The park is the third largest park in the nation, encompassing 1.5 million acres of wilderness that features rare and colorful birds and an abundance of wildlife on its extensive prairies and in its mangrove forests. The park offers campsites, picnic areas, restrooms, cabin rental, lodgings, groceries, bicycling, hiking, boating, fishing and guided tours. The 63,172-acre Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve has its access and headquarters on Jane Memorial Scenic Drive off State Road 29 at Copeland. The preserve is home to the Florida panther and many other endangered or threatened wildlife species. It has the largest concentration and variety of epiphytic orchids in North America.
Facilities are limited.
A short trip from Marco Island is the Big Cypress National Preserve located on U.S. 41 at Ochopee. In the 716,000-acre preserve visitors can see cypress swamp, exotic mangroves, sawgrass prairies and natural freshwater rivers. Wildlife on the preserve include alligators, panthers, snakes, bobcats, bear, wild boar, deer and a variety of colorful birds. Goodlette-Frank Road houses a natural science museum, an auditorium, nature store, environmental education building and offers education courses and a wildlife rehabilitation center. The Conservancy is headquarters for a local group dedicated to environmental protection.