Estero Bay Preserve State Park, State park in Lee County, United States.
Estero Bay Preserve State Park is a protected area spanning roughly 10,000 acres across Estero Bay with dense mangrove forests, salt marshes, and tidal flats. These interconnected habitats support a wide range of marine life, birds, and terrestrial creatures that depend on the bay for survival.
The area began forming as a lagoon-like estuary roughly 5,000 years ago when ocean levels rose, and gained official protection in 1966 as Florida's first aquatic preserve. This designation marked a turning point in safeguarding the region's coastal ecosystems from development.
Shell mounds scattered throughout the preserve tell the story of Native American communities who lived here and later European settlers who arrived in the region. These remains connect visitors to thousands of years of human activity along the bay.
The park has two main entry points: Winkler Point near Fort Myers and Estero River Scrub in Estero, with trails open from dawn until dusk year-round. Visitors should prepare for humidity and sun exposure, and bring water and appropriate footwear for walking on uneven surfaces.
Hidden within the preserve are remnants of the Seaboard Air Line Railway bed, which once connected towns across southwest Florida in the early 1900s. Visitors with a keen eye can still spot sections of this historic rail line winding through the landscape.
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