It is so nice to see Naples reopened. The last time I was here the preserve was closed. This is a great little natural area along with the Hedges Family Eco Center. The preserve is made of of a nine and a half acre pine flatwood and rosemary scrub oak community that is one of the oldest ecological communities in Florida. It was established in the Pleistocene era 10,000 years ago on sand ridges which were deposited originally as coastal dunes. This high and dry land is ideal for building on so that why there is so little of it left today. The land for this preserve was saved by the Naples community. In February 2000, a nine million dollar bond referendum was passed that allowed for the purchase of the preserve land. Volunteers then spend hundreds of hours removing exotic plants and trash.Winding through the preserve is a .4 mile long elevated boardwalk. Along the way there are lookouts and benches built into the boardwalk. As soon as I started my walk I spotted a federally endangered gopher tortoise. The Preserve offers a great opportunity to see gopher tortoises in their natural habitat. You can also view native wildflowers, trees, birds, butterflies, snakes, and rabbits. August and September are actually the peak months for viewing wildflowers and butterflies and I saw an abundance of both. I especially loved the purple Chapmans Gayfeather.The Hedges Family Eco Center was closed during my visit but when it is open volunteers can answer questions about sightseeing around Naples and offer brochures and maps. There are books available in the resource library and the public can attend scheduled environmental programs. In front of the center is a promise globe where you can leave your pledge to protect the earth.The Naples preserve is free to visit and there is a parking lot. It is open daily from dawn to dusk. While it doesnt take long to visit, the walk is beautiful. There is even a fountain to fill up your reusable water bottle. Discovering beautiful places like this is why exploring Naples is so much fun.

The place is absolutely wonderful. The tortoises are so graceful and I just love to watch them.If you are lucky, you can meet Robert. He works there as a volunteer and he can tell you a lot about all these animals and plants there.

This place is a short walk but very beautiful. Iam surprised to find little hidden gems like this in the city. You are 100% bound to see tortoises here its adorable! I love the boardwalk style of it. If you like nature take a trip here! I love water features lakes/rivers but unfortunately this place dosent have any at all. tortoises can drown but I think they can enclose it?

Hidden gem, just off the highway. Its small, but great for a short walk with kids. Your sure to see turtles, rabbits, butterflies, and plenty of flowers. Theres a water fountain at the beginning of the boardwalk and parking at the entrance.

It is under restoration at the moment. Maybe a short walk to see the turtles, and watch birds. Or just sit under a tree to contemplate life. I am sure, there are a lot of talented hard working people behind this small ecosystem. Hope it can be great !

It’s a short little loop. Saw a couple of tortoise. It’s a good quick stop but since it’s next to busy street it’s not much of a tranquil.

We love coming here for quick, easy nature walks! It is a small trail, great for younger kids!

Very quaint park that can be completely traversed in under 10 minutes. A plethora of turtles can be seen basking in the sun. One of the most beautiful Banyon trees is visible upon entering the park. An educational center is on site as well. This park is especially unique as its directly in the heart of the heavy vehicle traffic of Tamiami Trail.

Super great place to visit. Great for birding and outdoor enthusiast. Two and a half mile Boardwalk through Corkscrew swamp. They have a small Cafe beautiful gift shop. Must see!

The Preserve is located about 8 minutes North of Downtown Naples; about a 2.5 mile drive; next to the Naples Zoo. The boardwalk is an easy 0.4 mile walk through the oak scrubs and pine flatwoods. This is great for kids and it is stroller friendly. Youll spot gopher turtles and different plants/trees. The only downside to this is the actual location next to busy U.S. 41. You can see and hear the cars and thier music. I wish it were more secluded by trees. There is a beautiful Weeping Fig tree at the entrance as well as an Earth Globe and a garden. Parking and entrance are FREE and there is a Eco Center to get more information.

Great fun, many lizards and tortoises, I saw one eating!

Fun place to visit we saw an adult gopher tourtise and a juvinile

Very clean and is a great place to take your kids to see tortoises in the wild.

A wonderful place protecting gopher tortoises...

Good place to visit in Naples. Really cheap

Great exercise to walk the nature walk and a wonderful experience to see gopher tortoises, rabbits, lizards, and other wildlife, perfect chance to take a child and educate them on nature as well

It was pouring rain when we went but it was still so fun! We got lucky with animals!

Great little walking trail right in the heart of Naples. Fun, quick stop for little kids to get a taste of nature. Youll get to see a few tortoises and various birds. If youre lucky, youll catch the ospreys soaring overheard. Theres a sign on the trail pointing out their nearby nest. And its free.

Great mini nature trail. You can see the wildlife, saw a huge gopher tortoise!

I love this place! Very peaceful, even though its located on the Tamiami Trail. A wonderful place to spend some time looking at the landscape, and enjoying some local wildlife, in the heart of Naples.

This is a wonderful place to learn about our local eco system. Becky is wonderful and is so full of information. She is a blessing to the homeschool groups that visit and learn so many interesting things. Thanks Becky for all you do and to all of the staff. So glad Collier has such wonderful, informative people educating residents and visitors about our beautiful piece of paradise.

Such a delightful little diversion! We brought a picnic (4 tables scattered trees near parking lot) and then had a leisurely stroll along the boardwalk. Even on a hot afternoon we saw at least seven tortoises, tons of anoles, lots of birds and butterflies. There were nesting Ospreys and Fish Crows and several spiecies of warblers migrating through. It is basically a plot of land between two highways that was saved for wildlife, so there is a fair amount of city noise, but it is free and so worth a visit.

Enjoyed a walk through the preserve.

This is a nice place to take a quick morning walk with kids along the boardwalk. Its peaceful and the kids like looking for turtles and birds. Its short enough that the kids can easily walk it, but the boardwalk is well done so you can have a youngster with a stroller easily.

Nice trail and friendly and professional staff, very knowledgeable

Wonderful place to see gopher tortoises on a sunny day!

I saw several gopher tortoises and even a rabbit. Lots of trees. Great place to chill in nature. Nice butterfly garden too.

Very nice place for a morning walk. Various wildlife species to you can see if you slow down and look. This is a Gopher Tortoise sanctuary and other animals also call this little Oasis home. I quite enjoy walking through at least once a week. Hidden Gem in Naples across from the Mall.

Free parking and free to enjoy this beautiful oasis near the mall and the zoo, not far from downtown Naples. Meticulously maintained and theres a well made boardwalk with a few lookout areas. Wheelchair accessible.The Eco center offers educational materials and info on south Florida wildlife. Picnic tables and butterfly garden near the entrance.If you look carefully, youll spot one of the many gopher tortoises and see the sandy holes they dig.A refreshing escape after the nearby crowds of the shopping centers!

What a fun place to take kids

A cute little preserve surrounded by sprawl, there is a weath of botanical diversity packed into a very small package. The boardwalk makes for easy walking and the butterfly garden in front is cute and appreciated. I always enjoy visiting

Nice place to walk and look at the tortoises.

This is a great little preserve. There is traffic noise from the nearby highway, sure, but there were hardly any people here at all. We saw Gopher Tortises of course, but also 10 different species of birds.

Friendly staff. Interesting tour.

Nice place. Short board walk. Interesting foliage and lots of tortoises. A bit of traffic noise as others have said. Worth a short visit and free.

A haven close to the city. Though we went at a wrong time (around noon when the weather was like an oven), we were greeted by a host of monarch butterflies. The walk is pleasing, but you can still see and hear the cars on the road, so its not the dark and deep type. We did see a lot of tortoises, some tortoise nest and some tortoise fights (i have never seen a nest outside a zoo so was pretty excited). Its a pleasing calm walk if you want to stretch your legs. I guess it must be more amazing in a cooler weather.

Awsome stop on our vacation. FREE parking and admission!!! (One of the few freebies in the area) Located just next to the Naples Zoo, this is a great stop. Youll want to go in the morning when they have free guided tours and more animals are active. They have lots of tortoises and turtles that live there as well as many other species of animals and plants. Very educational experience and the guide in the shop there is amazingly nice and knows outdoors stuff very well. Its a great place to visit to discover the many outdoor things to do in the Naples and surrounding areas so go there early in your vacation to the area so they can help you with the rest.

We counted 17 tortoises and a black racer.

Cute little park, but no dogs allowed ):

What a wonderful place to take a stroll, we saw 8 tortoises and the scenery was beautiful

Nice big trails

Becky was a wealth of information about the turtles and their native fodder. Her knowledge of plants including the pollinator garden and butterflies was very informative. Enjoyable all around!

This is best described as the place you go to see Gopher Tortoises. They were moved here when a developer found the protected species on his property and paid to put up a fence to keep them here. Worked out for everyone. Nice place with a walkway to see them in action digging away.

Great little walk

Great family activity FREE!! Nature talks on Tuesdays in Season! Wonderful boardwalk that is perfect for little ones because its only .25. Make sure to stop i the Eco-center.

Really like this little place! Nice little boardwalk. Saw several turtles. Check it out!

Beautiful free trail with an abundance of tortoise. Wonderful knowledgeable helpers.

Geat nature habitat for turtles and birds. Needs more flowering plants. Please upgrade the beautiful open area. Butterfly garden is very beautiful. Dont miss it by the building.

Nice place saw 9 tortoises. Quick walk.

If you just need a quick little boardway into nature, try the Turtle Preserve they have here. You will see golfer tortoise to birds here. Is a great getaway if youre close by the mall. The volunteers there is very helpful and they even have a butterfly garden there as well. Plus, its FREE!!!

Very nice little preserve. Volunteer staff is quite knowledgeable. Lots of Gopher Tortoises of all sizes.

A lovely place for a leisurely stroll. Lots of gopher tortoises, birds and greenery.

Small but cool to see all the tortoises

Nice place to sit and watch the turtles run around or read a book by yourself. Almost always quiet and nice

Beautiful peice of nature! An oasis in Naples!

I visit it frequently and have enjoyed and learned from the free fall lectures that are presented on a wide variety of topics. Becky, the caretaker and the volunteers have taught me more about the flora and fauna of my state. I like the chickee because of the pleasant herbal odor. The gopher tortoise population is increasing; I remember decades ago when they were on the verge of extinction. Its exciting to meet the many people who visit there: parents of young children, a yoga practioner, a jogger, visitors from around the world, retired scientists, park rangers. In Sept. of this year I will have been in my parents adopted state for 58 years. Its exciting to me to see the Preserve blooming thanks to the many people who have nurtured it. And the Eagle Scout who planned the boardwalk and the students and teachers who continue to come to enjoy it. The Naples Preserve, to me, is an oasis of nature. The butterfly pollinator garden was spectacular last year and will be even better this year. The palmetto and pine section to the rear of the chickee reminds me of what most of the coastal south was prior to over- development. I wish my Dad could have lived to see this. He lived nature. Especially in Florida.

Natural beauty

Short boardwalk trail but well worth it. Many signs of turtle nests but it was too cold for any appearances.

Gem in middle of city.

Lovely little outpost continually mistaken for Naples Zoo..seems arrow with info zoo is half mile away gets overlooked because its out of view behind shrubs in front of sign

Fascinating info center, raised boardwalk, and active wildlife that are easy to spot.

Nice walking trail

Very short but very nice nature path in spite of its close proximity to the road.

Free. So dont expect to much. Friendly staff.

Loved it!

Great!

Very calming pathway to relax!

Loved it, so open an peaceful

Lovely place to be in contact with Mother Nature

Ok

Walking and praying.

Wonderful

Beautiful

Friendly, helpful, informative

Worth seeing

Really enjoyed the boardwalk

Nice walking path

How Naples used to be before they built everything