Everglades redirects here. For Noosa Everglades in Queensland, see Great Sandy National Park (Cooloola)
Everglades National Park is a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in southwestern Florida. It is also list on the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance. It is one of only three locations to appear on all three lists.
Everglades National Park, protecting more than 1.5 million acres, is the 3rd largest national park in the lower 48 states, behind Yellowstone National Park (2nd) and Death Valley National Park (1st). During the dry season most facilities are open and a full range of tours and programs are available to enjoy. During the wet season of June to October, facilities may have restricted hours or close altogether, and recreational opportunities may be at a minimum.
The park has four visitor centers:
It's flat but don't let that fool you into thinking there is no variety. A couple of inches of height brings a marked difference in flora and fauna. The highest ground is populated by Dade County Slash Pine forest, with underbrush that includes saw palmetto. Both plants encourage fire which keeps the hardwoods out. A little lower "altitude" brings cypress heads, and lower than that swampland (a river of grass). In the swampland, small hills (a couple of inches higher than water level) are covered with tropical hardwoods with dense foliage below. As you get to the south and southwest part of the 'glades, the tides bring in salt loving plants like mangroves and their kin. There is a lot to see but it takes paying attention to it—and it is well worth the time. Things that may seem small at first may be really big and bring fond memories.
The area is home to rare and endangered species, such as the American crocodile, Florida panther, and West Indian manatee. Several species of snakes live there. Most are nonvenomous like the black racer, banded water snake, and the corn snake and several more harmless species. Only 4 are venomous and dangerous which are the coral snake, cottonmouth/water moccasin, Pygmy rattlesnake, and eastern diamondback rattlesnake. Over 1,000 species of plants live here.
Collecting plants and animals in Everglades National Park is prohibited. This includes such things as orchids, airplants, seahorses, starfish, conch, tropical fish, coral, sponges, and driftwood (except for fuel). One quart of non-occupied sea shells may be collected per person.
Weather is mild and pleasant from December through April, though rare cold fronts may create near-freezing conditions. Average winter temperatures are: High 77°F (25°C); Low 53°F (12°C). Summers are hot and humid, with temperatures around 90°F (32°C) and humidity over 90%. Afternoon thunderstorms are common and mosquitoes are abundant. Hurricane season is June–November. Tropical storms or hurricanes may affect the area. The rainy season is June through October, coinciding with the mosquito season. Average Rainfall: 60 inches (152 cm) per year.
The closest airport to the Everglades is Miami International Airport. It is a hub for American Airlines, which has service within the United States and to the Caribbean, South America, and Europe.
Two US Highways serve the Everglades from Miami: Route 41 which runs west, and Route 1 which runs south.
Entrance fees valid for seven days. Fees as of 2020 are:
Activity fees: Camping fees at park campgrounds: $25 per night. Backcountry camping requires a permit for a fee and is allowed at designated backcountry sites only, mostly only accessible by watercraft.
Most people visit the Everglades by car. There is no public transit within the park, unless you count boat tours and the Shark Valley tour shuttle.
There are many hiking trails and canoe trails as well, but you will usually want a car to reach the trailheads. Most viewpoints and other sites marked on the park map are not within easy walking distance of each other.
Cycling is possible (including on some hiking trails), and there are bicycle rentals at Shark Valley Visitor Center and Flamingo Marina. Cycling to Flamingo from the Homestead park entrance will take quite a while, and is not recommended for inexperienced cyclists.
There are some worthwhile parks and points of interest that are not within the park itself but are part of the scenic region.
Everglades City has a few great seafood restaurants that serve local fare, including fried alligator.
There are no restaurants in the southern Everglades (the stretch from Homestead to Flamingo). The only places to buy food or drinks inside the park entrance are the Flamingo Marina store (more or less a full-service convenience store, open until in the winter), the Royal Palms nature center (a refrigerator with drinks and a few sandwiches).
There are no bars inside the national park itself, and the only drinks to be had will come from the small stores and vending machines at or near the visitor centers (non-alcoholic, except for the Flamingo Marina Store which also has beer).
Note that if you are visiting the southern Everglades, there is no portable water available anywhere between Long Pine Key Campground and the Flamingo Marina. If you are traversing the park by bicycle or foot, be prepared. The campgrounds do have running water that you can drink.
There is no indoor lodging within the national park, unless you count the "eco tents" (permanent box-like shelters) at Flamingo Campground (see below)
Two drive-in campgrounds are in the park. Both campgrounds can accommodate tents and RVs. A limited number of group sites are also available. Leave-no-trace camping principles apply.
Fees: Nightly fees are $25 per site at either campground (2020). Word is that Golden Age cards and Golden Access cards no longer get a discount now that the campgrounds have been privatized. Owing to limited usage and difficult conditions, camping was at one time free of charge during the wet season - check with the park website or visitor centers to find if this is still the case.
Long Pine Key Campground, 25.3993°, -80.6558°. 108 sites, 1 group site. All sites are first-come, first-served. Long Pine Key Campground is open Seasonally November - May (closed June to October.) A popular campground located in a pretty pine forest (though the trees are skinny and don't provide much shade). Facilities are in various states of disrepair, but there are solar-powered hot showers (may not work as well at night), flush toilets, and potable water. This campground is known for having a lot fewer biting insects than Flamingo, but there still are some (even in the dry season). In the unlikely event that there are no spots available campers can continue south to the Flamingo camping area. $20 per site per night, $30 per night for the group site (2020 rates) 2020-06-27
Flamingo Campground, 25.1362°, -80.9419°. 274 sites, 3 group sites, 41 sites with electricial hookups. Flamingo is one of two drive-in campgrounds accessible from the Homestead entrance of the park; it is generally a more laid-back and less crowded campground than Long Pine Key. Reservations are accepted. Hot solar showers included (but may not work at night), as well as flush toilets and potable water. About a 20-minute walk from the Flamingo visitor center, marina, and convenience store (open until 7PM in high season). This campground is known for having lots of mosquitoes, even in the dry season. If you're camping in a tent, consider choosing a spot in the tents-only section by the bay shore, where wind keeps the mosquitoes away some of the time. Additional amenities include two dump stations, picnic tables, grills, and an amphitheater for winter programs. Flamingo has several hiking trails and canoe trails, and opportunities for saltwater fishing are plentiful. $20 per site per night, $30 per site per night with electric hook-ups (2020 rates) 2020-06-27
Visitors can select between a variety of ground sites, beach sites and elevated camping platforms (sometimes called chickees). Most sites are accessible by canoe, kayak or motorboat, though a few may be reached by hikers depending on trail conditions (ask the visitor centers). None of the park's 47 backcountry sites are accessible by car. Backcountry trips here require more planning than most. Refer to the park'sWilderness Trip Planner.
A backcountry permit is required for all wilderness campsites. Permits are only issued the day before or the day of the start of your camping trip. Permits are not issued over the telephone. Wilderness permits are written from the Ernest Coe Visitor Center only for two land sites in the Long Pine Key area: Ernest Coe and Ingraham Highway. For all other campsites, permits may be obtained at the Flamingo and Gulf Coast Visitor Centers. Winter wilderness users whose trips originate from the Florida Keys can obtain permits by phone by calling +1 239-695-2945 for the following locations only: North Nest Key, Little Rabbit Key, Carl Ross Key, and the Cape Sable Beaches. Permit fees: $10 per permit plus $2 per person per night.
Big Cypress National Preserve is adjacent to the northern edge of the park. The Miami area is within reach.
Related: United States National Parks
Related: UNESCO World Heritage List
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