Address:

Randell Research Center
13810 Waterfront Drive
Pineland, Florida 33945

Hours of Operation

The Calusa Heritage Trail is open daily for self-guided visits from sunrise to sunset.   Please follow on-site signage and stay on marked paths.  Thank you!

As of December 1, 2023 a larger portion of the Calusa Heritage Trail is once again open to visitors! In addition to the first 1000′ of the trail we opened on January 11, 2023, we also have the north-facing platform on Brown’s Mound, the Randell Mound stairway, and the walkway to Smith Mound open! While the footbridge is still in disrepair, we have opened our interior service road to allow the public to access the site on foot.

Find out more about our hurricane recovery efforts.

Guided Tours

Led by our docents, morning tours are offered Monday through Saturday at 10 a.m. and afternoon tours are offered Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at 1 p.m. Reservations are NOT required.  Tours will not be offered on Christmas Day.
These tours allow you to journey into the past at a place where archaeology, history, and ecology meet and learn about the fascinating Calusa people and how they thrived in Pineland for thousands of years. 
Admission

Requested donations for visitors to the Calusa Heritage Trail are $7 for adults, $5 for seniors, and $4 for children. Members of the Friends of the RRC are admitted free. Income from donations and memberships makes it possible to maintain this important archaeological site.

Join the Friends of the RRC

Directions

Follow Pine Island Road (Hwy 78) west through Matlacha to its end at Stringfellow Road. Turn right and go 3.1 miles to the intersection of Pineland Road on left. Turn left and go 1.4 miles (past RRC headquarters next to Pineland Post Office) to end of Pineland Road at Waterfront Drive. Continue right along Waterfront Drive 0.2 miles, just past Tarpon Lodge to Calusa Heritage Trail sign and gate on right.

Google map note: Because of our remote area, sometimes maps show our town as Bokeelia or even Wakulla. A map search for ‘Randell Research Center FL’ will usually give you the correct map point.

Address:
Randell Research Center
13810 Waterfront Drive
Pineland, Florida 33945

239-283-2157 (book store / gift shop)

What to Wear and Bring

Because the Calusa Heritage Trail is entirety outdoors, visitors should dress accordingly.  Much of the site is open to sun exposure.  Summer conditions include heat, humidity, and frequent afternoon thunderstorms.  Mosquitoes and gnats can be bothersome during the summer wet season.  Winter morning temperatures occasionally drop into the 40s or 30s, combined with the effects of wind chill.  The following suggestions for items to bring to make your visit more comfortable: 

Video by: Into Nature Films / Videographer: Jennifer Brown