| Big Cypress National Preserve | |
Things to Do
Big Cypress National Preserve provides numerous recreational opportunities for its visitors. Bird watching, boating, bicycling, camping, fishing, canoeing, hiking, off-road vehicle use, and wildlife viewing are among the principal activities. A good place to begin your visit is at the Big Cypress Visitor Center at Oasis (Phone: 239-695-1201), which is located on Tamiami Trail (U.S.41) approximately halfway between Naples and Miami. The visitor center offers a 15-minute movie about the preserve as well as a wildlife exhibit. There is also a short wildlife viewing boardwalk trail and access to the Florida National Scenic Trail.
Two scenic drives through the preserve provide leisurely wildlife viewing. The Loop Road is a 26-mile, single-lane, unimproved road beginning and ending on highway 41. Turner River Road and Birdon Road form a u-shaped, 17-mile graded-dirt drive.
Canoeing - The Halfway Creek Canoe Trail is located in the extreme southwest corner of Big Cypress National Preserve and can be accessed about two miles east of the Hwy 29 & 41 junction. Access is via Seagrape Drive located just to the west of the Preserve headquarters. Halfway Creek offers the novice canoeist and navigator a unique opportunity to explore the hidden world of a mangrove tunnel.
Bicycling - Bicycles are welcome on any of the Preserve's off-road vehicle trails, but Bear Island is a particularly good place to ride. Bear Island is accessible via the Turner River Road or by going through a gate adjacent to State Road 29 about 4.5 miles north of I-75 (Alligator Alley).
Hiking - Thirty-one miles of the Florida National Scenic Trail run through the Preserve as it stretches across Florida from Gulf Islands National Seashore to Big Cypress National Preserve. The southernmost sections of the Florida National Scenic Trail lie within the Preserve. The Preserve portion of the trail can be divided into three sections: 1) Loop Road to Highway 41 (6.5 miles one way), which winds through dwarf cypress and prairies and crosses through Robert's Lake Strand; 2) Highway 41 to Interstate 75 (28 miles one way), which passes through a variety of habitat types including hardwood hammocks, pinelands, prairies and cypress; and 3) Interstate 75 to Preserve North Boundary (8 miles one way), which follows Nobles Grade, an old oil road, through hardwood, prairie and pinelands.
Other opportunities for hiking include the Fire Prairie Trail (5 miles round trip), which begins 14 miles north of Highway 41 on Turner River Road (County Road 839). The trail is elevated off normal grade and is dry most of the time, making it an excellent option when other places are still covered in water. Prairie flowers bloom in spring. Best hiking is January through May when cooler temperatures and breezes make the experience most pleasant. The Tree Snail Hammock Nature Trail is a short, self-guided trail located on Loop Road.
Big Cypress National Preserve also offers the off-trail, experienced hiker miles of exploration and isolation. Follow ORV trails from any trailhead or just strike out on your own path anywhere you like. Be sure to use GPS and/or compass to ensure your direction finding. Even the best navigators are challenged in this land of flat terrain and varied vegetation patterns. Try hiking the cypress strands or wander through prairies during the dry season.
Ranger-led activities - Big Cypress rangers offer programs that include swamp walks, canoe trips, campfire programs, bicycle trips, and picnic area talks. All activities are free of charge. Make reservations by calling 239-695-1201. Reservations are accepted up to 14 days in advance of any activity.
