• The Florida panther's watchful gaze- Courtesy- Ralph Arwood

    Big Cypress

    National Preserve Florida

There are park alerts in effect.
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  • Fire Activity

    Currently there is fire activity within the Preserve. More »

  • Campfire Ban in Effect.

    Due to severe fire conditions campfires restrictions are currently in place. More »

  • 2013 Zone 4 Closure

    Beginning at 12:01 am Monday, April 8, 2013, the Zone 4 airboat access within Big Cypress National Preserve will be closed due to low water conditions. More »

  • Campground Closures

    Beginning Monday, May 13 through Friday, August 16 camping will be available at the Midway Campground and the “loop” in the Bear Island Campground within Big Cypress National Preserve. All other established campgrounds will be closed. More »

Park Statistics

National Park Service sites receive approximately 280 million visitors each year. The Public Use Statistics Office website provides historic and current visitor use statistics for 374 of the nearly 400 units included in the National Park System (Statistics are not available for some areas; for example, those with joint administration of federal and non-federal lands).

Click here to be transferred to the National Park Service Public Use Statistics Office.

 

GROSS AREA
729,000 Acres

VISITATION
Total Recreation Visits for FY 2011 - 941,393
Total Recreation Visits for FY 2010 - 665,523
Total Recreation Visits for FY 2009 - 812,207
Total Recreation Visits for FY 2008 - 813,790
Total Recreation Visits for FY 2007 - 822,864
Total Recreation Visits for FY 2006 - 825,857
Total Recreation Visits for FY 2005 - 768,687
Total Recreation Visits for FY 2004 - 385,194
Total Recreation Visits for FY 2003 - 400,902
Total Recreation Visits for FY 2002 - 449,481
Total Recreation Visits for FY 2001 - 409,771

(FY = fiscal year)

 

NOTEWORTHY DATES & DESIGNATIONS

August 25, 1916
National Park Service Organic Act (16 USC 1, 2-4)

April 25, 1928
US 41 (Tamiami Trail) officially opened

May 24, 1973
Big Cypress Conservation Act (Florida Statute 380.055)

October 11, 1974
Big Cypress National Preserve- Authorized (Public Law 93-440)

April 29, 1988
Big Cypress National Preserve Addition Act (Public Law 100-301)

Did You Know?

Airboat traveling through wet prairies.

Airboats are one of the approved ways to access remote areas of Big Cypress National Preserve. Remember, all off-road vehicle access requires a valid permit, and visitors operating ORVs need to know the legal areas they can operate.