Crew Wildlife and Environmental Area, Estero

About Crew Wildlife and Environmental Area

The CREW Wildlife and Environmental Area in Estero protects and showcases the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed, a 70,000-acre natural preserve spanning Lee and Collier Counties. Visitors hike, bike, and photograph wildlife on the Flint Pen Strand Trails, where seasonal changes bring different animals and plants year to year. Depending on the season, guests observe baby alligators and blooming pine lilies, nesting hawks and flycatchers, swallow-tailed kites, and red maples. The area encompasses Corkscrew Marsh, Bird Rookery Swamp, Flint Pen Strand, and Camp Keais Strand, providing habitat for diverse wildlife. The CREW Land & Water Trust offers guided walks, environmental education programs for all ages, teacher workshops, and special events for members. Horseback riding and hunting are available with proper licenses. The trails open from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset, serving visitors interested in nature study, birding, and outdoor recreation in this functioning watershed that supplies drinking water and natural flood protection to Southwest Florida.