Picayune Strand Cycling

BREAKING: The Florida Forest Service is responding to a brush fire, with the Greater Naples Fire Department assisting, located at the Picayune Strand State Forest in Collier County.
➡️ Stay with WINK News for updates

🚨 BRUSH FIRE | NAPLES
Fire crews are responding to a reported brush fire in an area on the east end of Sabal Palm Rd. The fire is 10 acres and 0% contained. Collier County is set to be under a Fire Weather Watch starting at 11AM today due to higher winds and lower humidity.
Posted: 04.21.26 — 10:49 AM

UPDATE on 4/15/26 at 11:00AM: Per the Florida Forest Service, the fire is still at 1,733 acres and is now 70% contained.

UPDATE on 4/41/26 at 9:55PM: As of this evening, the fire is approximately 1,733 acres and is now 60% contained.

Fire crews will continue working through the night, focusing on strengthening containment lines and extinguishing hotspots wherever possible. Multiple aircraft assisted with suppression efforts during daylight hours and will return in the morning to continue operations from the air. Several in-county units remain on scene, along with five units from Lee County providing mutual aid.

Wildland fires can be unpredictable, especially with changing weather conditions, so our personnel remain vigilant and ready to respond to any shifts in fire behavior.

We ask the public to stay aware of their surroundings, follow any safety guidance, and avoid areas impacted by fire operations to allow crews to work safely and efficiently.

Thank you for your continued support as we work to bring this fire fully under control.

UPDATE on 4/14/26 at 4:30am: The fire is now 1500 acres and 15% contained.

UPDATE AT 10:00PM: (Final Update for the day) According to Florida Forest Service, the fire is now approximately 1200 acres. We will continue to work alongside Florida Forest Service to have units on site throughout the night. You may not see us but we will be out on-site continuing the efforts. More resources will begin work again at 9 AM tomorrow (4/14/26). Florida Forest Service has additional dozers coming in from Central Florida that should arrive in the morning. If you see any active fire near a home/structure, please call 911 immediately.

ORIGINAL POST AT 3:15PM: Around 12:05 PM today, crews were dispatched to a brush fire in the Picayune Strand State Forest.

As of approximately 3:00 PM, the fire has grown to approximately 100 acres and our crews are working alongside Florida Forest Service, North Collier Fire Rescue District, and Collier County Sheriff's Office to contain and extinguish the fire.

Current winds are pushing westward, which may lead to smoky conditions along Collier Boulevard south of Interstate 75. Please use caution in the area and stay alert for changing conditions.

Collier County refuses to approve new housing development off Sabal Palm east of Collier Blvd. Collier County leaders are refusing to approve hundreds of new homes on farmland east of Collier Boulevard. Commissioners voted Tuesday to continue an item for the approval to build 423 homes on 170 acres along Sabal Palm Road.

Take Action Now! Please help us and Audubon Western Everglades stop a development outside of the urban service boundary and adjacent to Picayune Strand State Forest.

On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 1 pm, the Collier County Board of County Commissioners will consider a proposal to approve 423 homes in what is now a mosaic mix of wetlands, flow ways, farms, and endangered species habitats for panthers, wood storks and red-cockaded woodpeckers. This is an inappropriate location for this type of intense development.

Please join us in contacting the commissioners using the link below and let them know you value wild spaces. More information and how to take action here:https://conservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/RFMUD-341-Sabal-Palm-GMPA-Adoption-BCC-AWE-Alert.pdf

Update from Bob Kennedy. Thank you, Bob!

The drying continues well ahead of average. Only a few places remain off limits (but likely soon).

Picayune Forest (don’t forget to obtain an annual pass on-line):
The majority of Picayune trails N of 78th, including newer N trails up to I75 W of Everglades Blvd are puddle free, clear and frequently biked - some even mowed!

Miller canal has been plugged, and its discharge basins are now completed “spreader berm” permits biking between Miller and Everglades Blvd. (caution narrow tires in brick work). You can continue across similar spreader berms along the S perimeter of the Faka Union pump station and stay elevated to do the same S of the Merritt pump station. Makes for big loop potential. Follow it all the way East to the Fakahatchee border.

N trails are also being used for a 10-mile running race 2/14/26 so will be well marked by then (based at FL Forest Service HQ on 52nd St).

The old 10-mile loop (all S of Sabal Palm/78th) is dry and has been cleared but is sparsely marked. Other trails are all dry, with many now sandy. Rd to Snake Pit clear & very enjoyable.

Almost all main roads in Picayune S of 62nd have had asphalt removed and are becoming increasingly sandy. Extreme eastern areas are likely still muddy. Stewart passable all the way into Fakahatchee with rocky sections and some puddles likely from Naomi thru Merritt. Reminder: bridges on E-W roads crossing canals are ONLY on 52nd St (Berson), 100th (Stewart), and 128th (Lynch). Plugged canals might be crossed elsewhere in addition to the spreader berms.

Extreme S Picayune access from Rt 41 via Miller Ext has some deep water and surely bad mud thereafter. Access via the N side service roads in CSSP now OK with passage around gate clear to 128th St. Slow biking out there.

NEW: Adventurous cyclists can now access extreme S Picayune from POTI by taking Union Rd N (along east side of canal) approx. 1 mile (some rough) then over plugged E-W canal, and W then N to DeSoto Blvd. Not for everyone.