SAN CARLOS BAY - BUNCHE BEACH PRESERVE

Address

18201 John Morris Road
Fort Myers, FL 33908
Google Map/Directions

Contact Information

David Lau
239-432-2154
dlau@leegov.com
Facility Staff

Events

Hours

Closures

$2 per hour parking fee. Payment is accepted in bills, as well as most major credit cards. Approximately 100 vehicles can park between the site and the beach with no vehicles allowed to park on the west side of John Morris Road.

                       **Pets are not allowed**

*Lee County Annual Parking Stickers are accepted at this location.

* Free guided walks offered at Lee County beaches and preserves 2018-2019

• Life along the Shore: Explore the shoreline of the San Carlos Bay ecosystem and learn more about the shorebirds, shells, animals and plants native to this diverse preserve. Wear comfortable clothing, shoes that can get wet, bring water, bug spray, binoculars and camera.

9:00 to 10 a.m. Wednesdays, November 7^th, 14^th, 21^st, 28^th; December 5^th, 12^th, 19^th, 26^th; January 2^nd, 9^th, 16^th, 23^rd, 30^th; February 6^th, 13^th, 20^th, 27^th; March 6^th, 13^th, 20^th, 27^th; April 3^rd, 10^th, 17^th, 24^th.

Outfitters launching from Bunche Beach will be required to pay the onsite vendor a fee of $5 per vessel to launch their equipment.

This 718-acre facility is a natural tidal wetlands area that is located on San Carlos Bay. It is a natural area that is indicative of the entire area before the introduction of exotic plant species; it is "Old Florida." This is a living ecosystem that ranges from a sandy beach to Mangrove forests to salt flats and contains a wide variety of wildlife for viewing and offers great photographic opportunities from the flora & fauna to fantastic sunsets.

The  outdoor activity center has two paddlecraft launches, two wildlife viewing and fishing piers, a 310 ft. boardwalk and composting restrooms. There is no running water and all electric needs are provided through solar power. An environmental friendly facility, built and designed to employ green practices.

Bunche Beach Preserve is a designated Great Florida Birding Trail site. For more information, maps and guides please visit the Great Florida Birding Trail .

Kayak Excursions is a full service kayak and SUP (Stand Up Paddleboards) company. They offer many different types of kayak rentals, kayak tours, kayak fishing, and lessons for adults and children, as well as SUP rentals, tours, lessons, and sales. For more information contact: 239-297-7011 or Kayak Excursions.

Amenities:  Bay side, Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail access (canoe/kayak launch), hiking trails, museum, gift shop.

In 1949 there was a dedication ceremony, barbecue and festivities with more than 3,000 in attendance from as far away as Tampa. That day it was officially dedicated and named Bunche Beach after Dr. Ralph Bunche, who then was a mediator for the United Nations and would become the first African American to win the Nobel Prize. The facility remained unchanged with little done to it until 2001 when all of the exotic vegetation was removed. In 2002 an additional 703 acres of adjacent lands were purchased under the 2020 Conservation Plan and shortly afterward another 13.5 acres were acquired, bringing the total to 718 acres and the re-naming of it to the San Carlos Bay / Bunche Beach Preserve. View the Land Stewardship (Management) Plan  for the Park.