Big Cypress National Preserve
copyright © Darren Smith and his licensors. All rights reserved. Welcome to the Big Cypress National Preserve Travel Planner. Here you'll find everything you need to plan your Big Cypress visit including directions, maps, photos, nearby lodging, camping, things to do, weather, and more. I hope you'll enjoy a visit to Big Cypress in the near future.
First, a few facts: Established by Congress in 1974, Big Cypress was the first National Preserve to be established in the National Park System. The 720,566-acre preserve is located in Southwest Florida within three counties -- Collier, Monroe, and Dade -- and it draws almost half a million visitors per year. Administered by the National Park Service to protect the water quality and natural and ecological integrity of the Big Cypress Swamp, the preserve offers numerous recreational opportunities to its visitors. It also includes a variety of wildlife, including the white-tailed deer, bear and Florida panther.
