Naples Nature Center, Conservancy of Southwest Florida – Florida Hikes

A complete environmental training advanced throughout the metropolis of Naples, the Naples Nature Heart is the ahead face of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.

Since 1964, this regional nonprofit has raised native consciousness of crucial habitats throughout 5 counties and preserved parcels via acquisition and stewardship.

Overview map of the advanced

Instantly south of the Naples Zoo, the Naples Nature Heart adjoins the mangrove-lined Gordon River on the alternative shore from the Gordon River Greenway.

Their top-notch Dalton Discovery Heart consists of hands-on actions, a contact tank, and loads of aquatic life amid its walk-throughs of Southwest Florida habitats.

Low light and blue cushions in front of a giant aquarium

Reef room

On the heart, their training workforce leads two each day talks about nature, ideally suited for homeschoolers and households.

Thursdays are for Little Explorers, with particular applications centered round an indoor nature playground, the Little Explorer Play Zone.

Person lifting sea life from a touch tank

Staffer on the Contact Tank

At their von Arx Wildlife hospital, go to with recuperating shorebirds and birds of prey. A boardwalk results in a birding spot past.

Lease a kayak or take a 45-minute electrical boat tour for an up-close have a look at the mangroves alongside the Gordon River.

Kayak leases and launch on the lagoon

There are additionally two nature trails. The Lagoon Path tunnels to a boardwalk at Mangrove Level.

The Hammock Path loops hardwood hammock and pine flatwoods. Every has a number of interpretive stops.

Sign with botanical drawing in front of satin leaf

Plant identification alongside the Lagoon Path

Assets

Overview

Location: NaplesLength: 0.5 milesTrailhead: 26.16565, -81.78845Address: 1495 Smith Protect Approach, NaplesFees: Ages 12 and up, $17.95; ages 3-12, $9.95. Annual memberships availableRestroom: On the Discovery CenterLand supervisor: Conservancy of Southwest FloridaPhone: 239-262-0304

Open Tue–Sat. No pets. The advanced is usually accessible however the nature trails usually are not, as they’re pure surfaces. Insect repellent advisable.

A full revamp of the Naples Nature Heart begins Might 1, 2026, with a projected re-opening date of early 2028.

Throughout that interval, the vonArx Wildlife Hospital will stay open. Study extra right here.

Instructions

From Interstate 75 exit 105 in Naples, exit on Golden Gate Parkway and drive west 3.5 miles to Goodlette-Frank Rd. Flip left. Proceed a half mile south and switch left onto 14th Ave N. Make a left on Merrihue Dr and comply with indicators to the parking space.

Hike

Begin your exploration of the advanced with a stroll via the displays of the Dalton Discovery Heart.

Interpretive panels, multi-media shows, and reside aquatic and land creatures present context in regards to the pure habitats alongside the character trails.

Uplands Gallery

Leaving the entrance of the constructing dealing with the Allyn Household Lagoon and dock, make a left to stroll to the map kiosk.

The pair of nature trails start roughly a tenth of a mile from the parking space.

Proceed straight forward to start the Lagoon Path, a sticking near the sting of the lagoon inside deep shade.

Keep left of this kiosk for the Lagoon Path

Outlined by items of limestone, the bark chip footpath enters a tropical hardwood hammock.

Beneath the forest cover are a sequence of beds the place native vegetation have been re-established.

Interpretive markers in front of plants in beds

Native plant mattress

Interpretive indicators present explanations and botanical drawings for identification of vegetation discovered on this habitat.

Curving via the dense forest, attain a boardwalk. Large leather-based ferns rise from the forest flooring alongside its sides.

Mangrove Boardwalk

The prop roots of historical crimson mangroves dangle from branches overhead, making a surreal setting.

By a tangle of mangrove trunks and prop roots, catch a glimmer off the water alongside the Gordon River.

Mangrove roots and limbs with water beyond

The river past the mangroves

Reaching boardwalk’s finish, flip round and retrace it again to the footpath via the hammock, taking any facet paths left unexplored.

Returning to the principle path kiosk by 1 / 4 mile, make a left to move to the Hammock Path.

The Hammock Path begins previous the kiosk

Proceed straight previous the kiosk for a clockwise loop. Enter an uplands hammock with scattered cabbage palms beneath slash pines and oaks.

The understory begins out comparatively open, the forest flooring lushly carpted with sword ferns and marsh ferns.

Interpretation alongside the Hammock Path

Golden polypody fern emerges from cabbage palms and from stumps. Native to this area, a handful of royal palms rise into the cover.

Pine duff retains the path cushioned because it winds between clusters of noticed palmetto and the trunks of cabbage palms and pines.

Amongst palm fronds

Look ahead to scattered big air vegetation and smaller bromeliads absorbing the humidity of the Gordon River basin.

Slipping previous interpretive signage, full the loop. One other small loop adjoining it walks via a butterfly backyard that includes native vegetation.

Exiting the loop

Return to the picnic desk clearing. Returning to the parking space after taking a stroll out on the dock, tally a half mile on this facet of the advanced.

Further brief walks behind different buildings discover a filter marsh and adjoining Christopher B. Smith Protect.