Whether you’re looking for a sun-splashed jaunt amid mangroves and strangler figs, an exhilarating trek across palmetto prairies, or a detour down forgotten roads into years past, Day Hiking Southwest Florida has the perfect outdoor adventure. Johnny Molloy, outdoorsman extraordinaire, shares forty of his favourite “front country” hikes through city, county, and state parks and their surrounding wild lands. Destinations include Babcock Ranch Preserve, home to several endangered species, including the Florida black bear and burrowing owl; Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, a subtropical island oasis for migratory birds; and Wild Turkey Strand Preserve, site of a World War II airfield training base. With a variety of trail lengths and difficulty levels, this guidebook offers an array of possibilities for all outdoor explorers, from the tourist in search of a reprieve from theme parks to the long-time Florida hiker seeking new scenery.Best of all, the quick and concise format provides everything necessary to get started. For each hike Molloy provides a detailed map, driving directions with GPS coordinates, photographs, and notes about trail junctions, stream crossings, trailside features, and more. Day Hiking Southwest Florida opens up the natural world for you to explore in this vibrant slice of the Sunshine State.
