Current Trail Conditions

Updated as of 3/25/2019. Please note, during dry season (December-May) trail conditions will not be updated regularly unless mowing or trail repair occurs.

*Rain events during our dry season have resulted in wet, muddy sections at all trail sytems.

Bird Rookery Swamp: Trail is open and phase 2 of boardwalk construction was completed in June. There are two water crossings near mile 9 where sections of the trail washed out during rainy season.

CREW Marsh Trails: All of the trails are clear.

Cypress Dome Trails: All trails open including the Wild Coffee Trail. Expect some mud and water in the center of the Wild Coffee Trail – you will get wet! Those crossing to Caracara Prairie Preserve will have to cross water in the ditch that separates the two properties.

Flint Pen Strand Trails: The first trail opened Nov. 30, 2018. The trail is narrow and winding with some sand and roots/rocks.

43 Responses to "Current Trail Conditions"

Captain Gil Gutierrez says:

August 10, 2016 at 12:56 pm

Any updates on the Bird Rookery Swamp Trail?

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1. CREW Land & Water Trust says:
  
  August 16, 2016 at 9:49 am
  
  Unfortunately we have no further updates as of now. Thank you for checking the website. When we know more this will be the first place we will update.
  
  Reply
  1. Captain Gil Gutierrez says:
    
    August 16, 2016 at 1:40 pm
    
    Thanks for the response. I just happened to come across your site and was really excited about biking on the bird rookery trail. I definitely want to go on one of your swamp hikes at cypress dome and will check the site for further updates.
    
    Reply
2. Sams says:
  
  October 6, 2016 at 7:26 pm
  
  When will the board walk open again. We are here for vacation and would be happy the fantastic wildlife again?!
  Greetings Yvonne
  
  Reply
  1. CREW Land & Water Trust says:
    
    October 18, 2016 at 5:52 pm
    
    The trail is now open! Thank you for your support and patience.
    
    Reply
    1. Mike Bittner says:
      
      October 21, 2016 at 7:59 am
      
      I have been checking in every Friday. Thank you for the update!
      
      Reply
      1. CREW Land & Water Trust says:
        
        October 31, 2016 at 8:51 am
        
        Mike,
        
        Thank you for all the support and checking the website. We hope to see you out on the trails!
Paula says:

September 5, 2016 at 8:17 am

Would you be able to explain why the Rookery trail is still closed?

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1. CREW Land & Water Trust says:
  
  September 19, 2016 at 1:33 pm
  
  The closure is due to a lot of factors. The main factor is for natural resource management. There is a lot of activity that goes on in CREW during the summer and with the high rainfall the South Florida Water Management District and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission thought it would be best for all to close the trail. It is not closed forever, it is just temporary and noting is wrong. CREW was preserved first for water, second for wildlife and third for people. We are just protecting all the important resources CREW has, and it will be back open for your enjoyment. Thank you for all the support.
  
  Reply
Join Take A Child Outside Week- Visit CREW – CREW Land & Water Trust says:

September 9, 2016 at 8:37 am

[…] This year’s “Take a Child Outside” week will be September 24-30, 2016. The CREW Trails are perfect spaces for you to bring your children, grandchildren, scout troops or neighborhood families outdoors.You can visit one or all of our three trails. You have a week to celebrate. The CREW trails are free and open to the public from sunrise to sunset. Be sure to check the trail conditions before you head out by clicking here. […]

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C. Schroeder says:

September 15, 2016 at 9:28 am

Wondering if there is any news on the trail opening. As one of the only distance hiking trails in the Naples locale, it has been a huge loss this summer to have the trail inaccessible for so long. The cryptic nature and lack of info on the closing seems very strange. Are there any updates at all?

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1. CREW Land & Water Trust says:
  
  September 19, 2016 at 1:37 pm
  
  We are still assessing the closure, so currently there isn’t an update on the timeline yet. We promise it will not closed forever, it is just temporary and noting is wrong. CREW was preserved first for water, second for wildlife and third for people. We are just protecting all the important resources CREW has, and it will be back open for your enjoyment. You can always hike at the CREW Marsh Trails and Cypress Dome Trails, they are not one big loop but if you hike all the loops together they make close to 12 miles. Thank you for all the support.
  
  Reply
Charles Minger Jr says:

September 24, 2016 at 11:09 pm

I have noticed lots of trespassing beyond the boardwalk. This time a family with small children. I would advise you make it a bit more evident that NO ONE is allowed beyond the boardwalk until it is open. With more tourists showing up people seem to be ignoring the signs. This is the third time I have witnessed this this month.

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Jake says:

October 16, 2016 at 10:22 am

OPEN the trail already good lord

Reply
1. CREW Land & Water Trust says:
  
  October 18, 2016 at 5:52 pm
  
  The trail is now open! Thank you for your support and patience. It is important to remember we are not the reason why Bird Rookery Swamp is open and that our natural resources need to come first.
  
  Reply
Lisa Lewis says:

October 18, 2016 at 5:27 pm

It’s October 18th so I just thought I’d check to see how the Bird Rookery Swamp trail opening was progressing. Does it look like it will be open anytime soon? Thank you so much!

Reply
1. CREW Land & Water Trust says:
  
  October 18, 2016 at 5:51 pm
  
  The trail is now open! Thank you for your support and patience.
  
  Reply
Lucky Fishing Charters says:

October 20, 2016 at 3:50 pm

YES!!! Thank you for posting the update!!!!! Can’t wait to go. BTW, I see the trail is really muddy, do you know how the conditions are for biking?

Reply
1. CREW Land & Water Trust says:
  
  October 31, 2016 at 8:54 am
  
  Hello,
  
  This is an email update from one of our volunteers that is an avid biker of Bird Rookery Swamp:
  
  “Rode the whole trail today for the first time since BRS re-opened. Most of the trail is in really good condition for this time of year and experienced cyclists should be encouraged to enjoy the trail. As expected, a little soft and wet in some places. Like last year, water is flowing rapidly across the trail at approximately mile 9 in 4-5 places and the surrounding trail is overgrown because the mower can’t get in there. The water crossings are deep in spots, and even the shallower areas are 15-18” deep. Cyclists should wade and not attempt to ride these crossings because the bottom is not uniform with deeper holes and there is a variety of debris that is not immediately visible.”
  
  Reply
rafael climaco says:

October 26, 2016 at 8:30 pm

are pet dogs allowed on the trails

Reply
1. CREW Land & Water Trust says:
  
  October 31, 2016 at 8:50 am
  
  Dogs are allowed on the trails, but only if they are on a leash. What trail are you looking to hike?
  
  Reply
rafael climaco says:

October 26, 2016 at 8:31 pm

dogs allowed on the trails

Reply
1. CREW Land & Water Trust says:
  
  October 31, 2016 at 8:49 am
  
  Hello,
  
  Dogs are allowed on the trails, but only if they are on a leash.
  
  Reply
Mark says:

November 14, 2016 at 11:36 am

Is the trail on Corkscrew Rd open and accessible? I am looking to take a Boy Scout troop there on Saturday, November 19. Or will it be too muddy?

Reply
1. CREW Land & Water Trust says:
  
  November 14, 2016 at 2:57 pm
  
  The CREW Marsh Trails is all dry and a great place to hike. Here is the link to learn more: crewtrust.org/crew-marsh-trails/
  
  Reply
CHRISTOPHER SCHROEDER says:

November 14, 2016 at 6:01 pm

Hiked the BRS about two weeks ago and it was as fantastic as ever. Really missed it this last summer. Saw two deer by mile 7, a doe and her juvenile fawn who was more afraid of me than mom, stomping and snorting. The trail is very wet at mile 9 for a good bit and quite uneven at some of the deeper crossings. And the big gator that habitually hangs by one of the deeper crossings was there, but very few other gators seen, maybe 4. Fun wading in there after seeing that big one! Definitely the best trail around.

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1. CREW Land & Water Trust says:
  
  November 15, 2016 at 2:10 pm
  
  Chris,
  
  Thank you so much for the update. I am surprised you only saw 4 gators. Was it a hot day?
  
  Reply
  1. CHRISTOPHER SCHROEDER says:
    
    November 16, 2016 at 9:20 am
    
    It was not that hot. And I started a little after sunrise, so morning cool.
    
    Reply
Richard Piper says:

November 27, 2016 at 7:04 pm

PLEASE DO NOT BRING YOUR DOGS TO BIRD ROOKERY SWAMP TRAIL!! I observed a mother Gator move toward a dog today but then retreat into the water. I have no idea why people after reading the four warning signs still brings dogs to this place. IT IS NOT SAFE FOR YOUR PETS!

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1. CREW Land & Water Trust says:
  
  December 7, 2016 at 2:46 pm
  
  Thank you for your concern. As a policy we do discourage dogs in the area and allow the public to use their best judgement.
  
  Reply
Lisa Lewis says:

November 28, 2016 at 8:03 am

Hello, Can you please update us on how wet the trail is and if the grass has been cut? The muddiness index above doesn’t appear to be changing but it has bee quite dry. Thank you very much!

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1. CREW Land & Water Trust says:
  
  December 7, 2016 at 4:02 pm
  
  Thanks Lisa! We updated it today; our poor people on the infograph were quite submerged compared to current trail conditions. We’re hearing that there are still a few wet spots at Bird Rookery Swamp, but most of the other trails are dry with only a bit of mud.
  
  Reply
Lisa says:

November 29, 2016 at 10:05 pm

We just hiked the full 12 miles today. Beautiful day, lots and lots of gators of all sizes! Around mile 9 was the only really wet area. Tried to jump one crossing, missed and got our shoes wet but that was all, the rest of the wet areas you can cross without a problem and assume it will just keep drying out. Great trail!!

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Lorrie P. says:

January 15, 2017 at 7:54 pm

CREW Bird Rookery Swamp is our all time favorite Florida hike. We have been hiking the entire 12 mile loop a couple of times a winter for the past 2 or 3 years, since we discovered it. We are experienced hikers, having hiked the entire Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine, as well as many other hikes around the U.S. We are always thrilled with the nature sightings at the Bird Rookery and usually count the gators – 161, 191, and 181 being our past counts and our all time record was 232 gators of every size along the 12 mile loop. We’ve seen otters, water moccasins, banded water snakes, turtles, lots of butterflies, many different species of wading birds and songbirds, white-tailed deer and more.

This past week, Monday, January 9th, my husband and I and two of our hiking friends from back home in PA once again hiked the 12 mile loop and had a wonderful outing. The trail was almost completely dry, and I understand there has not been much rain in quite some time. Nine miles in, between marker # 6 and #3, in the home stretch, we came to a wide, fairly deep water crossing that has never been like that in the past when we have been here. There obviously was some major erosion after a flooding event since we had hiked it last year and the water was steadily flowing from one side of the trail to the other side. A few narrow logs had been set in different places across the waterway very precariously – I think by hikers, not trail maintainers – in order to get across and not get wet feet.

One of our hikers made it across on the higher of the logs in good order. The second hiker slipped and got one boot wet and muddy, but got across. I am sorry to say, I was not so lucky. None of the log crossings looked like a good option, but I followed the path the first two hikers took and immediately realized it did not feel safe to me, so decided to back off it and find another route across. Somehow my foot slipped, I lost my balance and fell stomach first right into the deepest part of the water – probably close to 18″ deep and got totally soaked and muddy up to my neck. I broke my wrist bracing myself against the fall, as well as my smart phone which had been in my pants pocket because I had texted a gator photo earlier in the hike, and I also drowned my camera, which I carry in a holster in front of me. I hiked the remaining 3 miles out to our vehicles – wet, chilly, partially in shock, knowing there was something very wrong with my wrist. We spent the evening at the Urgent Care center and I am now wearing a brace for 4-6 weeks. The new phone and camera have been purchased. It was one very expensive hike.

Falls occasionally happen when hiking, but if I had to do it again, I should have waded across and gotten soggy boots, or taken the low log, which looked muddy, slippery, and even skinnier than the high log.

This deep water crossing looks to be a permanent feature of the trail now, similar to the area that stayed wet last year after the soggy January we experienced, where One-Eyed Ida used to lay. It does not look like a spot that is going to dry up. My question to you is – will you be creating some sort of safe crossing method for this area of the trail? I am not feeling the love about hiking across that water crossing again and will be disappointed if we can no longer hike the entire 12 mile loop, but end up having to make it an “in and out” hike in the future. We would miss some of the best parts of the rookery.

We do really appreciate all of the volunteers who help and the work that goes into making this beautiful natural area available to the public. The new educational voice recordings this year were a very nice addition. Thank you.

Reply
1. CREW Land & Water Trust says:
  
  January 18, 2017 at 9:49 am
  
  We are aware of the water and SFWMD is working on a long term solution that will preserve and protect the watershed and wildlife. Thank you for sharing your experience and we hope your wrist heals well. With each rainy season, the trails change, which it sounds like you have seen with your previous experience hiking near Ida’s spot. If you would like to discuss this further, please call our office at 239-657-2253. We do have trail use guidelines listed on our website (https://crewtrus.mystagingwebsite.com/home/trail-guidelines/) with more information about what to expect on our three trail systems.
  
  Reply
2. Lisa Lewis says:
  
  January 18, 2017 at 10:10 am
  
  Hi, That is so sad that you went through what you did. My husband and I hike the trail approximately every couple of weeks and yes, that one spot is like a Ringling Bros. cross the balance beam circus act to make it across the log. (Made it across the other day, missed and got wet the time before that)
  
  Totally agree that it would be great if CREW could arrange for a couple of larger logs to be put across that one spot until a permanent solution can be put into place. Completely understand that the watershed changes and we don’t want to do any long-term damage but it’s a tough crossing and it does seem to be something that’s more permanent than not as it’s been like that since the opening.
  
  That’s the only issue on the trail, which is an awesome hike and we appreciate all the great work CREW does!
  
  Reply
Jim Lansbury says:

February 1, 2017 at 11:44 pm

Lately. I have observed a woman fishing using nets at Bird Rookery Swamp filling her buckets full of fish. I have never seen this before in my fews years hiking the trail. Is this legal? I was under the assumption that nothing is allowed to taken out of the area not even fish. Her car was from out of state (New York) and she takes a lot of fish. Is this permitted? I hope not.

Thanks

Jim

Reply
1. CREW Land & Water Trust says:
  
  February 6, 2017 at 3:24 pm
  
  FWC regulates hunting and fishing. Their warden noted that fishing is allowed on the property. The public has to follow state rules and regulations, and the person netting the fish must have a valid freshwater fishing license. Normally the species that are allowed for cast netting are exotic, non-indigenous fish like armored catfish oscars, tilapia or mayan cichlids.
  
  Reply
Lisa Lewis says:

March 15, 2017 at 4:05 pm

March 15th, We were there this morning and a couple of people said there was an alligator who is “stuck” in between two cyprus knees and has been trying to get out for a while. It’s at approximately mile 2.6 on the left hand side. I took a picture but I can’t seem to post it. It looks like a smaller one (4-5ft) and does look like he cannot get out. 🙁

Reply
1. CREW Land & Water Trust says:
  
  March 22, 2017 at 3:00 pm
  
  Hi Lisa-
  
  That alligator was rescued on Wednesday, March 15 in the evening.
  
  Reply
  1. Lisa Lewis says:
    
    March 22, 2017 at 3:14 pm
    
    That’s great news, thanks for rescuing and responding 🙂
    
    Reply
Joshua Frank says:

February 3, 2019 at 5:15 pm

The Flint Pen Strand trail is fantastic. When are the additional Flint Pen Strand trails going to start being made ? Are there opportunities to volunteer with that effort ?

Reply
1. Anne Reed says:
  
  February 4, 2019 at 1:49 pm
  
  Trails will be mapped out over the next few years. If you are interested in volunteering, you can start the process by filling out an application, available under the volunteer section of our website.
  
  Reply