gelohnt, war sehr interessant. Nicht nur die vielen Pflanzen waren interessant, sondern auch die vielen verschiedenen Tiere. Man läuft bequem über einen Boardwalk und hat somit auch den nötigen Abstand. Denn in der Tat gibt es hier auch an einigen Stellen Alligatoren.
Unbedingt vorher mit Autan o.ä. einreiben, denn natürlich gerade in den Sümpfen gibt es etliche Moskitos.
Zeitmäßig hatten wir 3 – 4 Stunden eingeplant und haben uns somit gut Zeit gelassen und auch immer wieder einige Zeit an einer Stelle verweilt und die Natur beobachtet. Denn wenn man nur schnell durch läuft, bekommt man nicht viel mit. Es gibt auch zwischendurch immer wieder Bänke.
Geht man an einem heißen Tag, sollte man sich unbedingt ausreichend Wasser mitnehmen.

Even having gone during mid day, Corkscrew was worth every penny. A mere $ 12 admission, knowing that the $ is going to Audubon, this place is sure to please Afro the avid nature and bird lover. If you bring small children, please exercise kindness and politeness to those that are there to actually appreciate serenity and nature. Screaming kids in the sanctuary will not bring the birds out. And that is the whole purpose of visiting.