Address / Contact Information

Randell Research Center
Calusa Heritage Trail
13810 Waterfront Drive
Pineland, Florida 33945

Phone: 239-283-2157

Email: RRC@FloridaMuseum.ufl.edu

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!

• November 1st – May 24, 2025: Our gift shop will be open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting. Our classroom will generally be open on the same days and times unless we have a special event that requires the use of the classroom. Please note, the classroom and gift shop will be closed Thurs., November 28th and Wed. December 25th; the trail will remain open for self-guided visits.
• Summer Hours: Our gift shop will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., weather permitting. Our classroom will generally be open on the same days and times unless we have a special event that requires the use of the classroom.

Currently, the north-facing platform on Brown’s Mound, the Randell Mound stairway, and the walkway to Smith Mound are 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

There are no guided tours scheduled between May 2024 and December 2024. 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.

You may call us and schedule a private guided tour during these months. We need at least 2 weeks notice and will provide tours for groups of 4 or more people.

Please call 239-283-2157.

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.

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.

What to Wear / What to 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 will make your visit more comfortable:

• Hat
• Sturdy shoes
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Water

Video by: Into Nature Films / Videographer: Jennifer Brown