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Camping

Please continue to practice social distancing while visiting our CREW trails.

Register to Camp
photos 1-3 by Anthony Eugenio; 4-5 by Molly DuVall

Registration is required.

For the adventurous, the CREW Trails have two free primitive campsites – one near the Corkscrew Marsh deep into the woods and away from traffic (at Gate 3), and one tucked into the pines near the trailhead at the Cypress Dome Trails (Gate 5).

The Gate 3 campsite is located in a beautiful oak hammock surrounded by marsh. The Gate 5 campsite is nestled among tall pines.

The sites are suitable for up to 20 people. A grill, picnic tables, and a fire ring are provided for you. There are no restroom facilities, no trash cans and no running water. 

Register for Camping Special Use License

Families, scout troops, friends, and even solo campers appreciate getting away from it all at CREW. Each site is permitted to only one group at a time, up to 20 people.

All campers are expected to use Leave No Trace principles to minimize impacts to the campsites and to keep the sites in good shape for future campers. Proper disposal of waste and storage of food is critical to a good user experience.  If you arrive at your camp site and find any trash or broken equipment please report the conditions to the CREW Trust office immediately, 239-657-2253.
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If you’re not an experienced primitive camper, here are some resources that may help you learn the in’s and out’s of camping without water and toilets:

To request a special use license (and to check availability), complete the South Florida Water Management District Special Use License (SUL) application online:

Register for Camping Special Use License

For more information, contact Blaine Preston at the SFWMD with email bpreston@sfwmd.gov

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Horseback Riding

Horses

Registration permit required: Equestrian SUL

The CREW Cypress Dome Trails and Flint Pen Strand Trails are open to horseback riding by special use license (SUL) only.

When you receive an Equestrian SUL you’re helping support the future of Equestrian use at the CREW trails. So, please register often!

Click here to request a special use license

And to check availability, complete the South Florida Water Management District Special Use License (SUL) application online (links above).

Download a Trail Map

CREW-Flint-Pen-Strand-Equestrian-MapDownload
CREW-Cypress-Dome-Trail-Equestrian-MapDownload

You may bring up to six horses at a time on one permit. There is no horse concession at CREW – bring your own. Enjoy, these are beautiful places to ride!

More Information

Information on hiking and directions to the CREW Trails

For more information, contact the CREW Trust at 239-657-2253 or Kim Willis at the SFWMD at 800-432-2045 x3333 or 561-924-5310 x3333 or email kwillis@sfwmd.gov . HAPPY TRAILS!

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Geocaching

GeoCaching at CREW

Found It!

At the CREW trails as of 2021 there will have been…
290 Traditional Caches…
59 Mystery Caches…
21 Letterbox Caches…
12 Event Caches…
10 Multi Caches…
7 Wherigo Caches…
1 Earthcache…

Altogether 122 active geocaches and specifically
36 at the CREW Cypress Dome trails…
41 at the CREW Marsh trails…
45 at the CREW Bird Rookery Swamp trails! 

Go to www.geocaching.com for more information on geocaching and to search for caches in the area. Caches sometimes change locations or get swapped out, so check that site often.

Blog about geocaching at CREW! 

Thanks to all of the local geocachers, including The Unusual Suspects, for providing and maintaining the caches at CREW!

Getting Started with Geocaching (takes you to the geocaching.com website)

HAPPY HUNTING!

GeoCache Day

2021 Geocache Day attracted over 70 cachers of all skill levels!

Register here eventbrite.com.

When: 2022 TBD

Where: TBD

Join local geocachers for a fun and informative event at the CREW trails. Local experts, Milla and Pete, will be on hand to give tips and explain geocaching to new cachers. The day starts with a breakfast and meet-and-greet at 9 a.m. Bring your own GPS unit or smart phone; GPS units may be available to borrow on a limited basis.

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Visit CREW

CREW Bird Rookery Swamp on the far northwestern portion. Photo by Brandon Stossel

The CREW Trust has worked diligently with the South Florida Water Management District and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to ensure public access and recreation opportunities on these public lands we call CREW.

There are exceptional recreational opportunities for people of all ages on over 36 miles of hiking trails, with more planned in the future. The CREW project now has four trail systems open to the public, two located off of Corkscrew Road (County Road 850), one off of Bonita Beach Road and one located off of Immokalee Road (see map above).

For more information about visiting each of the trails, click the links below.

CREW Marsh Trails

CREW Cypress Dome Trails

Bird Rookery Swamp Trails

CREW Flint Pen Strand Trails 

Caracara Prairie Preserve Trails

Free Downloadables: CREW Trail Guides & Education Materials

CREW Trail Use Guidelines

For more information about other recreational activities, click the following links:

Geocaching

Camping

Horseback Riding

Hunting

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In Memory of Jim Goodwin

Jim Goodwin, long-time land manager for the CREW Project, passed away in
mid-July just months after his retirement from the South Florida Water Management District. He left a great legacy and his spirit will live on in the work we do as we move forward and continue to preserve and protect the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed.

Jim’s wife, Layne, has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Jim’s honor to the CREW Land and Water Trust. We are honored and humbled and have set up a special Jim Goodwin Memorial Fund in his name. If you’d like to make a donation, please visit our Donate page.

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