What we’re about
About Us
The Alligator Amblers Chapter of the Florida Trail Association (FTA) serves Charlotte, Lee and Collier Counties and provides local hikers with numerous opportunities to participate in outdoor activities such as backpacking, biking, camping, hiking, paddling and trail maintenance.
Our parent organization the FTA is dedicated to building and maintaining the 1300 mile Florida National Scenic Trail streching from the Big Cypress Swamp, around Lake Okeechobee, through Ocala, Osceola and Apalachicola National Forests to Fort Pickens on Pensacola Beach. The Alligator Amblers assist in this mission by supporting and maintaing an eight mile portion of the Florida Trail south of I-75 in Big Cypress Swamp National Preserve as well as the 6.5 mile loop trail at Collier-Seminole State Park.
The Alligator Amblers have also assisted in building and maintaining trails within Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park (Collier County), Hickey's Creek Mitigation Park and Prairie Pines Preserve (Lee County) among others.
Please note: For the safety of our Activity Leaders and other participants the Alligator Amblers would like to respectfully request that your profile include a full facial photo so that you are recognizable when attending our events or activities.
Meetings
We meet monthly on the third Thursday of each month (except July and August). Check the Meetup site for specifics regarding location and time. You are welcome to join us! Most of our meetings feature educational and entertaining speakers. Come early to socialize.
Each month there is a presentation on an outdoor related topic, followed by a discussion of upcoming activities and trail related events.
Activities
Activities are scheduled throughout the year. More activities are planned during the cooler months. These outdoor events include day hikes, multi-day backpacking trips, car camping, trail maintenance, biking, plus both day and overnight paddling events. The public is welcome to all monthly meetings and many activities. Some activities must limit the number of persons or tents due to ecological, space or other factors. A few activities may only be available to FTA members to help the trip leader insure that all are capable of safely participating. These few activities may be more difficult, more strenuous or more remotely located than most.
Read each activity notice carefully. Realize that our activities are governed by the rules set forth by the FTA and are typically less casual than your typical Meetup event. An RSVP is required for participation in all Alligator Amblers' activities. An RSVP ensures that there is space available for you. Those who have not responded will be turned away from the activity
Upcoming events
2
5 Mile Hike at Estero Bay Preserve State Park
Estero, RSVP for Location, Ft Myers, FL, USThis 5-Mile hike of about 2.5 hours will take us through a mesic flatwood, scrub, and salt flats. We will likely see gopher tortoise, birds of many types, and maybe some fiddler crabs on the flats.
Directions - This beautiful preserve is located in Estero, FL off of US-41 at 4940 Broadway West. Take US-41 to the Estero area and look for the Broadway West road that crosses US-41. Go West on the Broadway West road about 2 miles until you see a FL Power & Light power station on your right and the trail-head parking area will be on your right just after the FPL power station. We will meet near the restrooms
There is a parking fees of $2 per car which requires a smart phone and credit card to pay this parking fee. If you don't have a smart phone to pay this parking fee, you can ask another hiker to use their smart phone to pay this fee for your car using your credit card and car license plate number. You may be able to pay this $2 parking fee at the park website but this method of paying the parking fee is unreliable at times.
There is a restroom at the parking area. Please be sure to check the What to bring information below.
Recommended Attire and Items to Bring:
Wear sturdy closed toe shoes and long pants, and a cool long sleeve shirt. Bring 2L of drinking water, snacks, a hat, sunscreen, and insect repellent. You probably want to bring a pair of extra shoes and socks to wear on the drive home as this trail is wet and muddy in places.
Links:
Search the web for Estero Bay Preserve State park for park information.
Difficulty Rating: Easy to Moderate (Wet and muddy in places)
A MEETUP RSVP is required for participation in all Alligator Amblers' activities, and it ensures that there is space available for you.
Florida Trail Association (http://www.floridatrail.org/)
Amblers on Meetup (https://www.meetup.com/Alligator-Amblers/)15 attendees
Hike Sabal Palm Trail Loop
Sabal Palm Hiking Trail, Trailhead Parking, Sabal Palm Rd, Naples, FL, USThe Picayune Strand State Forest is in the heart of the Big Cypress Basin and is Florida’s 4th largest state forest at 74,000 acres. We will hike 3.5 miles through part of the western section off of Sabal Palm Road – just minutes from Collier Boulevard. The hike will be in flat pinewoods with cypress trees in areas with a slightly lower elevation. Portions of the trail may be wet so hikers should be prepared to wade up to 2 inches in places.
A $2.00 day pass for Forest admission is available at https://floridastateforests.reserveamerica.com/
Scroll down to Florda State Forest Day Use Fee and follow instructions. Keep the receipt. You can also use your cell phone to scan a link on the entrance to the trail on the day of the hike
After hiking the figure 8 Trail Walker Loop, we can have lunch at the trailhead picnic pavilion- then a stop at the highly recommended South Naples Citrus Grove on the way out on Sabal Palm Road for great vegetables and citrus.
Skillset: Hike 3.5 miles. Trail may be wet in parts if it has rained recently.
Activity Level: Moderate
Rain cancels. Will send notice.
Porta-Jon Rest Room at Trail Head
What to Bring:
2 liters water, hat, a light lunch or snack, bug spray, sunscreen and a change of dry socks and shoes in your car for the ride home.
Optional: Hiking stick and binoculars.
Links:
An online map of the trail:
https://www.fdacs.gov/content/download/4827/file/Picayune_sabal_palm.pdf
Naples Citrus Grove Site
http://www.naplescitrus.com/
Florida Trail Association (http://www.floridatrail.org/)
Amblers on Meetup (https://www.meetup.com/Alligator-Amblers/)17 attendees
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