After our visit to Shark Valley Visitor Center in the Everglades we continued our exploration of the Everglades. Local knowledge directed us to take Loop Road through the Miccosukee tribal lands to reach Big Cypress NP-Oasis Visitor Center. Note: Loop Road is only paved to about the Miccosukee Cultural & Visitor Center. Very interesting one hour route through virtually untouched Everglades with sporadic homesteads. We then arrived at Big Cypress in the afternoon. Staff was very helpful. To my surprise there are still Miccosukee/Seminole men that put on alligator handling shows for tourists. The canal that parallels the visitor (Rt 41 Tamiami Trail) is filled with alligators, fish, turtles, ahingas, egrets & herons. A worthwhile stop when travelling through the Everglades. Nick & Liz, Albany, NY, USA read more

Would love to come spend more time here. It was relatively spread out, but there's a quaint visitor center to help guide you on your way. We visited in November and it was still pretty hot for the season, so definitely recommend water / hats / sunscreen as nothing was super shady. read more

Beautiful visitor center with helpful staff. Clean bathrooms and easy parking. No manatees, but some pretty fat happy alligators to watch gliding lethally and silently through the waters. Birds caw cawing here and there, and giant fish lurking in the waters. A nice easy visit. read more

Visited on Oct 2025 during shut down. The shop was open and staffed with super friendly volunteers. We got tips on where to see gators and did the drive thru on way to Homestead. Saw several gators (& a few turtles) along the gravel drive. Fun to stop and listen to the sounds. Take your time. More gators on east side. read more

Big Cypress National Preserve - Bird in bushes - Parks Near Me - Ochopee, Florida

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What a beautiful National Preserve we have here in Florida! We are so lucky to have so much wildlife and nature. I hope we can continue to preserve Florida nature for future generations. Visiting the Oasis Visitor Center is a MUST. Especially if you have small kids. Huge gators love lounging in the canal and it's super safe for you to view them from the board walk. Three of us visited here after a 4 day - 3 night hike on the Florida Trail through Big Cypress Swamp. If you like to hike, give the Florida Trail Association a follow on social media. Check their website for a Florida Trail chapter near you, and you can also connect with your chapter on Meetup. Lots of other loop trails in Big Cypress Preserve for those that want to do short day hikes. Ask the rangers for recommendations for your party at the Oasis Visitor Center. read more

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Kelly was so informative and fun to talk to! We saw a few manatees and jumping fish it was so cool!

When I brought my husband to Florida for the first time he had never been to the Everglades and mentioned he'd never see an Alligator in person. So naturally I had to ensure that he could check that off his list. We were driving up to Sanibel from the Keys and I took the scenic route and stopped here to show him the Alligators. Needless to say it was a good experience for him because there were plenty of HUGE gators out basking in the sun. They have bathrooms and a really nice little boardwalk you can get pretty close to the Alligators. It's a great stop to get out of the car and to see some wildlife. read more

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I've been told by several girls (and boys) that I have a particularly Big Cypress. Hi. This is a beautiful and massive reserve which is connected to (and part of) the Everglades close to Tamiami on the edge of the spectacular City of Miami. Full of wildlife and gorgeous and somewhat unspoiled and one of the most amazing things about Florida. Driving across here is amazing - although you have to wonder if putting a road across it was the best idea. Still - Very well-maintained and long may it survive. read more

Big Cypress National Preserve - I'm hard Cypressed to find a better preserve - Parks Near Me - Ochopee, Florida

Big Cypress was supposed to be part of Everglades National Park when it was created in 1947 but the land was still privately owned so it was released from the park. In the 1960's the land that is now Big Cypress Preserve was slated to become a large jet port. Community activists made up of environmentalists, sportsmen, conservationists, and members of the Native tribes, Seminole and Miccosoukee joined together to halt the impending development. On October 11, 1974 Big Cypress Preserve along with Big Thicket National Preserve in Texas became the first national preserves when the United States National Park System was created. Thanks to a dedicated group of people 700,000 acres were preserved leaving them to protect the estuaries of Florida's southwest coast. There is so much to do here. A good place to start is by stopping at the two visitors centers. Both are staffed with park ranges who can provide maps and give pointers on where to visit. The Oasis Visitors Center is closer to Miami and the Big Cypress National Preserve Visitors Center is closer to Naples. You can take a naturalist or ranger led hike, swamp buggy adventure tour, eco kayak tour, or sightseeing tour. You can hike, camp, kayak, fish, or hunt. You can take visit the smallest post office in the United States, visit the Skunk Ape Research Headquarters, or marvel at the beauty of Clyde Butchers photography at his gallery. No matter what you do you will see many alligators. After being hunted almost into extinction they have now bounced back and there is one for every 10 Floridians. You can see them sunning themselves and swimming. This also a great place to see Florida wading birds. You are less likely to see the panthers and bears but they make their home here too. One part of the preserve I didn't get to explore but want to is Loop Road. it is a 27 mile dirt road from a 1920's logging camp. It takes over an hour of driving slowly to explore it. I hesitated because I was by myself and I have no cell service out there. I want to come back when I have someone with me. If you want to see the real Florida, this is it. I ran into visitors from all over the world visiting the preserve and I had a great time photographing wildlife and exploring the area. Big Cypress Preserve and it's neighbor Everglades National Park are vital in protecting the health of Florida's ecology. We are lucky that this area was saved and that we have such a wonderful place to visit. read more

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Big Cypress is just that, "big," but unfortunately not necessarily with reference to the size of the many cypress trees (the really big virgin cypress growth was cut down years ago) but more in the sense of the vast area it covers, being approximately 720,000 acres. Because it is made up from land purchased subsequent to 1947 and the establishment of the National Everglades Park, Big Cypress was not included within the National Park System; hence separately established as a "preserve." As a preserve it has done a marvelous job of doing exactly as intended, preserving the natural beauty and habitat of the area it encompasses along with providing various camping, hunting, hiking, fishing, boating and other recreational uses which, though some sound incongruous, work out harmoniously well. I certainly haven't covered all of the areas of Big Cypress as that would take a lifetime, but during the past decade subsequent to my full time arrival to the areas of South Florida, I've covered a lot of it. One of my long time favorites of the Big Cypress has been the Loop Road which is some 22 miles of rather rugged (previously 4 wheel) dirt road somewhat paralleling the Tamiami Trail from Monroe Station in Collier County to the Miccosukee Indian Reservation in Miami-Dade County. Built in the 1920's the builders of this remote road fortunately did not bring developers with them, leaving the area nearly as pristine as they found it. Now, a word of caution is order. This NOT the place to venture into with a weak car battery, get stuck or fail to look around for snakes or other critters before exciting your vehicle. Loaded with in the wild alligators, various poisonous snakes, other questionable reptiles and an occasional panther, bear or bobcat, you are in an area where you may well no longer be considered "top dog" on the food chain; so to speak. Indeed, you could well end up being the subject of a reptile attack if not actually a part of their hunted prey. read more

Big Cypress National Preserve - Entry sign posted on the remote Loop Road - Parks Near Me - Ochopee, Florida

If you are in the area, definitely stop by. I really did not know what to expect, but glad I did. The other visitors and staff were abiding by masks and distance, the place was extremely clean and informative. I got to see a few alligators and the birds in the area are just stunning. read more

Big Cypress National Preserve - Up close and personable - Parks Near Me - Ochopee, Florida

This is the best place ever for looking and pics. There is a lot of wildlife, scenic views, and great places. When I go from Miami to Naples it's really fun to see all the views. Although it is a 2 hour drive with almost no internet, it's fun. 10/10 read more

After we took an airboat tour we were told to head down to the Big Cypress National Preserve, the Welcome Center, and the Turner River Road Site and Canal to see more wildlife. We drove down to the Turner River Road site and saw a gigantic gator, some soft shell turtles, a number of snook, and a whole bunch of different birds, and some beautiful wild orchids and other flowers all in and around the canal. We then turned around and drove to the Big Cypress Welcome Center and got to see their mini museum and learning center...my son LOVED it (he's such a nerd...just like his Dad). We bought him the National Park Passport and the ranger who was there. Showed I'm what to do with it and how to do the stamps. He's still looking through. It planning ways to get us to places where he can get more stamps for his passport. We didn't get to see the manatees we had hoped to see, but the preserve is beautiful. You can read some of the other reviews for the history of the place...or check it out here http://www.nps.gov/bicy/index.htm. The place really is very cool if you love nature...Turner Road is not paved and will beat up ur car a bit and there is no cell service, but it was definitely worth the time. One MAJOR word of advice...bring bug spray-bathe in it. I think I saw a few of the mosquitos kidnap a couple of small mammals while we were there. read more

Big Cypress has free events from the last week of November through April. This is the best time to visit any state park because its usually hot and humid in summer. I attended one of the first swamp walks last winter. A group of about 10 was led by a VERY knowledge ranger. We were running late and called to let them know and they waited for us. Overall, very helpful park staff. The ranger gave us walking sticks for walking through the swamp and... fending off alligators. We were warned that if we saw an alligator we should form a circle and close it off with our sticks blocking the gator. There is a height limit for kids because the water gets to about 3.5 feet but we did see pretty short kids there. In the walk, we didn't see any gators in the water. We did see plenty of birds including woodpeckers and plenty of beautiful flowers. The ranger told us everything there was to tell about the trees, the landscape, the parks history and more. When we got to the center of the swamp, our ranger asked us to be silent for a moment to take in the nature. It was one of the most peaceful moments of my life. This is truly a must-do! After this we rode bikes in the 20-odd mile long trail that you can walk, bike or drive. We also saw plenty of alligators near the visitor center. read more

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This place is beautiful! The drive through the park is really fun but the best part is walking along the trails. Watch out for gaters! The bugs can be a pain but it's Florida, what do you expect. Great bird watching too. read more

If your looking to see alligators, this is the place to be! I loved being able to see so much wildlife in their natural habitat. You'd think they would be afraid of so many visitors, but with the parks reservation efforts, animals know exactly where they need to be as if they allow you to look at them. Before our booked kayak tour with Everglades Adventure Tours, we explored the park a little bit. This place is huge, and made up of smaller parks within it. Every so often there is a visitors centre, with lots of information and guides ready to give it. There usually is also a platform deck to look at animals that just hang out there. You can also see lots of gators hanging out in the river beside the road. We stopped at the main visitors centre, where we Got a map and drove about 10 Min's to HP Williams site, a viewing platform to see gators and birds. I have never been so interested in birds before, there are so many different kinds! Then we went to the Kirby trail. A short walk on a board walk into the dense cypress trees. It was small, I thought it would be bigger,the area I mean. In here saw birds and more gators. But beautiful trees hanging, I think in a different season might have flowers. From here drove further to the Oasis Visitors Centre and saw huge alligators chilling in the sun. A short 2 hour visit before we headed back to our kayak tour of the same area. read more

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This is exactly what you'd imagine a National Park in this area to be! The welcome center is nice and the staff were all pleasant to us. They answered our questions knowledgeably. The property of the park itself is quite warm and buggy (to be expected in Florida!) Be sure to bring sunscreen and bug spray with you! The boardwalk walkways were very interesting, and we saw many many alligators in just a few short minutes! Overall, it was a great park! read more

Big Cypress National Preserve - Parks Near Me - Ochopee, Florida

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Very helpful guy at the center. Dont be afraid to ask and give your preferences for walks. They have a lot of boards of info on the animals. They have a very short boardwalk behind the building to spot mostly butterflies, birds or fish or even gators. It is a very small center but informative. Make a stop here if you don't know beforehand exactly which trails you're taking. read more

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To get around the Everglades, you actually cross through many parts of the Big Cypress National Preserve.  Since I was already visiting the Everglades, adding this park to the trip seemed to make total sense. The National Preserve has spots where you can observe wildlife.  We really did not see very much wildlife there, but we did see the only wildlife we needed to see- an alligator about 5 feet away from us. It was cool to see one, and it was just far enough away for comfort. Take your bug spray, as the mosquitoes are everywhere! We tried to eat at a picnic bench and had to run to the car to eat. read more

If you only have a short time in this area, spend it here!! We met great rangers who were ready to share information, nice visitors who had stories of hiking adventures and saw more alligators than elsewhere. We arrived to late in the afternoon to take any hikes ourselves, so are planning another trip to see this area in depth. We had to drive on. This was the south Florida we had hoped to see. We also were there as a great number of birds were coming to roost for the night and saw a huge variety of herons, egrets, spoonbills, and others. What a great place! read more

Always a blast visiting Big Cypress! Its quickly become tradition to load up the truck and head out to the preserve and enjoy some primitive camping solo or with the family, but thats not the only thing there is to do in Big Cypress, surrounding areas have alot of outdoor activities to engage in, always see people fishing, bird watching, alot of offroading on those back roads, airboat tours nearby, prime area for star gazing at night, overall great country to spend time in and a must visit if youre in south florida especially. Only heads up id give if youre new to the everglades is that in and around big cypress theres not many stores or restaurants, theres a few gas stations, a walmart a bit far away, everglades city is nearby but its only a small town with limited conveniences, so make sure you pack everything you need, double check your loadout before leaving and it would be wise to bring a cooler with some drinks and light foods if you arent doing so already. Heres a link to my 4K video if youd like a small preview of primitive camping in big cypress :) https://youtu.be/jk8no0i4Bxc read more

Big Cypress National Preserve - Primitive Campsite - Parks Near Me - Ochopee, Florida

Love this preserve. so many camp sites and great facilities. The stars at night made the evening magical. Will go back in the winter.

This place is spectacular! It is located about 45 miles west of Miami, in an area called Ochopee, and borders Everglades National Park and the Ten Thousand Islands. It is considered the most biologically diverse region of the terrestrial Everglades, so you are bound to see something, even if you're not making much of an effort to look. If you're not looking for wildlife though, you will see Native Americans -- or at least their housing -- as the Miccosukee, Seminole and Traditional people were provided with permanent rights to occupy and use the land in traditional ways, so many of them call this place home. I have to say, I envy them, because I wish this were my backyard. There are lots of trails to see, and even while driving on your way toward Big Cypress, you will feel tempted to stop, as there is so much wildlife all around you. On the way there, on Tamiami Trail, I saw some Roseate Spoonbills flying overhead. Unfortunately, we were unable to stop or we'd interrupt the traffic flow, but once we entered Big Cypress, my friend and I stopped many times, especially on a section of the loop road (I probably drove him nuts, screaming "stop" every few feet). There are lots of different stops along the way within the preserve containing boardwalks and trails aligned with beautiful flora. Tip: don't bother to come here with a clean car, because your car will look as if it had been rolled in flour and will literally have little lumps of dust all along the back bumper from driving on the dusty, rocky Loop Road (it is NOT a paved road). We had a rental, so we could not care less about driving through here, but on our own vehicles? Not so much. For the first time ever, I got to see a watersnake, as well as white-tailed deer! I thought deer in Florida were a myth, but once we got close to the end of Loop Road, there they were, a small group of them. My friend sped too fast and scared them off, so I was unable to photograph them, unfortunately. They say you can see Florida black bears and perhaps Florida panthers in Big Cypress, though I did not get so lucky. Still, seeing Roseates and deer is the luckiest I have been, when it comes to seeing unusual wildlife, so I consider myself quite fortunate. The crown jewel, though, was seeing the bald eagle nest in the Fakahatchee Big Cypress Bend boardwalk. I had never seen anything like this in my life, and it was just breathtaking. I highly recommend that boardwalk, and the Turner Loop Road to see wildlife. On Big Cypress Bend, you will also see some ancient, intimidating cypress trees (over 500 years old, according to the park ranger), and it is just so peaceful! The only sounds emanated from the rat-tat-tat-tat of a woodpecker deep within the forest, and chirping cardinals. There are alligators all over the preserve, so do exercise caution when you step out of your vehicle, especially if you're pulling off to the side by a swamp. I lost count of the amounts of alligators we saw any time we drove near a body of water. There are also snakes, including cottonmouth, so do become well-versed and do not corner or threaten these creatures in any way. Above all, breathe in the clean air, respect the wildlife, and enjoy the sights. read more

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This is one of South Florida's major gems. If you enjoy the outdoors and wildlife you will love Big Cypress. It is expensive and filled with tons of things to do and see. Everything from camping to hunting to nature walks. I have camped at the primitive camp sites and really enjoyed it. If you're looking to get away from the crowded city of Miami or Ft. Lauderdale plan a trip here! You won't be disappointed. Pro tip: check out the visitors center. It is filled with tons of information including a knowledgeable park ranger. read more

Very well organized! Clean, informative. The guides are enthusiastic and appear to love their job! It's amazing how many acres that are uninhabited in southern Florida read more

Big Cypress National Preserve - Parks Near Me - Ochopee, Florida

Big Cypress is the other half of South Florida: the cypress swamp that is sorta dry in the dry season (go figure) and the rest of the year is a swamp along the lines of what you might find elsewhere on the Eastern seaboard--except that it's semi-tropical. So you will see birds, gators eating birds, gators, gators, snakes, trees, and upland here and there. The best way to see it is with a canoe, but if you are limited to your feet and an auto, drive the Trail (US 41) the original Miami-Naples road and marvel at the strands here and there along the way. If you have more time, take the Loop Road (unpaved but smooth) through the backwoods of mainland Monroe. A little bit of Central American jungle near Miami, it is. Just be sure someone knows you went there. After all, there are lots of place to um disappear into there. And if you do go, don't go hiking unless you are going with someone and you are wearing hiking boots and long pants. This is not a place for casual walking, as the usually submerged surface is more like a reef than dry land--full of holes, stumps and limestone knobs. And that's just the land, not the snakes, ants, gators and other things that can kill you. Did I mention the Florida panther lives here? If you are really nice and quiet you may see him or her. NB: The visitor center (Oasis) is located about midway on the Trail in Collier County (10 miles west of Fifty-Mile Bend). read more

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This is a whole other area right next to the Everglades, about 30 min west down the road after Shark Valley. This place has a whole host of trails and a great visitor's center as well, but I'd encourage you to check out the ranger-led activities. You could easily pay several hundred dollars for a canoe trip of the Everglades area, or you could make a reservation 2 weeks ahead for a canoe trip with two Big Cypress rangers. This was a ~4 hour trip that was one of the coolest experiences of the entire trip. You can get the activities here: https://www.nps.gov/bicy/planyourvisit/ranger-led-activities.htm Call ahead for spots, particularly for the canoe trip! We met at the canoe trip location, got organized, and headed out on a short trip to get used to the canoes before starting on the longer part of the trip. We stopped after about 2.5 hours and took a lunch break - bring shoes you're comfortable with getting wet/muddy - and be comfortable with getting down in the canoe to duck through the mangrove tunnels. Lots of good wildlife viewing, lots of alligators, birds, etc., and ongoing educational talks by the rangers to let us know about the history, the wildlife, the trees, and other fun facts. Truly an unbelievably cool experience. Not to be missed! read more

My wife and I visited the Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Center at midday on a Sunday in early January 2020. We are tourists and senior citizens. The weather was sunny but temperatures were relatively cool that day, with a high temp of 69 degrees. The building is modern and attractive, and inside there were many staffers in uniform asking us if we needed any help or advice. It actually seemed overstaffed. There is a small gift shop and educational exhibits inside the building. Just outside there is a picnic area in front near the highway, and a short boardwalk in the back yard where we saw an alligator and some manatees in the adjacent canal. It was a nice treat to see 3 manatees lounging just beneath the surface of the water, coming up occasionally for a breath of air. Then we walked a mile on the longer boardwalk, a nature walk that goes deeper into the Everglades forest. The boardwalk runs a half-mile through somewhat dry brush, ending at a small waterway. We were disappointed because we saw no gators and few interesting birds, and because the boardwalk stayed close to the highway, we always heard the noise of passing vehicles. Generally our walk was devoid of wildlife sightings. But it is an attractive woodsy/ scrubby environment with interesting plants and trees. This was our third visit to the Everglades in 8 years time, always in the winter, and this welcome center was the least special of all the places we visited in the Everglades. Our favorite spot is the Anhinga Trail, a nature trail located further east in the Everglades park where gators and exotic birds are abundant, even in winter. And if you are near the Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Center and you want to see more wildlife without working hard, just head to the HP Williams Roadside Park at 48900 Tamiami Trail E, Ochopee, FL 34141, four miles east of the welcome center. This roadside park is a picnic area with restrooms and a short boardwalk overlooking a canal filled with gators, and there are plenty of exotic Anhinga birds and great blue herons to see in the tree branches..... and this happens less than a hundred yards from where your car is parked. So if you are old, or lazy, or disabled, or if you have mobility problems, the HP Williams roadside park is a great place to see wildlife without hiking. Easy. read more

There is a nice visitor center here but the mangrove block much of the view from the deck. read more

Big Cypress National Preserve - Parks Near Me - Ochopee, Florida

don't you all LOVEEEEEEEE down time at work ... Miami #3 (i have 4 more reviews after this)... "Big Cypress National Preserve is located in Southwest Florida between the cities of Miami and Naples. Interstate 75 (Alligator Alley) and U. S. Highway 41 (Tamiami Trail) are the main roads that traverse the site." on the way to miami from naples, we cut across the infamous "alligator alley" which i HIGHLY suggest all of you to do, even though it takes that extra 30-45 minutes, it's definitely well worth your trip if you've never seen one in your life ... a must thing to do, at least in MY book.. it's funny, i'm always down to do touristy stuff for the first day, but it's like i'm all for what the locals do afterwards. experience the wildlife and observe the alligators and the other animals in their natural habitat. for being the person i am who absolutely LOVE the outdoors and the wildlife, i had a great time having a staring contest with one of the alligators. not only do you actually witness one of the alligators give you the stink eye, but there's also a vistor center that contains an exhibit, books, and films... the VC wasn't all that great, it was weak. better to walk around the bridge... check out the fotos. one staring at me and one swimming aways. ok, have a client coming in the next 5 seconds... read more

Big Cypress National Preserve - swimming aways - Parks Near Me - Ochopee, Florida

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There is nothing to see here, move along. Seriously, the roadside equivalent of a rest area, make better use of your time elsewhere.

Stopped in and this place was cool. The facility itself was clean and nice. The ranger inside was super nice and helpful. We watched an informative movie. We did the junior ranger program for our kid. And she loved it read more

Big Cypress National Preserve - Parks Near Me - Ochopee, Florida

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2 bald eagles and nest! Plus so many other birds and gators we could not keep count.

Big Cypress National Preserve is a great area on the outskirts of the Everglades National Park. This Park has some beautiful areas for hiking or canoeing in the swamplands of southern Florida. The park has a lot of wildlife viewing opportunities such as: Alligators, Birds, Manatees, and if your lucky the illusive Florida Panther. I would highly recommend stopping at the Swamp Visitors Center for a chance to see Manatees behind the center on the boardwalk trail. Another area to stop is the Kirby Storter Roadside Park smack dab in the middle of the park directly of Highway 41. This little park offers a one mile round trip boardwalk trail that goes through beautiful Cypress Trees and a Southern Florida Swamp. Overall I very much enjoyed the Big Cypress National Preserve and would love to go back to this area again someday. read more

IT'S A WONDERLAND OF NATURAL BEAUTY, No planted gardens, no statues, just a natinal park in it's raw beauty. The roads are hard on a car, so you should have a jeep or a four wheel drive and stay alert for weather conditions. There is no cell service when going back into the everglades dirt roads so be prepared. It was just one beautiful view after another. But one has to remember this is not Disneyland or Universal Studios but the real America. After you visit the park head over to Everglades City to the Seafood Depot for lunch for $8.99 there is a great salad bar with all the shrimp you can eat. Thank you Marqus R for a great day. read more

We visited the Swamp Welcome Center on our way through a few weeks ago. The staff was kind and knowledgeable, directing us to the 'main attractions', mostly the 2 roads that highlight the scenery/ecosystem & wildlife of the area. There is a boardwalk behind the center which I recommend as it has a nice view of the canal/river. We also saw a few alligators and some manatees while we were back there! The facilities are well maintained and this is a good stop for information and a stretch before heading into the preserve. The preserve it self is pretty cool. The loop roads we went on were packed with alligators (on the side and in the water of course) and birds, which may be common for people from the area but was fascinating to us! Roads are long with no place for a pee or snack- plus I'll be damned I was gonna get out of the car to have either! These may not be the most exciting attractions ever but they are fun, relaxing, slow paced and give a great picture of the local ecosystem. read more

It's hard to rate this place because it's so BIG!!! It's over 1,100 square miles! I want to first try to get some confusion out of the way. If you are looking for Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk is actually in Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, located at 27020 Tamiami Trail, Naples, FL 34114. The welcome center for Big Cypress (at least the west side welcome center) is located about 10 miles to the east of Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk. I was very confused by it all and it took a few hours of research to figure that out, so I hope that helps. Anyway, we stopped a the welcome center to Big Cypress after doing the boardwalk in Fakahatchee Strand. We were curious if there was anything else in the area we needed to see. The welcome center is staffed during regular business hours. We were able to speak with a ranger who told us there was a small boardwalk out back. Along with that, there are a few driving trails you can go on. We decided to take the one closest to the welcome center as we were staying on the gulf coast of Florida in Cape Coral. Loop Road is a 27 mile drive that is located closer to Miami, so we didn't do that one. We picked the Turner River, Upper Wagonwheel and Birdon Road Loop Drive Tour. They have maps online and at the preserve that highlight different parts along the road. We didn't want to do the whole 17 mile part, so we started at the end, on Birdon Road which is near the preserve welcome center. We drove that until we go to Wagonwheel Road and took that to highway 29. The road is gravel, you don't want to go more that 25 or it gets a little rough. My Prius handled it fine. Remember that people do live on the road, you will come across mailboxes and homes along the way. We saw a couple turkey vultures. Along Wagonwheel road are yellow reflectors, those reflector are markers for large water pipes that connect the water/ditches across the road. We stopped there to look around in the water and saw a BUNCH of fish, ranging in small to quite large. We even saw a fish that was eating a snake. That was pretty cool. Stop along there and check out what is in the water if you're looking for nature! read more

This park is absolutely beautiful and well worth the drive! It is very close to multiple airboat tours (I highly recommend Speedys), so it's very easy to make a fun day trip out of the adventure! It's a must visit if you are in the southwest Florida area! read more

Be sure to have a full tank of gas and it would be best to drive an SUV or better still, a big old pick-up truck. This is a fabulous place to go if you want to see wildlife. You will see gators, snakes, deer, and birds. If you go in the summertime, you will see more mosquitoes than you've ever seen in your life. The roads can sometimes be a little bumpy and in summer they can have standing water, but if you want an adventure, this is the place to go. The wildlife here aren't afraid of humans because they don't see them often. We've visited Big Cypress many times and as we've driven through the various "strands" and only passed by five other cars. One other thing you should know is that there is no GPS or phone reception in the Preserve. You should have a good map before you go in. We've gotten lost two times and, believe me, driving around that place for a few hours trying to find your way out is not fun. But I don't want to deter people from visiting. It's one of the truly wild places left and worth seeing. As some of the other reviewers have mentioned, you need to be careful when exiting your car to make sure there's not a critter right there. (I nearly stepped on a six foot gator one time when I stepped out of the car to take a picture. Luckily, he was hunting a turtle and was busy with that and didn't care about me.) read more

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Great stop - a must if you are on this piece of road going between Homestead / Florida City and Naples. Just driving there along the everglades you see so much wildlife. Take time to see the wildlife that is just outside the building, if you don't look you will miss some. read more