Swampy Times: Collier-Seminole State Park

 Florida has been a bit wet this winter and so the ground everywhere is soggier than usual including Southwest Florida. 

Yes, this is Marg the Swamp Hiker

We left the Miami area and headed west to Collier-Seminole State Park, a bit east of the Ft. Myers area. The park is home to "The Bay City" Walking Dredge, several trails, and several canoe trails through mangrove islands to the Gulf of Mexico.

Boardwalk on the Nature Trail

Historically the park is important as the Seminoles resisted and retreated to the area after the Third Seminole War. Soldiers searching for the Indians mapped the area, one map from 1857 illustrates the Blackwater River and an area labeled “palm grove.”  (https://www.floridastateparks.org/park-history/Collier-Seminole)

A lovely 6.5 mile hiking trail
better without all the water

Thanks to the Florida Trail Association
the trail is walk-able... with good boots
Imagine the Seminole's trek through the swamps

The park was originally created by Barron Gift Collier to preserve the royal palm trees after finding them in the 1920s.  Collier was an advertising tycoon and pioneer developer, who purchased nearly a million acres in southwest Florida. To preserve the palms he donated to the Collier County and in 1947 it went to the State of Florida.  Barron Collier was a major investor in developing the Collier County section of the Tampa-to-Miami highway, the Tamiami Trail. (https://www.floridastateparks.org/park-history/Collier-Seminole)

Dredge on "The Bay City"
Walking Dredge

 "The Bay City" Walking Dredge is an amazing machine which was used to complete at least 10 miles of the Tamiami Trail, the first road to connect Miami and Ft. Myers. 

Engine for "The Bay City"
Walking Dredge

Amazing engineering on "The Bay City"
Walking Dredge

Canoeing is the way to see the Blackwater River which passes through mangrove tunnels, mangrove islands, stands of hardwood hammocks and ends at the Gulf of Mexico.  Blackwater River ranges from brackish streams to saltwater and allows access to Mud Bay which is impassable on low tide.

Mangrove Islands dot the horizon

Fortunately, we had the time to paddle the main fork of the Blackwater River one day and make the trip to Mud Bay on another day.  The river contains the typical wading birds, hawks, osprey, and fish.  Along the way you may encounter a few alligators or crocodiles as we did.  

Wading birds awaiting dinner

The trip to  Mud Bay was special as you need to time the trip with the incoming tide.  Luckily the tide was in our favor and we arrived at the north end of the bay to watch the water rush in and cover the mud banks transforming the muck into a lovely ankle deep bay.  During the hour or so it took to cover the mud we were able to park the canoe on a mud bar and wander along the bars observing the birds, fish, and crabs.  It is a wonderful paddle and worth the extra planning.