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About the Film

The 2015 Glades to Gulf Expedition (and the resulting film, The Forgotten Coast) was a 1,000-mile journey designed to prove that a continuous wildlife corridor still exists across the Florida Panhandle.

Following in the footsteps of a wandering Florida black bear, three friends leave civilization and enter a lost American wilderness on a rugged thousand-mile journey by foot, paddle, and bike. Traversing Florida's vast and seldom seen "Forgotten Coast," the expedition encounters stunning and rare wildlife including black bears, manatees, alligators, ancient river fish, and endangered woodpeckers - all living within a fragile wildlife corridor stretching from the Everglades to the Florida-Alabama border.

Film Production

Grizzly Creek Films
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Directed & Produced by Eric Bendick
Executive Producer: Thomas Winston

Experience The Forgotten Coast

Watch the Film

About the Expedition: 2015 Glades to Gulf

A 1,000-mile, 70 day journey from the Everglades Headwaters to the Forgotten Coast, expanding the statewide corridor vision west to Alabama. This expedition highlighted the critical need to protect 'missing links' in the landscape to ensure the health of life-sustaining freshwater flows and the survival of Florida's iconic wildlife.
Expedition Name
2015 Glades to Gulf
Expedition Goal
To advocate for the protection of "missing links"—roughly two million acres of high-priority land—and to highlight stories of ecological importance like Longleaf Pine restoration and the health of Gulf fisheries.
Start & End
Everglades Headwaters, stretching west along the coast of the Florida Panhandle to the Gulf Islands National Seashore at the Florida/Alabama border
Expedition Team
Mallory Lykes Dimmitt Conservationist
Carlton Ward Conservation Photographer
Joe Guthrie Wildlife Biologist
Expedition Route: 2015 Glades to Gulf

The Importance of The Forgotten Coast

Proving Connectivity

The expedition demonstrates that it is still possible to travel from the Everglades all the way to the Florida-Alabama border through connected wild lands. By trekking the Forgotten Coast, the team showed that the "Glades to Gulf" segment is a critical link for wide-ranging species that require massive territories to survive.

Protecting Biodiversity

The journey highlights "hidden" Florida as the trekkers make their way through areas teeming with rare and endangered wildlife. By following the path of a wandering Florida black bear, the team brought attention to the habitats of manatees, ancient river fish, alligators, and endangered woodpeckers, emphasizing that these species cannot thrive if their habitats are fragmented by development.

Advocating for Land Conservation

A major goal was to map and document the corridor to advocate for its permanent protection. The journey showcased the patchwork of public and private lands—including working ranches and military bases like the Avon Park Air Force Range—that must work together to keep the corridor functional.

Public Inspiration and Awareness

By capturing the 100-day journey on film, the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation aimed to shift the public perception of Florida. Instead of seeing the state as a series of isolated parks and urban sprawl, the expedition visualized a unified, green "backbone" that provides clean water, wildlife recovery, and rural economic stability.