Introduction
Everglades National Park, located in the southern part of Florida, is a unique and ecologically diverse wilderness area. Covering approximately 1.5 million acres (607,028 hectares), it is the largest tropical wilderness of any kind in the United States. The park is renowned for its vast wetlands, abundant wildlife, and critical role in maintaining the delicate balance of Florida's ecosystem.
The history of the Everglades is rich and complex. Native American tribes, including the Miccosukee and Seminole, have inhabited the region for thousands of years. European explorers first encountered the Everglades in the 16th century, but it wasn't until the late 19th century that significant efforts were made to drain the wetlands for agricultural purposes. The construction of canals, levees, and roads altered the landscape dramatically, leading to the decline of the natural ecosystem.
In 1947, Everglades National Park was established to protect this unique ecosystem. The park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 and an International Biosphere Reserve in 1976. Its diverse habitats include freshwater marshes, cypress swamps, mangrove forests, and sawgrass prairies.
The park stretches for about 100 miles (160 kilometers) from Lake Okeechobee in the north to Florida Bay in the south. Its width varies from 20 to 50 miles (32 to 80 km).
The Everglades is home to an incredible array of wildlife, including both common and rare species. American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) thrive in the park's freshwater marshes and can be seen sunbathing along the water's edge. They are up to 14 feet (4.3 m) and weigh up 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms). The Florida Panther (Puma concolor coryi) is critically endangered Florida panther is a subspecies of the mountain lion. It is up to 7.5 feet (2.3 meters) and can weigh up to 160 pounds (73 kilograms). The West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) inhabit the park's coastal waters and are up to 13 feet (4 meters) and weigh up to 1,300 pounds (590 kilograms).
See the wikipedia site for more information.
Top Hikes
These three hikes are good starting points for planning, with at least one more difficult option. Distances and elevation gain are rounded; check the official park trail page for current closures, permits, weather, and trail conditions.
Anhinga Trail (easy) - 0.8 miles (1.3 km); elevation gain 0 feet (0 m). A short paved and boardwalk route famous for alligators, birds, turtles, and marsh views.
Gumbo Limbo Trail (easy) - 0.4 miles (0.6 km); elevation gain 0 feet (0 m). A quick shaded loop through tropical hardwood hammock near Royal Palm.
Coastal Prairie Trail (difficult) - 15.0 miles (24.1 km); elevation gain 0 feet (0 m). A long, exposed backcountry route where distance, heat, bugs, and water planning make it demanding.
Campgrounds
There are two campgrounds located within the park. Both are run by Flamingo Adventures.
Lone Pine Key Campground is located 11 miles (17.7 km) from the park entrance and has 108 single-family campsites. One group site (up to 15 people) is also available. The trailer/RV sites can be reserved and the tent only sites are first-come, first-serve. The busiest time of year to camp at Everglades National Park is November through April. The campground is open seasonally from November to May.
Flamingo Campground offers 300 single-family campsites and is open seasonally from November to May. Of the 300 campsites, 234 are reservable, the other 64 campsites are first-come, first-served. The campground offers solar-heated showers, two dump stations, picnic tables, grills, and an amphitheater for seasonal ranger programs. Flamingo has several hiking trails and canoe trails, and opportunities for saltwater fishing are plentiful. The campground also offers a variety of concession-operated services, such as boat slips and launch ramps, houseboat rentals, camping, and RV space. With daily boat tours, pontoon boat and skiff rentals, canoeing and kayaking, fishing, and hiking, all alongside the convenience of a Marina Store and refueling facilities.
Boating, Fishing and Guided Tours
Boating is a popular activity in Everglades National Park, with the marine waters of the park being well-known for boating, fishing, paddling, and birding. The park has a variety of waterways, each with its own unique features and challenges. Narrow channels cut through long banks of mud and seagrass, separating the basins of the shallow coastal waters in Florida Bay. Other areas, such as the Ten Thousand Islands, have sandbars and sharp oyster reefs. The park provides a Boater Education Program that promotes safe boating, orientation, and resource protection. The Boater Guide for Everglades National Park provides important information for boating in park waters from Everglades City to Florida Bay, including locations for camping sites, management zones, and navigational channels.
Fishing is a great way to visit the park. The marine waters of the park being well-known for boating, fishing, paddling, and birding. One third of the park is covered by saltwater, the rest is a freshwater wetland. Both offer ample opportunity for recreational fishing. A Florida freshwater fishing license is required to fish in freshwater or to possess fresh water species. A Florida saltwater fishing license is required to fish in saltwater or to possess saltwater species. For more information visit the NPS website,
Guided tours are available in Everglades National Park. There are several private tour companies that offer guided tours in the park. For a full list visit the NPS website. Some of these companies include:
1. Shark Valley Tram Tours: This company offers a two-hour narrated tram tour along a fifteen-mile loop trail into the "River of Grass."
2. Everglades Institute: This company offers interpretive and educational sightseeing, paddling, slogging, and boating programs.
3. Flamingo Adventures: This company offers kayak rentals, boat tours, and camping sites.
4. Everglades National Park Adventures: This company offers a Ten Thousand Islands boat tour under a Commercial Use Authorization.
Kayaking trips can be from a few hours to several days. There are many designated trails within the park. For overnight trips, you are required to obtain a permit from recreation.gov. Campsites include a raised platform and a porta-potty.