Explore the little known Florida Panther Wildlife Refuge

The Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge is in South Florida’s beautiful Big Cypress Basin. More than 26,000 acres were set aside in 1989 to protect the endangered Florida panther.

To protect panthers and their habitat, visitors are only permitted in a small portion of the refuge in the southeast corner. Don’t let that deter you from visiting. There are some great trails and chances to view wildlife.

That said, your chances of seeing a panther are slim, but you may spot a track or two if you get lucky.

There is not a bad time to visit, but there is a drier time. The dry season runs from November to May. That’s when the water drops and fish tend to concentrate, making for excellent bird watching. June through October is the rainy season and often brings wet feet for hikers. Even though it can be a bit soggy, you will still see wildlife. The refuge is home to hundreds of bird species, black bears, alligators, bobcats, and much more.

Hiking in the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge

The refuge has nearly 3 miles of hiking trails. The trailheads are a quarter mile north of the intersection of State Road 29 and I-75. The Panther Trail is a 1.2-mile long loop that weaves through thick vegetation. You can extend the hike with the Leslie M. Duncan Memorial Trail, a third-mile-long accessible loop that is great for folks of all ages. Make sure to bring along your camera and binoculars for some excellent chances of seeing wildlife. If you are lucky, you never know, maybe even a panther or track. It is estimated that as few as 120 Florida panthers remain in the wild. 

Florida Panther Wildlife National Refuge will likely only take a short time to visit, but you can spend as much as you want there. There is plenty of stuff to do.  

Collier-Seminole State Park, Fakahatchee Strand State Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, and Everglades National Park are other places to check out. All are an easy drive away.