Roughly midway on the trail, Briggs Boardwalk visitors stop to look for water birds in the brackish marsh. PHOTOS BY JOAN AND CARL KELLY
Briggs Boardwalk, founded in 1960, is one of oldest trails in Collier County. It is located on Shell Island Road off Route 951, south of US 41, on the west side of the road. This walk is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail.
It is a short, well defined, self-guiding trail with a diverse landscape. Starting off, you will walk through oak scrub, then pine flatwoods, a hammock and some fringe marsh. In the marsh look for the mosquito fish. About mid-way on the
Briggs Boardwalk visitors stop at one of the benches and scan the shallow water below for fish and other wildlife.
The Shell Island Road has a very low speed limit. The parking lot is on the right, with a port-a-potty, but there are no other amenities. The entrance to the wooden boardwalk is a sand trail about 80 steps. There are a few benches along the boardwalk for visitors to take a break.
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