Designated Trail Implementation

ORV trail i Big Cypress.

NPS photo.

ORV trail through Big Cypress National Preserve.

The National Park Service continues to implement the Recreational ORV Management Plan which provides for reasonable off-road vehicle (ORV) access into the swamp. The goal is to provide a sustainable designated trail system thus eliminating dispersed ORV use.

Staying on the designated trails will ensure the continuation of ORV access into the backcountry for generations to come.

Please use the attached form, or email the information requested on the attached form to bob_degross@nps.gov, to request trails within the Preserve.

As of July 22, 2011 all backcountry access via ORVs is along designated primary and secondary trails only. The National Park Service will continue to work closely with the public to ensure the trail network remains sustainable and continues to be improved over time.  

The process of developing the designated trails involved public input, review of suggestions and submission of a recommendation for primary and secondary trails by the ORV Advisory Committee (ORVAC). Upon receiving the recommended trail network from the ORVAC, the NPS worked to verify that each recommended trail was suitable and sustainable.

You may download .kml (Google Earth) and .gdb (Garmin Map Source) files of trails for each unit on this page. You may want to download the Google Earth program to view these files. Additionally, you can down load GPS Bable which allows you to convert .kml files to an appropriate file for your GPS unit.

Refrences to non-U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) products do not constitute endorsement by the DOI. By viewing the Google Maps on this page the user agrees to these terms set forth by Google.

Travel along trails in all units is only allowed along marked trails.

02/03/2012 - For a complete version of all designated ORV trails in all units of the Preserve - KML (Google Earth version) click here or a GDB (Garmin version) click here.

 

TURNER RIVER UNIT DESIGNATED TRAILS

Effective July 22, 2011, the NPS announces that ORV use within all units of Big Cypress National Preserve will be along designated trail routes only. This move comes after the NPS selected and marked ORV trails within the Corn Dance Unit, the last unit within the original Preserve where dispersed ORV use was authorized.

The Turner River Unit (TRU) allows for ORV access by permitted swamp buggies and ATVs. Dispersed camping continues to be allowed within the unit. You may drive your ORV to a location along a designated trail nearest the camping spot you prefer, park your ORV along the shoulder of the trail, in such a manner that does not impede travel by other, and carry your camping equipment to the site.

Currently the TRU has 126 miles of designated primary trails and 78 miles of designated secondary trails.

To view the designated primary and secondary trails within the Turner River Unit - low resolution map (11" x 17") here. For a high resolution version to print click here.

 

CORN DANCE UNIT DESIGNATED TRAILS

Effective July 22, 2011, the NPS announces that ORV use within all units of Big Cypress National Preserve will be along designated trail routes only. This move comes after the NPS selected and marked ORV trails within the Corn Dance Unit, the last unit within the original Preserve where dispersed ORV use was authorized.

Currently the CDU has 65 miles of designated primary trails and 62 miles of designated secondary trails. The CDU allows for ORV access by permitted swamp buggies and ATVs. Dispersed camping continues to be allowed within the unit. You may drive your ORV to a location along a designated trail nearest the camping spot you prefer, park your ORV along the shoulder of the trail, in such a manner that does not impede travel by other, and carry your camping equipment to the site.

To view the designated primary and secondary trails within the Corn Dance Unit - low resolution map (11" x 17") click here. For a high resolution version to print click here.

 

DOWNLOADABLE FILES OF TRAILS IN OTHER UNITS

Bear Island Unit Trails and Facilities
There are 36 miles of designated primary trails and 9 miles of designated secondary trails in the BIU of the Preserve. This unit allows for access by Swamp Buggies, ATVs and Street Legal 4x4s. Camping in the unit is at designated camping areas only. Currently a portion of the Cypress Camp Trail is closed. Click here for more details.

Printable map - Low Res here, hi res here (8 1/2" x 14")

Stairsteps Unit
The Stairsteps Unit is broken into various zones.

Zone 2 allows for ORV use by Swamp Buggies and ATVs. Dispersed camping is allowed. You may drive your ORV to a location along a designated trail nearest the camping spot you prefer, park your ORV along the shoulder of the trail, in such a manner that does not impede travel by others, and carry your camping equipment to the site. Currently there are 6 miles of primary and .5 miles of secondary trails within the unit.

Zone 3 currently allows for ORV use by Swamp Buggies and ATVs. Dispersed camping is allowed, as described above. The unit currently has 3 miles of primary and .5 miles of secondary trails.

Zone 4 can be accessed only by airboats. Airboats may access designated camp areas. This zone currently has 57 miles of designated trails.

To view a low resolution map (11" x 17") of the trails of all zones in the unit that allow ORV access click here. For a high resolution version to print click here.

 

Did You Know?

Bear in a tree.

Many do not expect to see bears in Florida. Actually, we have a healthy population within the state. Big Cypress is one of their ideal habitats in southwest Florida. If camping in the area, be sure to keep your camp "bear proof."