The foot-trail into 'Ding' Darling NWR — a flat two-mile shell dike (four-mile round trip) through mangrove and marsh, best at low tide and early morning. Bring water, sun protection, and bug spray.
Welcome to the Indigo Trail. I'm Ranger Quinn, and if you rode the Wildlife Drive with me, welcome back — now we're getting out of the car and onto our feet, for the finest walk on Sanibel. And riding along with me, as always, is Ranger Boone Merrick — he carries the tales, and he'll have a few good ones for you out here on the dike.
Here's what you're in for, so you can walk it smart. The Indigo Trail is a flat, easy shell path that runs straight out along an old dike — about two miles to the end, which makes it a four-mile round trip if you go all the way. But this is an out-and-back: you can turn around any time you like and head home, and you'll still have seen plenty. There's no shade to speak of once you leave the mangroves, so this is the one thing I'll nag you about — come EARLY, and come at LOW TIDE. Early morning is cooler, the light is gold, and the birds are hungriest; low tide bares the mud where they feed. Get both together and this trail is magic. Bring water, a hat, and sunscreen — I mean it, the Florida sun out here is no joke.
A few more things before we set off. This is alligator country, real and everywhere — you'll very likely see one, and the rule is simple: keep your distance, never come between a gator and the water, and never, ever feed one. As the day heats up, keep half an eye on the path itself, because snakes like to sun on a warm dike. And bring bug spray — you're walking on a mosquito-control dike, and the mosquitoes have not entirely forgiven us for it. One note for today: the refuge is still healing from Hurricane Ian, so a boardwalk section or an overlook may be closed or rerouted — just follow the signs. Stop in at the sign-in box, and when you're ready, let's walk. When you stop to look, the tour pauses; tap play to pick it up. Off we go.
Photo: The Bushranger · CC BY-SA 4.0
