Why Do I Need To Fill Out a Backcountry Permit?

Backcountry permits are a useful way of monitoring visitor use within the Preserve. Backcountry permits are required for every person, off-road vehicle or boat entering the backcountry of Big Cypress National Preserve. This applies to both day use and overnight activities.

Backcountry permits are free and are located at every backcountry access point and trailhead. The permits take only a few minutes to complete. Once completed, a copy of the permit should be carried with the person or attached to the off-road vehicle entering the backcountry. A copy of the permit should be placed in the drop box located at the trailhead.

The Preserve recently revised the instructions for permit completion. Every bulletin board at access points has a copy of these instructions. Please take the time to fill out the permit correctly.

Backcountry permits provide the National Park Service with vital visitor use statistics and use patterns. The time you take to fill out the permit will provide the Preserve with better user information.

The ability of the Preserve to manage for a satisfying, safe visitor experience depends on how much the Preserve knows about the use of an area.  The data collected from backcountry permits provides information which the Preserve uses for management decisions.

Your cooperation is requested to help the Preserve by correctly filling out backcountry permits.