Cypress Island Preserve (Lake Martin)
Lake Martin is a working cypress-tupelo swamp with a big rookery and reliable gators along the levee trail, best seen March through June when nesting birds and basking gators are both active. Walk or bike the levee road at dawn for the best light and least traffic. Commercial swamp tour boats launch from the public landing if you want closer water-level views; stay in the boat and let the guide manage distance. Do not approach or feed gators from the bank.
Know before you go
| Fee | Free |
|---|---|
| Parking | Gravel lot at preserve entrance on Rookery Rd |
| Water | — |
| Toilets | — |
| Access | Levee trail along Lake Martin, boat tours launch nearby |
| Surface | — |
| Hours | — |
| Operator | The Nature Conservancy |
| Website | nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/cypress-island-preserve |
Map
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Sourced from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Last verified: July 18, 2026. See our methodology for how we score listings.