Pepper Ranch Preserve — Attraction in Immokalee

Collier county's 2nd largest park. It's only open in the Winter/Spring season starting in November through June, on Friday's from 9 to 4 and most Saturday's and Sunday's but once a month it's closed on the weekend for hunting so call ahead or check their website for open days. An October weekend features the sunflower festival, when the yellow flowers are in bloom. The park is also available for meeting rentals on Thursdays and for picnic shelter rental and group camping. Check in with the park manager before using the trails and a gate code will be given to drive to the hiking and biking trails. (The park host has been there for three years and is a great asset with a lot of knowledge and friendly service at the check in office.) A great park with the only downside being the roaring sounds of very loud air boats on Lake Traffford, the sounds traveling even to the distant hiking trails. Also a downside is the park is closed much of the time. The bicycle trails are advertised for mountain bikes but I would say any bike can be used here on many of the roads and trails to save some walking and see the area at a slower pace. The Panther Bile Trail was a nice hike but the last 100 yards were not cleared (Volunteers maintain the bike trails.) Some of the trails have signs not at the fork in the trail but down the trail so it's not always easy to know exactly where you are. The maps don't match up with where the trail signs are There should be trail signs with arrows at the forks. Some websites with info on Pepper Ranch may have conflicting hours and months open, so...

WARNING!!!

I am writing this after I had to drive my family home in a middle of a night. There is some illegal place nearby camping site throwing outrageously loud parties on weekend nights, ranger told me that was an ongoing issue, same thing I was told by cops. Cops went there and were not able to shut them down, despite complete illegality in every way. This makes me only think that this party bribed police, otherwise I have no idea why they are not able to shut it down, considering it is completely illegal and no license and creates a crazy noise in a middle of a night for MILES.

So basically, this is a great place for day hike, but for all saints, stay away from this place for camping overnight, you will be doomed. The reason for one star here is also a management, they should not sell tickets to camping and should warn people about this issue BEFORE they book and arrive prepared. Ranger himself told me that they had multiple families leave camp in a middle of a night due to that.

Once the issue is resolved, I will gladly update my rating, as this place is...

What a great place to get out and explore. Our first time here and we drove around and walked part of the Sunflower trail. There are a lot of cows so we did encounter some cows on the trail and make sure to watch your step, a lot of cow patties. You must check in when you arrive at the welcome center and to make sure you check out when you leave. Open on weekends during certain times of the year for mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding. Rangers are very nice and helpful and the grounds are well maintained and it’s a pretty area to explore. You will need hiking boots and a hiking stick as some areas are muddy. Will definitely go back to check out other trails now that we know the area a...