Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve

The Six Mile Cypress Slough (pronounced “slew”) is a 2,500 acre wetland in Fort Myers, Florida, that measures approximately 9 miles long and 1/3 mile wide. This linear ecosystem is home to a diverse population of plants and animals, including a few considered to be endangered. The Slough also serves as a corridor for wildlife by providing a safe route of travel.

The Slough is a natural drainage-way, collecting runoff water from a 33 square-mile watershed area during periods of heavy or prolonged rainfall. During the wet season (June through October), a depth of 2 to 3 feet of water makes the Slough comparable to a wide, shallow stream. This fresh water flows southwest through the Slough and empties into the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve.

Trail Hours of Operation

Open 7 days a week- Dawn to Dusk

Interpretive Center Hours

November – April

Tues - Sat: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sun: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

May – October

Tues - Sunday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Facility Features

• 11,000-square-foot Interpretive Center, LeeCounty Parks & Recreation’s first certified green building
• Fully accessible, 1.2 mile long boardwalk trail
• Seating enclaves, shelters, observation decks and a photo blind
• Amphitheater
• Guided walks (see times below)
• Educational displays and “Explorer’s Companion” self-guided trail brochures
• Picnic areas, restrooms and water fountain

Parking Fee

You do not have to pay for admittance to the park. However, your vehicle parking fee of $1 an hour or a maximum of $5.00 per stay is used for maintenance and programming for the preserve.

Guided Walk Schedule

January-March:

Daily - 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

May-October:

Wednesdays only - 9:30 a.m.

April, November and December:

Daily - 9:30 a.m.