Outdoors
Trails and recreation areas near Fort Myers open to biking and mountain biking.
Good to know: Wilderness areas are closed to bikes; check each area’s trail rules and yield to hikers and horses.
20 mi southwest · Fish and Wildlife Service
J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, on the subtropical barrier island of Sanibel in the Gulf of America along Florida’s west coast, is part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States.
36 mi east · US Army Corps of Engineers
Ortona South is a perfect campground for a quiet, sunny escape to South Florida. The campground is set along the Caloosahatchie River.
46 mi southeast · National Park Service
Gator Head Campground is a primitive campground located within the Bear Island Unit of Big Cypress National Preserve.
Map of 8 places loads as you scroll.
J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, on the subtropical barrier island of Sanibel in the Gulf of America along Florida’s west coast, is part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States.
Ortona South is a perfect campground for a quiet, sunny escape to South Florida. The campground is set along the Caloosahatchie River.
Gator Head Campground is a primitive campground located within the Bear Island Unit of Big Cypress National Preserve.
Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1996 under provisions of the Arizona-Florida Land Exchange Act of 1988.
The freshwaters of the Big Cypress Swamp, essential to the health of the neighboring Everglades, support the rich marine estuaries along Florida's southwest coast.
Pinecrest Campground offers four group campsites that provide a nice, quiet and relaxing atmosphere. This is a wonderful location for a group to start their south Florida adventure.
The Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1951 under the authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929 with a 50-year license agreement between the State of Florida and the U.S.
Established in 1947 as the first national park created for its biodiversity, Everglades National Park protects 1.5 million acres of wetland, forest, and marine habitats and the native plants and animals that call it home.
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Fort Myers. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
A local activity Short shared by Matador Network.
Watch on YouTube ↗
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
A local activity Short shared by Moving to Fort Myers Florida with Chelsea Robinson.
Watch on YouTube ↗
J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge (Fish and Wildlife Service), about 20 miles southwest of Fort Myers as the crow flies. Next are Ortona South (36 mi) and Gator Head Campground (46 mi).
Based on Fort Myers’s average highs, November–March. Conditions at higher elevations can be much cooler.
Federal agencies including National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, US Army Corps of Engineers. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.