Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve is my #1 favorite wildlife photography location in the Fort Myers area. The preserve has a 1.2 mile raised boardwalk loop going through a cypress wetlands. The scenery is beautiful and there is a lot of wildlife.
Wildlife that lives in or passes through the slough includes gators, otters, owls, hawks, osprey, raccoons, squirrels, turtles, bobcats, snakes, frogs, wading birds, migratory birds, and others.
It’s not the easiest place to photograph. The vegetation can make spotting the wildlife challenging. The shadowing and vegetation can make it difficult to get the “perfect shot” too. However, the challenge is a big part of what I like about it 🙂
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve is my #1 favorite wildlife photography location in the Fort Myers area. The preserve has a 1.2 mile raised boardwalk loop going through a cypress wetlands. The scenery is beautiful and there is a lot of wildlife.
Wildlife that lives in or passes through the slough includes gators, otters, owls, hawks, osprey, raccoons, squirrels, turtles, bobcats, snakes, frogs, lizards, wading birds, migratory birds, and others.
It is certainly not the easiest place to photograph. The vegetation can make spotting the wildlife challenging. The shadowing and vegetation can make it difficult to get the “perfect shot” too. However, the challenge is a big part of what I like about it 🙂
Location
Six Mile Cypress Slough is located off 6 Mile Cypress Parkway in Fort Myers.
There is limited parking, especially on the weekends. So earlier in the morning is the best time to go.
Parking is $1/hour. Lee county parks parking passes are accepted.
The park and boardwalk are open every day from dawn to dusk.
There is an interpretive center and gift shop that is open daily 10-4, except on Mondays.
Seasons
Six Mile Cypress slough changes throughout the different seasons. Water levels, temperature, and bird migration affect what wildlife may be seen in the different seasons. Make sure to check out the various billboards throughout the preserve that will give you information about the wildlife. This sign is right at the entrance and there are others throughout the slough.
Photos
Note: Click images to view full screen 🙂