Dark Crowned Night Heron in magrove

While I was down in the Big Cypress Basin, I had a little time before sunset and decided to stop and visit the Ten-Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge  park off US 41 in Collier County.  The information kiosk displayed a one mile linear hiking trail out into the brackish marshlands with a viewing tower along the way.  This was the perfect hike to end the day!  I grabbed my pack and started down the boardwalk out to a shell rock service road that allows Ten-thousand Islands NWR personnel access to the water monitoring station inside the refuge.  The west side consisted of a vast marshland filled with grasses.  I pause to take in the sight of the full rainbow from the rainclouds in the distance.   The east side of the refuge consisted of a canoe trail through several small estuaries lined with mangroves.  Cormorants and morehens were common in the shallow brackish pools.  After 1/3 miles, I reached the viewing tower and ascended the stairs with great anticipation of the view and was not disappointed!   The sweeping view of a meadow of brown grasses and green mangroves appears to go on for miles.  A Great White Egret was fishing off in the distance while a little blue heron sat perched on a mini mangrove bush.  Three Morehens honked to let me know I was intruding in their territory.  The algae in the deep blue waters of a small spring next to the tower resembles the photo of the earth from outer-space.  Soon I climb back down the stairs and am back on the forest road.   The road is lined with mangrove bushes with openings that occurred intermittently on both the east and west side for views into the refuge.  Songbirds and wrens can be seen darting in and out of the thick mangrove cover.  Morehens can be heard behind the mangrove hedges while an Osprey circles the refuge from above hunting for food.  I reach the end of the trail and spot several Ibis wading in a shallow swale.  I cross a semi-salty barren covered in a thin forest of grasses and cesear weed.  As I near the swale, several Ibis sensed my presence and took flight.  With heightened curiosity,  I keep on my path towards the swale.  What else is feeding in this shallow pond?  Soon over 50 Ibis filled the air and start flying in circles hoping I will leave so they can land back in thier coveted spot.  I am delighted to see such a large number so close up!  I quickly capture the moment with a few snapshots of the Ibis in flight and turn to head back toward the viewing tower.  I respect wildlife as we should and do not intend to be a menace while out on my nature excursions.

On my trek back,  I spot a bird flying into the mangroves tops.   As I walk closer, I see the bust of a Dark Crested Night Heron sitting a-top a mangrove bush.  The evening sun casts pretty orange glow on the bird and the bushes and makes for a nice photo.  I watch him for a few moments but it is now getting late and I must head back toward the trailhead.  My plan is to time my journey to be back at the tower for the sunset.  From the tower, I enjoy the light-beams streaming through the clouds onto the brown grassy marshlands.   The sun finally dips below the horizon in the distance as I recount my adventures from the day with much gratification.  I have just enough daylight for the return walk back to my car.

The Ten-Thousand Islands NWR is a 35,000 acre Wildlife Refuge that protects over 200 species of birds and fish in this maze of mangroves. The estuary is where salt and fresh water mix and is a vital part of Florida’s ecosystem rich in plant and animal life. A birding trail with a lookout tower and 3 canoe trails can be accessed from this refuge off US 41. Endangered wildlife that has been spotted in the refuge include manatees, peregrine falcon, snail kites, and logger head turtles. It is also a vital place for Spoonbills, wood storks, bottle nose dolphin, otters and many other species.

10000 Island Hike google map by B A Bowen Photography

Click here to view more photos of the Ten Thousand Island NWRon flickr.

Boy holding Alligator at Wooten's

Wooten's Airboat Tour

Wooten’s Airboat Everglades Adventuresoffers the best overall experience of the Florida Everglades.  Wooten’s,  located in the town of Ochopee, FL off US 41, offers an Air-boat tour through the mangroves to see bromelaids, air-plants, alligator, Great Blue Heron and other Florida birds in their natural habitat. The intricate root system of the Mangroves are an important part of the Everglades ecosystem offering erosion protection from waves and hurricanes as well as shelter for fish, crustaceans and shellfish. They also host large variety of organisms, including algae, barnacles, oysters, sponges, and bryozoans.  Mangroves are a unique plant with an ability to actually extract the fresh water from the salt water.  

Alligator on the side of Parking Lot

Wooten's Alligator Show

Along the Air-boat tour, it would be rare not to see an alligator. If you are down in Florida during the cooler months you will probably see an alligator from the parking lot. The staff is so used to living with alligators they do not seem to be alarmed if one is underfoot.  Do not try this at home!

Wooten's Staff w/ Inconspicuous Gator

Wooten’s also offers a Swamp Buggy Ride through the Big Cypress Swamp to see natural flora and fauna of the Everglades such as Strangler Fig Tree, beautiful Orchids, Air-plants, Ferns, Pop Ash, and Willows and wildlife such as bobcats, panthers, snakes, North American crocodiles, alligators, turtles and deer in their natural habitat.  Swamp Buggies were invented in the early 1930′s as a means to hunt and navigate the wetlands prior to the invention of the air-boat and are still commonly used today.

Wooten's Swamp Buggy Bus

Don’t forget to take time to visit the Alligator and Wildlife park.  Wooten’s is a sanctuary for Florida endangered species. They host several endangered American Crocodile and the Florida Panther along with hosting several alligators, a tiger, otters and a large live snake exhibit.  At the back of the park there is a periodic alligator show put on by one of the Wooten’s trained staff.  At the end show the more adventurous visitors can actually hold a small alligator.   To my surprise, the alligator skin is one of the smoothest and softest skins of any reptile.

Camping on Lost Dog Prairie

 A fire is a must out here. It is still the home of many wild animals including black bear, wild hogs, deer, rattlesnakes, and the endangered wild panther.  We sat around the fire sharing stories and anticipating tomorrows adventure of riding through the swamps.  

Riding Honda TRX90 on Prairie

 Two of the younger kids had 90′s cc engines.  We let them ride around the Prairie but unfortunately they would not have enough power to take on the muddy areas.  After a hearty breakfast we packed our lunches and headed out. We had a Honda Foreman 450 4×4, 2 Honda 250′s, and one Polaris 500.

Muddin' in Big Cypress Swamp - Honda Foreman 450

We had a great time riding!  We rode through water, we rode through mud, we got stuck, we got out…we got stuck again and could not get out.   

ATV Stuck in Mud, Big Cypress Swamp. FL

Luckily a local past time of riding through the swamp  with a   home -made   Swamp Buggy is still pretty popular. 

Swamp Buggy 1

Swamp Buggy 2

We watched a few swamp buggies pass by..too proud to ask for help..until we finally broke down and decided we weren’t getting the Polaris 500 out without some extra horse power.  We flagged down the next buggy and begged them to pull us out.  After hooking up the tow rope we were out in under a minute.  Nothing like a John Deere tractor engine on a homemade frame for heavy duty pulling!

ATV Rescue by Swamp Buggy

After that we went back to camp to rest and get some dinner.  Hot Cajun sausage with homemade Seafood Gumbo hit the spot after a fun day of riding.  We rode back out on the prairie looking for firewood again to get us through the night.  After the sun went down we went out for a little night ride.  All the ATV’s had headlights.  At 12:00 AM we celebrated the New Year. ….by watching other camper’s fireworks and by sending off some of our own. 

The next morning  a storm was heading our way.  We had to get up and pack up camp quickly.  The rains came down just as we were pulling away.  A memorable time with some old friends and some new.  And family adventure we can talk about for a lifetime.

Big Cypress National Preserve Rules and Regulations for OHV use

About the Author: Barbara is the owner of  an on-line store Riverbanks  Outdoor Store for several years and has frequently engaged in outdoor sports for years including camping, mountain biking, whitewater rating, kayaking, snorkeling, and hiking.    Barbara also hosts a blog Riverbanks Adventure Forum that focuses on product reviews and adventure vacations.