A boardwalk at sunrise

Explore Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Visit our iconic boardwalk or sign up for a guided experience!
Photo: Audubon staff
2.25
Miles of Boardwalk
265
Bird Species Recorded
13,000
Acres of Wilderness Habitat Protected

Welcome to our world-famous 2.25-mile boardwalk.

As you move through the changing scenery, consider that this boardwalk shows visitors only a tiny fraction of the 13,000 acres we call Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. 

The sanctuary is a magnificent and expansive landscape that is home to thousands of species, a diverse tapestry of habitats, and the largest remaining stand of old-growth bald cypress trees in the world. These impressive trees, relatives of the redwood, tower 130 feet into the sky and some have a girth of 25 feet. Their massive branches are draped with orchids, bromeliads, and ferns. 

The sanctuary is home to hundreds of alligators, otters, white-tailed deer, and red-bellied turtles. A wide variety of wading birds, songbirds, and raptors can be seen throughout the year, while the fabulous Painted Bunting is one of many winter visitors. 

Your Guide to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary's 2.25-mile  Boardwalk

Our Iconic Boardwalk
Learn about the history of this amazing structure that makes Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary special.
Read More
Black-and-white photo of two boardwalks side by side, one old and one new
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Birds You Might See
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary provides habitat for more than 260 species across the seasons.
Click here to discover.
Wading birds in a shallow wetland
A variety of wading birds take advantage of dropping water levels in spring to find a meal in the Lettuce Lake. Photo: Renee Wilson/Audubon Florida
Click here to discover.
Features
Boardwalk
Wheelchair accessible
Nature store
Food for purchase
Pollinator garden
Picnic area
Binoculars to borrow
Venue rental
Sanctuary News
A bird in the grass
American Bittern from Connecticut Tracked to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
December 19, 2023 — While this bird will not make the return trip, others like it are informing researchers of their needs through tracking devices.
A graph showing rainfall amounts
Rainfall and Water Levels from November 2023
December 12, 2023 — After a dry October, the Sanctuary experienced twice the average amount of rainfall in November.
Insects in a collection box.
Elon University Student Conducts Insect Research at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
December 12, 2023 — The Sanctuary’s biodiversity inspires visiting researchers from around the nation and world.
A flock of shorebirds along a shoreline
Migrating Red Knot Recorded by Motus Station at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
December 11, 2023 — The shorebird was detected by a station at Hudson Bay in Manitoba, Canada, in July.
Screenshot of Elvis' production
Florida Gulf Coast University Student Completes Service-Learning Project about Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
December 08, 2023 — The Immokalee resident visited the Sanctuary as an elementary student. It left a lasting impression.
Black-and-white photo of a man wading in a swamp
Celebrating 70 Years of Wetland Conservation at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
December 05, 2023 — In 1954, brave voices in our community spoke up to save ancient trees from the threat of the axe and saw. Thanks to their efforts, today we protect 13,000-plus acres in Southwest Florida as a haven for plants, animals, and people.
An aerial view of sunflowers blooming at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.
Corkscrew Watershed Initiative Aims to Conserve Heart of the Western Everglades
December 05, 2023 — As development continues to rapidly advance in Southwest Florida, conservation of Western Everglades habitat is more important than ever—particularly in the 70,000-acre Corkscrew Watershed, home of the more than 13,000 acres of Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.
Aerial view of flooded wetland
Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Receives Grant from the Collier Community Foundation
November 29, 2023 — The $30,000 grant will support efforts underway at the Western Everglades Research Center.
Two white birds in the swamp.
Photographer-in-Residence Exhibit
November 28, 2023 — See the Sanctuary through the eyes of these fine artists from Feb. 2 through December 30, 2024.
Photo of adult bobcat and kitten.
Monitoring Mammals for Conservation
November 08, 2023 — More than 930,000 photos have already provided valuable information on mammal populations in the Sanctuary since 2013.