Naples area state park offers hiking, canoeing and camping

Collier-Seminole State Park lies partly within the great mangrove swamp of southern Florida, one of the largest mangrove swamps in the world. With more than 7,000 acres in Naples, the park provides habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, including several imperiled species. Although rare elsewhere, the park covers one of three original stands of royal palm trees in Florida.

Visitors can experience this park’s remarkable wilderness on several trails or paddle a rented canoe on the Blackwater River. Park programs are offered from December to March. Park rangers and volunteers present programs and adventure series of guided canoe and hiking trips.

Daytime Canoe Trips: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday (No Friday trips in December 2009 and March 2010)
Join a park naturalist on the Blackwater River in a mangrove wonderland. Watch for tarpon, colorful crabs and manatees. Hear stories of Seminole survival. Meet 9:30 a.m., paddle 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. $25 per person. Canoe, paddles and life jackets provided (or bring your own).

Moonlight Canoe Trips: December 1, 28 and 30, January 27 and 29, February 26 and 27 and March 27 and 29.
Enjoy an evening paddle by moonlight. Join a park naturalist as you discover the nighttime wonders along the Blackwater River. Meet 7:30 p.m., trip 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. $30 per person. Bring a flashlight. Canoe, paddles and life jackets provided (or bring your own). Space is limited. Reservations recommended.

Night Hikes: December 14 and 16, January 11 and 13, February 10 and 11 and March 10 and 13
Unravel mysteries and sharpen your senses as you hike with a park naturalist. Look for things that glow in the dark, shooting stars and other night wonders with no city lights to interfere. Meet 7:30 p.m., hike 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. $10 per person. Bring a small flashlight. Space is limited. Reservations recommended.

Canoe trips and night hikes hosted by Friends of Collier-Seminole State Park. All proceeds benefit the park.

This time of year, the weather is agreeable and the campground is busy. Each site has electricity, water, a grill and a picnic table. The restrooms have hot showers and one has a laundry facility. A centralized dump station is available. The park is located on U.S. 41, 17 miles south of Naples. Overnight camping is $22, which includes water and electricity.

Photo: The park visitor center.