Welcome to Real Florida
When most people think of visiting South Florida for vacation, visions of hot sandy beaches and bright turquoise water fill their minds. Their plans include indulging in fruity cocktails and working on their tan as they attempt to forget about the stress of their life back home.
While lounging on the beach is never a bad thing, South Florida has something spectacular for the adventurous minded. Picture yourself slogging down a trail through knee deep water. You’re surrounded by cypress trees, saw palmettos, and bromeliads in full bloom with vibrant pink and red flowers. The solution holes in the limestone under your feet make it difficult to walk as they try to grab your ankles and pull you in, it’s a good thing you remembered to bring a hiking stick with you. The last person you saw was at the trailhead, two hours ago, and you just heard a big splash beyond the bend ahead.
You are on the Gator Hook Trail in Big Cypress National Preserve, a 720,000-acre section of protected land between Miami and Naples. That’s larger than the state of Rhode Island! Big Cypress was established by Congress in 1974 as the first National Preserve. The preserve protects the Big Cypress Watershed which is critical to the fresh water supply of South Florida and the survival of the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. Home to hundreds of species of birds, the largest habitat for the critically endangered Florida Panther, alligators, snakes, fish, and many others; this isn’t just a walk in the park.
Knowing that there are alligators everywhere, venomous snakes, and even the invasive Burmese Python swimming in the same water you are hiking through, you trudge forward towards the big splash you heard. Your imagination is going wild as the primordial-like vegetation closes in around you. You hear more big splashes through the trees ahead. Hoping you’re not about to walk up on a gator or python, you begin to round the bend in the trail.
When you first drove into Big Cypress National Preserve, you stopped at the Oasis Visitor Center to stretch your legs and gather some information from the park rangers. You told them you were looking for an adventurous hike, that you wanted to see more than the average visitor does. They gave you a few options but recommended Gator Hook Trail, located on the scenic Loop Road. After soaking up all the information you could from them, you headed outside to walk the popular boardwalk. You were surprised by the sheer number of alligators in the canal below. They ranged from young with bright stripes still helping them camouflage from predators to gigantic creatures who had been alive for decades.
Thinking back to all the alligators you saw earlier in the morning has you nervous as the splashes become louder. Your mind races and you even contemplate turning back, but you dig deep, and your curiosity wins out. Slowly, you round the bend in the trail, and you see them. Suddenly, relief overcomes you, the splashing that had you so nervous turns out to a pair of otters frolicking in the swamp.
Gator Hook Trail is one of my favorites within the preserve, but it is only one of many. Adventurers of all levels can find something to make for a memorable trip in Big Cypress National Preserve. When you go, be sure to visit both the Oasis and the Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Centers. Chat with a few rangers, catch one of their programs, watch the park film, and then head out to explore the vast landscape.
I highly recommend driving the scenic Loop, Wagonwheel, Birdon, and Turner River Roads. Renting a canoe or kayak from a local outfitter and spending a few hours paddling down Turner River is always an amazing experience. Visit the various board walks and be sure to hike at least one trail. There are 8 campgrounds with varying accessibility that offer the experience of sleeping under a magnificent night sky as Big Cypress is officially recognized as an International Dark Sky Place, it gets so dark in the preserve that you can even see our own Milky Way galaxy.
There is so much to be experienced in Big Cypress National Preserve that it is deserving of vacation dedicated to only it, but if your travels only allow for a single day, it is not to be missed. Be sure to visit the preserve’s website for up-to-date information and for help planning your adventure.
Remember to respect the ecosystem and local communities while visiting. This area has a human history that goes back thousands of years. Between the Mikasuki and Seminole Tribes and the unique Gladesman culture, there is a very rich and vibrant history that deserves to be remembered and respected. Welcome to Real Florida.