Established Camping
Panther Pond
About
State Park
The Okaloacoochee Slough, the forest's namesake, is a 32,370-acre pristine slough that is oriented north-south through the forest. The natural systems of the Fakahatchee Strand and Big Cypress Preserve are dependent on the water supplied by the Okaloacoochee Slough. The Okaloacoochee Slough is one of the few places in South Florida north of the Everglades or Big Cypress National Preserve where the pre-Columbian landscape can still be observed.
This unique natural system provides a large roaming area of contiguous habitat for a variety of wildlife species. The forest is home to listed, threatened and endangered species, including the Florida panther, Florida black bear, sandhill crane, wood stork and gopher tortoise.
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonUnknown
- AT&TAvailable
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
Secluded Campsites
Panther Pond: We really liked this quiet campground with very secluded sites. More sunshine and solar at Okaloacoochee Overflow and Hunt Camp. To Do: Nearby trails here to talk of grass to comfortably walk in. Either not much recent horse traffic or they just have not been mowed. Either is probably due to this year’s wet winter .
Make sure to make the 30 minute drive to the board walk on Sic Island Dr. Short walk to the short boardwalk. Outstanding way to leave with a taste of the slough.
Bicycles on Wildcow Rd
(Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)
Overall Rating: 4.5 for Great privacy.
Price 2023: $ 10 for seniors
Security: None
Usage during visit: 1/4 full
Site Privacy: most all sites – excellent, with shrubbery in between sites.
Site Spacing: very nice
Site surface: dirt
Reservations: required
Campground Noise: Quiet
Road Noise: Maybe a little from Cow Path Rd. Very little travel.
Through Traffic in campground: No
Electric Hookup: no
Sewer Hookup: no
Dump Station: no none
Potable Water Available: a couple miles away at Hunt camp there is a hand pump at the horse corals. Rangers say it is not portable.
Generators: allowed
Bathroom: chemical toilets
Showers: no
Pull Throughs: None
Cell Service (AT&T): one bar
Setting: in a long pine forest, with lots of palm tree shrubbery
Recent Weather: clear with highs in the upper 60s
Solar: some sites. See below.
Host: no
Rig Size: 17 to 20 foot trailer will fit in some sites in my opinion. See below.
Sites: Will easily fit a 17 foot trailer: 1,2,3*,5*,7,6,9*,11,
*very nice solar at 2 PM, but not all day.
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Location
Panther Pond is located in Florida
Directions
Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest is located approximately 30 miles east of Fort Myers, in western Hendry and northeastern Collier counties. The forest can be accessed along County Road 832, marked by the various self-service pay stations.
Coordinates
26.5537889 N
81.2965795 W