Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park

Red Tide present at this location. Click here for the most recent information from FWC.

Photo by Robin Wendell

Rated as one of the best beaches in the nation, Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park offers visitors a variety of activities and is handicap accessible. Fishing is allowed near the pass, and boat launches provide access to the backbays and Gulf of Mexico. Located on the northern end of a barrier island, the pass area has served as home and refuge for the Calusa Indians, the Seminole Indians and early European settlers, including a trader named Joe Wiggins. Lester and Dellora Norris acquired the land for park use by Collier County in 1964. The State Division of Recreation and Parks later purchased the area for development, and it was opened to the public in 1981. The 166-acre park now serves as home for a plethora of wildlife and vegetation. Approximately 80% of the area is mangrove forest and is the region is home to endangered and protected species. Bird watching is a popular activity, with observation towers available. Picnic pavilions are available for rental. The park is open 8 a.m. to sundown, year-round. Admission/use fee schedule applies. Onsite amenities include boat ramps, interpretive exhibits, picnic pavilions, grilling areas, restrooms, fresh water showers, changing stalls, bicycle paths, five parking areas, boardwalks, guided tours and two beach wheelchairs available to the public.

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Water Quality

Passed water quality tests at least 95% of the time
Historical Status
This status is based on the latest sample, taken on January 6th, 2020. The Swim Guide - Florida updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on January 10th, 2020 at 10:38 AM.

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Current Weather

17°C

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Monitoring Frequency

Source Information

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) adopted new water quality criteria January 2016 for the Healthy Beaches program. They reflect the most current recommendations and water quality grant requirements in the 2012 Recreational Water Quality Criteria from the US Environmental Protection Agency. Collier beaches are monitored by the Florida Healthy Beaches Program. Monitoring results are collected bi-weekly on Mondays and results are posted to the Florida Healthy beaches website on Wednesday. Samples are collected year round, however the peak season is from Mid-April to November. Swim Guide checks for the latest information daily, Monday - Friday.

The Florida Healthy Beaches Program Categories are: Good = 0-35 Enterococci / 100 mL of marine water;Moderate = 36-70 Enterococci / 100 mL of marine water, and;Poor = 71 or greater Enterococci / 100 mL of marine water. The 2012 Recreational Water Quality Criteria recommends using 70 CFU per 100 mL as the Beach Action Value (BAV) to guide public health advisories. A Single Sample Maximum (SSM) at 70 CFU per 100 ml and a BAV are functionally the same. If the sample result is above the indicated value, the beach is resampled and tested the following day or a beach advisory is issued with the first test result. The Healthy Beaches program no longer uses geometric means to represent recreational water quality data.On Swim Guide a beach is marked Green when it has a Good or Moderate standing meaning the SSM test results show Enterococci counts between 0- 70 cfu (colony forming units) / 100ml.Swim Guide marks a beach Red when it has a Poor standing. This means the SSM test results show Enterococci counts exceeds the BAV of 70 cfu/100ml. These conservative advisories better inform vulnerable people (children, elderly, and the immunocompromised) who have elevated health risks due to water quality at the beach.A beach is marked Grey when no current or reliable monitoring information is available.Please note: Vibrio vulnificus bacteria, also called flesh eating disease, is a naturally occurring bacteria in some of Florida's waters. This bacteria can be lethal, especially when contracted by individuals with compromised immune systems. Concentrations of the bacteria are higher in the mouths of rivers near oceans. The bacteria is most dangerous when ingested in raw seafood but recent deaths are attributed to individuals who have waded in water with broken skin. Beach goers are urged to use caution and consult a physician if you suspect you have come in contact with the bacteria.

Water Quality Graph