Wigert-Barron Preserve is a 32-acre sanctuary that connects coastal oak scrub, pine flatwoods & mangrove forests. It is located east of the Bokeelia Post Office at 7124 Barrancas Ave. From the parking lot, the trail leads north to several loops totaling about 1 mile. The trails wind through oaks and scrub hiding gopher tortoise burrows, under pines supporting osprey nests, by mangroves with alligator crawls to Rubye’s Pond, with a bench for viewing a wealth of water birds. Informational signs along the trails describe the variety of treasures to look for along the way. Please note that dogs are not permitted in the preserve because of the sensitive gopher tortoises.

Taylor-Willow Lake Preserve is a unique 37-acre mosaic of 9 different native habitats. The parking lot is located 1.5 miles north of Pine Island Center, west of Stringfellow Road on Alcorn Street 0.2 miles. From the entrance kiosk, the main trail goes 600 feet south to an unlocked gate into the heart of the preserve. There is an outer loop & 2 inner loop trails, totaling about 1 mile. The trails connect a freshwater willow pond in the east to saltflats in the west, passing through oak hammocks, pine palmetto prairie & mangroves. Listen to the quiet & watch for huge old oaks with bromeliads, 3 species of mangroves, 6 different wading birds, Great Horned Owls, Great Crested Fly-Catchers & Chuck-Wills-Widows. We are working diligently to repair hurricane damage to the preserve & you are welcome to join us – hiking & restoring. ​

Weir Preserve is 70 acres of mostly mangrove habitat, interspersed with uplands & ditches created for mosquito control in the 1960s. The preserve is 5.5 miles south of Pine Island Center, east of Stringfellow, at the end of Tangerine Drive. Parking is limited & must be accessed through the dirt road easement at the corner of Tangerine Drive & Sabal Ave. The trail runs east 300 feet & junctions with a 0.5-mile trail that runs north & south along the upland ridge. Watch for 3 species of mangroves, saltwort, racoon prints, mangrove tree crabs, mosquito fish & invasive plants like Australian pine & Melaleuca. We are working hard to remove the non-native plants & restore a healthier ecosystem. Please join us. See Paddling Nancy Weir Mangrove in below Paddling section.

St Jude Nature Trail is a CLT gem & is located just north of St. James in the St Jude Harbor neighborhood. The trail is an easy 1 mile round trip hike through a wide variety of native Florida plants to a boardwalk & overlook onto St James Creek & Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve. The nature trail is a part of the St James Creek Preserve, which is found east of Stringfellow Road, via Laratonda Road to 3582 Stabile Road. Along the trail among the plants & in the waters look for gumbo limbos, cocoplum, fiddler crabs, ospreys, herons, ibis, river otters, raccoons, mullet, snook, snapper & dolphins. Sunrise from the overlook is magical.

 Our most popular paddling trail is from Tropical Point Park south along our Weir Preserve to the St Jude Trail Overlook. The route is 2.5 miles one way. The launch site is 5 miles south of Pine Island Center, east on Tropical Point Drive to the end (0.6 miles). This peaceful paddle follows St James Creek along mangrove shorelines & through island passages. Quiet observers will see a treasure-trove of fish and birds, especially under the mangrove canopy. Look for herons, egrets, ibis, crabs, snook, mullet, mangrove snapper, crabs, dolphins – & maybe a juvenile shark. ​

It can be easy to get lost in the mangroves, so we suggest bringing a GPS unit. The St Jude overlook location is: 26o 30.850’ N & 82o 4.455’ W. You can return the way you came or paddle along the St Jude Trail boardwalk, haul out at an alligator crawl through the mangroves & portage 0.4 miles to the St James Creek Preserve parking lot. There are no services on the route.