National Preserve located in South Florida, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) west of Miami on the Atlantic coastal plain
General Information
How to Get There
Big Cypress National Preserve protects more than 700,000 acres of cypress swamp, prairie, pineland, and mangrove next to Everglades National Park in South Florida, one of the largest protected wild areas in the state. It is home to alligators, black bears, and the endangered Florida panther, and the Florida National Scenic Trail begins here. The Miccosukee and Seminole Tribes have lived in and used this land for generations and retain rights to live on and use it traditionally.
Things to Do
- Drive the Loop Road Scenic Drive through remote cypress swamp with frequent alligator and wading-bird sightings
- Walk a boardwalk into a cypress swamp, and join ranger-led swamp walks and canoe trips in season
- Camp: 12 campgrounds for RVs and vehicles, and backcountry hiking, paddling, and biking
- See wildlife including roseate spoonbills and wood storks
Winter's cooler, drier weather is the best time to hike, and regulated deer, turkey, and hog hunting seasons have long helped protect the area.
Top Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kirby Storter Boardwalk | About 1 mile round trip | Easy | Cypress swamp and prairie marsh overlook |
| Tree Snail Hammock Trail | About 0.3 miles round trip | Easy | Tropical hardwood hammock and rare Florida tree snails |
| Gator Hook Trail | About 8 miles round trip | Moderate to Strenuous | Remote wetlands and cypress; often wet |
| Florida Trail - Big Cypress Section | Varies | Moderate | Wetlands and forests on the statewide scenic trail |
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Big Cypress National Preserve" and official National Park Service information for Big Cypress National Preserve, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
