A Free Park to Hike in Estero, Florida
For some time I’ve been wanting to hike the Estero Bay Preserve. It’s at the West end of Broadway (via US 41), about a half of a mile north of Corkscrew Road. I finally made the trip.
See this creepy little dragon fly? This is one of the many creatures, great and small, to be seen and experienced in the Estero Bay Preserve. Just look at the notes others left behind regarding what they saw there. Remember, to tell the truRth. Hey, at least deAr was spelled correctly.
Sidebar: Armadios sounds the same as armadillos en Espanol so you have got to love that misspell, instant classic.
Wild Hogs, Raccoons, Armadillos ‘n’ Snakes
I’ve also driven past this sign and seen other things like skunks and stuff so user beware. On this hike, I did see where the wild hogs had rooted up soil and dozens of footprint from them, raccoons and such. The path will lead you right along side the Estero River, by the way. There were people in canoes and swimmers taking a dip.
Canoeing the Estero River
While I was taking this photo was right about the time that a swarm of bugs found us. Besides the usual mosquitoes, there was horse flies, deer flies, someone said yellow flies, someone said cut flies. I don’t know and I don’t care because it made us walk really fast, which combined with the heat made for a turn of events, the likes of which I’m just getting over.
We were walking through a wetland path with the cutest fiddler crabs scurrying every where. I would have taken pictures for you but I was too busy swatting flies and trying to not catch West Nile or Meningitis. *She who is slow or pauses for photos gets stung and bit a lot.*
It wasn’t long after hustling past the fiddler crabs that we decided to turn back because it was getting worse. I really thought it was but I was trying not to be a big, huge baby, quitter.
There were a couple of times the trees got tippy on me and was a little disoriented. I ended coming through the gate at Armada Court, climbed the fence and, after helping a gopher tortoise get un-stuck from the fence, promptly left my delicious, Terri’s Summer Breeze Cafe breakfast on the side of the road, no where near this tortoise. (It’s a $500 fine for messing with one of these suckers. I bet barfing on/near one is a punishable offense.)
Do Not Molest a Gopher Tortoise - $500 Fine
If you’ve made it through this tale, this far, you should know that the rest of the day was filled with involuntary muscle cramping all over my body, a little more punies, dizziness, hallucinations and I was a little meaner than usual.
For the record, I had sunscreen on, frozen water and was hydrated, light colored clothes and I assumed that I was prepared. Florida just kicked my butt on a random Sunday in the year of our Lord 2009. I mention that because, again, I was laying in bed, sick as a dog, watching Clint Eastwood movies and now that saying is stuck in my head … again.
What I saw of this park was great and I can’t wait to complete the whole big trail, which was one of three at varying lengths from a short loop to about five miles – hikers choice.
In November I’ll be back, Estero Bay State Preserve. Next time you’re not taking my hash browns.
Back on the Trail: Return Visits to Estero Bay Preserve
Did you know that, besides Koreshan State Historic Site, there’s another great state park tucked away in Estero? Not many people do. Estero Bay Preserve State Park is located west of US 41 at the end of Broadway. It’s particularly easy to get to and really isn’t a huge commitment of time, money or mileage as the park is about 15-20 minutes from most locations in Bonita Springs, Estero or South Fort Myers.
That first hike is living proof that even when you think you’re ready for Mother Nature, your body will play cruel tricks on you. Never daunted I’ve been back a couple of times since and definitely had better experiences. This park has more or less been my nemesis. Even though I plan my hikes early, wear light clothing, sunscreen, hat, stayed hydrated and such, occasionally bad things happened. While I’m the first to remind everyone to take only pictures and leave only footprints, I ended up breaking that rule the first time I hiked this trail. I took only photos but I ended up leaving my breakfast.
Depending on which time of the year you visit, this park offers a variety of terrain and several miles of hiking trails. The last time I visited the park the trails closer to the Broadway Scrub parking area were sandy with less vegetation so walking was more strenuous than usual. During rainier times of the year there can be mud and standing water when you’re closer to the bay in the salt flats.
The wildlife also varies depending upon what time of the year or even what time of the day you plan your visit so it’s always worth it to go more than once. There’s also a black board up front where guests chronicle their wildlife sightings so you know what to be on the lookout for. Gopher Tortoises are usually rambling around by the entry of the park. Their burrows are scattered amongst the palmetto at the edges of the trail.
This park is popular for birders and it is also listed as a Great Florida Birding Trail. In winter you may see a nesting bald eagle. Some of the trails near the eagle get closed while it is nesting. The trail to the river, for example, is an out and back during eagle nesting. Other times of the year the trail will continue along the Estero River to the salt flats and lead to herds of fiddler crabs. The damp salt flats are also a great place to see the tracks and foot prints of all sorts of critters; raccoon, deer, wild hogs and more.
If you’re thinking of visiting Estero Bay Preserve State Park, don’t forget to bring along man’s best friend. The park is pet friendly, as long as your pet is on lead and you pick up after it. You’re bound to run into more than one pooch on the trail especially if you visit on the weekend.
Happy Trails and Boardwalks!
For more info: Estero Bay Preserve State Park