The Bailey Tract:: Sanibel's Secret Parcel

Although many people see Sanibel's beaches and sea shells as the primary reason to visit the Island, they also know that Sanibel is largely a nature preserve.

The J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge is named for an editorial cartoonist who also was a conservation activist, leading the early protection efforts here.

Serious birders will want to enter when the refuge gate opens, just after sunrise. They should at some point circle back to the visitor center, which includes not only interesting explanatory exhibits about the ecology of the refuge but also one of the best nature bookstores anywhere.

The refuge's paved Wildlife Drive winds for about four miles through tidal basins and mangrove forest. It's best to go at low tide, when hundreds of wading birds can be seen feeding in the flats.

The lesser known aspect of Ding Darling is that it is the home to a very unique environment in the interior of the Island. The hidden gem within the Preserve is called the Bailey Tract.

This 100 acre parcel of land off Tarpon Bay Road protects a fresh water marsh. It also contains 5 hiking trails that will weave hikers through some of the most interesting nature viewing on Sanibel.

The trails range from 0.25 miles to 1.1 miles. The longest of the trails is called the Red Trail and it allows for easy access to the other trails.

Because the trail is so brief and has virtually no elevation, it is a very easy walk for adults who may not be up to walking the larger area of the Preserve and for children who need to easily see the nature that they have been told about. Walking the trail should take 40 minutes or less.

A leisurely walk through the Tract will reveal herons, egrets, turtles and alligators among other creatures. Because it is so sequestered, it is especially quiet in the Bailey Tract and some have likened it to vespers, because of the special stillness and reverence for nature that can be felt there. The Bailey Tract is also open on Fridays when the rest of the refuge is closed to visitors, so it's particularly worth a visit at that time.

The Bailey Tract is referenced by those in the know whether they be vacationers or writers about the Island, but you can still feel like you were the first one to discover it when you visit!