Six Mile Cypress Slough wet walks season opens Saturday
Public tickets are now available for the Friends of Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve’s 2026 wet walk season. Wet walks allow visitors access to parts of the Slough that normally are off-limits and lets them experience the beautiful wetlands in new and surprising ways.
Tickets sales to the public opened July 15, after a two-week period when slots were offered first to members of the nonprofit organization that supports the Slough’s staff, volunteers and mission. Almost half of the available tickets already have been purchased. Registration can be made by going to Eventbrite.
This season’s schedule has a total of 14 regular wet walks, and four themed wet walks. The minimum age for wet walks is 12.
The season opens Saturday, Aug. 15 and runs through Saturday, Oct. 31. Most of the walks are on Saturday mornings, but there also are two on Saturday afternoons, and one each on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning.
Led by trained guides, wet walks follow a restricted, water-filled, sinuous trail amid thick green ferns, towering bald cypress trees, and perhaps woodpeckers and owls. Water levels may reach chest high, depending on recent rainfall.
This trail is very safe and has welcomed tens of thousands of walkers for more than 50 years.
Whether you’re a nature enthusiast or are looking for a one-of-a-kind outdoor experience, wet walks are the perfect event, offering participants an opportunity to connect with nature and create lasting memories. The walk will involve encounters with submerged roots and cypress knees. People who need assistance to walk, have trouble walking or have poor balance are advised to skip taking part. Water levels may exceed 4 feet in some sections.
Saturday morning regular wet walks (9 to approximately 11:30 a.m.) are scheduled on:
• Aug. 15, 22
• Sept. 5, 12, 26
• Oct. 3, 31
On two Saturday mornings, a second regular wet walk will be held. Those walks start an hour later (10 a.m. to approximately 12:30 p.m.) and are scheduled on:
• Sept. 12
• Oct. 3
Saturday afternoon regular wet walks (1 to approximately 3:30 p.m.) are scheduled on:
• Sept. 26
• Oct. 10
Weekday regular wet walks (9 a.m. to approximately 11:30 a.m.) are scheduled on:
• Aug. 20 (Thursday)
• Sept. 15 (Tuesday)
• Oct. 14 (Wednesday)
Four themed wet walks (three lasting three hours and one lasting four hours) are also on the schedule:
“Mindfulness Walk”
• Saturday, Aug. 29, from 9 a.m. to approximately noon.
Engage your senses as you wade through the Slough, noticing the sights, sounds, textures, and rhythms of the wetland in the present moment. No photography. The walk will be led by Jessica Barry, Slough Volunteer Coordinator.
“Frogs: The Voices of Wetlands”
• Saturday, Sept. 19, from 9 a.m. to approximately 1 p.m.
The walk will be led by Rick Bauer, Herpetologist, Science Supervisor for the South Florida Water Management District, and former Slough Supervisor.
“Meditation Walk”
• Saturday, Oct. 10, from 9 a.m. to approximately noon.
The walk will be led by Danielle Quina. The meditation wet walk is designed to offer a serene journey of rejuvenation in the Slough waters through a blend of mindfulness and nature. No photography and minimal talking enhance the tranquility.
“Photography Walk”
• Saturday, Oct. 17, from 9 a.m. to approximately noon.
The walk will be led by Sabine Vandenhende. This is not a photography workshop. We’ll stop in certain spots and give participants more time than on a regular walk to take pictures. Any items the participant brings, such as cameras and other equipment, is at their own risk.
Regular wet walks cost $25 for members of Friends of the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, and $40 for non-members. The cost for students (age 12 and older) is $25. Children 17 and below must be accompanied by an adult. Students (ages 18 and up) will receive a one-year membership to the Friends organization. The maximum number of participants for a regular wet walk is 12.
The cost for each themed wet walk is $25 for Friends members, $50 for non-members and $30 for students (Ages 12 and up.) The maximum number of participants in each themed walk is 10.
Parking at the Slough costs $1 an hour or $5 for an entire day. The Lee County Parks and Recreation pass is valid at the Slough and must be purchased through Premium Parking ahead of time.
Friends of Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve is a nonprofit citizens group that provides support for the Slough’s staff and volunteers. Membership levels in the Friends organization start at $10 for students and $25 for individuals. More information about wet walks and on membership is available on the Slough Friends website.
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve is more than 3,500 acres of wetland ecosystem with a boardwalk trail and Interpretive Center. Animals like otters, alligators, turtles, wading birds, and more live at the Slough year-round. Others, like migrating birds and butterflies, use the Slough as a feeding area or a winter home. The Slough is managed by the Lee County Department of Parks and Recreation and is open daily from sunrise to sunset.