Hiking

Depending on the time of year hiking trails may be submerged, but are navigable.

 

Hiking within Big Cypress can be along designated trails, or orienteering through unmarked territory. Hikers should be prepared for conditions depending on the season. The dry season provides the most comfortable hiking conditions. The wet season has its unique challenges, and hikers should be prepared for tromping through water that in places can be waist deep. During either season rewards can be many - quietly watching an otter eat a fish, feeling the wind rustling your hair, discovering tropical blooms or happening upon a bear track.

During hunting seasons it is recomended that all people going in to the backcountry of the Preserve wear a lightweight, blaze orange vest. You may purchase these at any local sporting goods store.

Click here for a short video on hiking safely in the Preserve.

 

Hiking Trails in Big Cypress

Big Cypress has lots of opportunities to get outside and into nature! Hiking in the swamp can be intimidating, but it doesn't have to be! We have a series of trails (yes, many are still wet-hikes), that you can follow and feel confident while hiking! Click the drop-downs below for information on our designated hiking trails within the Preserve's boundary!

Deep Lake Trail

Getting to Deep Lake

Deep Lake Trail is accessible from Highway 29 on the western edge of the Preserve. If you are coming from Highway 41, you'll make a left-hand turn at the Carnestown light and travel straight until you see a tall fence with a brown sign that says, "Deep Lake Entrance". There is an NPS gate that may be open or closed depending on the day. We ask that you park OUTSIDE the gate to avoid issues should our staff need to close the gates and walk through the smaller pedestrian gate! Follow the gravel road to the back left corner of the clearing and find the trail head!

What to Expect

This is a 1.5 mile out-and-back hike that dead-ends at Deep Lake. Along the trail you will walk mostly through our cypress strand habitat, and can expect to walk through water from June until about March. Wildflowers, native ferns, giant cypress will line your way to the lake, in addition to the various animals you may be lucky enough to spot! Both wading birds and song birds find joy here, as well as various other critters!

This is a great hike for 'beginner' swamp walkers, as the trail is well-defined, and only partially underwater. Hikers can expect to see alligators in Deep Lake at the end of the hike, and occasionaly along the trail. Please be respectful of these ancient reptiles and give them plenty of space when passing on the trail. 

Deep Lake has historical significance in the Preserve as well! Read more about that here!

Gator Hook Trail

Getting to Gator Hook

To get to the Gator Hook Trailhead, you will need to travel down Loop Road Scenic Drive just over 2 miles (from the western Loop Road entrance). The trailhead, in addition to pulloff parking, and a pit toilet, are on the left hand side of the road. Loop Road is a gravel road that often has potholes due to rain and wind, please be aware when traveling and take the drive slow in order to avoid damaging your vehicle.

What to Expect

Gator Hook Trail is a 5-mile round-trip, out-and-back hike. Most of the trail is shaded by vegetation, but does have sections without shade which can get hot in the warmer months. While most of this trail is elevated in a hardwood hammock, there will be sections in which you will need to walk through water. This trail also has lots of trip hazards. Exposed limestone, in addition to tree roots can make this a challenging trail for those without sure-footing.

Wildlife along this trail can vary based on the time of year, but you can almost defintely count on seeing various species of songbirds!

 

Fire Prairie Trail

Getting to Fire Prairie

Located up Turner River Road, hikers should anticipate a roughly 30-minute (14.5 mile) drive to the Fire Prairie Trailhead from H.P. Williams Roadside Park. Driving up Turner River Road, the trailhead will be on the lefthand side of the maintained-gravel road. Adventurers should pull over and park on either side of the road before setting out on your hike.

What to Expect

This is the only fully-dry trail within the Preserve, but as the name suggests, you are often walking through open prairies that get full sun. Fire Prairie is a 5-mile round trip, out-and-back hike, so be prepared with water as there is very little shade. The trail is a great place to see wildlife in addition to wild flowers in the spring and summer months! Bikes are also allowed on Fire Prairie, so please be careful and share the trail.

 

Hiking in the Backcountry

If you plan on traveling into the backcountry be sure to inform a friend or family member of your itinerary, expected time/date of return and how to contact the National Park Service in case of an emergency.

Once in the backcountry you have the ability to explore the wild beauty of the swamp but you should be aware of changing weather conditions and carry proper equipment for your exploration. You need: compass, maps, GPS, water, sun block and insect repellent.

During the summer wet season expect to be walking through water in most areas.

There are private properties in the backcountry -- respect private property and do not trespass.

 

The Florida National Scenic Trail in Big Cypress National Preserve

The Florida National Scenic Trail stretches about 1,400 miles from Gulf Islands National Seashore to Big Cypress National Preserve. The southernmost section of the trail is within the National Preserve. The southern terminus of the trail begins at the Oasis Visitor Center and stretches northward for approximately 36 miles to the Preserve's northern border. The northernmost section of the trail is within Gulf Islands National Seashore. It begins at Fort Pickens and runs parallel to the coastline for 7 miles before exiting the park, then reentering in the Santa Rosa area of the National Seashore for another 7 miles.

The trail passes through a variety of habitat types including beaches, hardwood hammocks, pinelands, prairies and cypress. There are several backcountry campsites located along the trail.

During the dry season (November-April), there may be very little to no water along the trail. Hikers need to pack in their own water.

This trail is moderately strenuous. Footing can be difficult and during the rainy season, the trail can be heavily vegetated and overgrown. Portions of the trail can be under water at certain times of year. Water can be as deep as 3 to 4 feet.

Several portions of the trail require hiking along the highway, up to 40 miles or more depending on the route chosen by the traveler. There are two sections where hikers may take an east or west route depending on personal preference and hiking ability. Be prepared with permits and clothing for drastic changes in temperature and weather pattern.

For trail conditions and more information on hiking the Florida National Scenic Trail, visit the Florida Trails Association website!

For interactive maps and additional information visit the U.S. Forest Service website!

 

Leave No Travel Principles

The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace provide an easily understood framework of minimum impact practices for anyone visiting the outdoors. The Principles can be applied anywhere — from remote wilderness areas, to local parks and even in your backyard. Each Principle covers a specific topic and provides detailed information to empower you to minimize your impacts. The 7 Principles are well-established and widely known but not static. Leave No Trace continually examines, evaluates, and reshapes the Principles and conducts research to ensure that they are up to date with the latest insights from biologists, land managers, and other leaders in outdoor education. Below are the 7 Principles:

Principle 1: Plan Ahead and Prepare

When outdoor visitors plan ahead and prepare, it helps to accomplish trip goals safely and enjoyably while simultaneously minimizing damage to the land. Poor planning often results in a less enjoyable experience and damage to natural and cultural resources.

The Basics:

• Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you’ll visit.
• Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
• Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use.
• Visit in small groups. Split larger parties into smaller groups.
• Repackage food to minimize waste.
• Use a map and compass to eliminate the use of rock cairns, flagging, or marking paint.

Principle 2: Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

The goal of travel outdoors is to move through natural areas while avoiding damage to the land, foliage, or waterways. Understanding how travel causes impacts is necessary to accomplish this goal. Travel damage occurs when surface vegetation or communities of organisms are trampled beyond recovery. After traveling to an area, we can have a significant effect on where we decide to camp. The resulting barren area leads to soil erosion and the development of undesirable trails or trampled areas. By understanding the best practices to travel and camp on durable surfaces responsibly, we can minimize human impact on outdoor spaces.

The Basics:

• Durable surfaces include established trails, campsites, rock, gravel, and dry grasses or snow.
• Protect riparian areas by camping at least 200 feet from lakes and streams.
• Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is not necessary.

In popular areas

• Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites.
• Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when wet or muddy.
• Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent.

In undisturbed areas

• Disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites and trails.
• Avoid places where impacts are just beginning.

Principle 3: Dispose of Waste Properly

The waste humans create while enjoying outdoor spaces can have severe impacts if not disposed of properly. It is crucial to anticipate the types of waste you will need to dispose of and know the proper techniques for disposing of each type of waste in the area you are visiting. Leave No Trace encourages outdoor enthusiasts to consider the impacts they leave behind, which will undoubtedly affect other people, water, and wildlife.

The Basics:

• Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash or spilled food. Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter. Burning trash is never recommended.
• Deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6-8 inches deep at least 200 feet from water, camp, and trails. Cover and disguise the cathole when finished.
• Bury toilet paper deep in a cathole or pack the toilet paper out along with hygiene products.
• To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater.

Principle 4: Leave What You Find

The items we find in nature have a role to play, either in the ecosystem or the story of the landscape. Leaving what we find in place helps to preserve both. Allow others a sense of discovery by leaving rocks, plants, archaeological artifacts, and other objects of interest as you find them.

The Basics:

• Preserve the past: observe cultural or historic structures and artifacts, but do not touch them.
• Leave rocks, plants, and other natural objects as you find them.
• Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
• Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.

Principle 5: Minimize Campfire Impacts

Once necessary for cooking and warmth, campfires are steeped in history and tradition. Some people would not think of camping without a campfire. Campfire building is also an essential skill for every camper. Yet, the natural appearance of many areas has been degraded by the overuse of fires and increasing demand for firewood. Moreover, wildfires continue to threaten outdoor spaces and are primarily caused by humans. We can minimize campfire impacts by keeping a few key things in mind.

The Basics:

• Campfires can cause lasting impacts on the environment. Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light.
• Use established fire rings, pans, or mound fires where fires are permitted.
• Keep fires small. Use only sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand.
• Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cool ashes.

Principle 6: Respect Wildlife

Whenever you are in an outdoor space, you are in the natural habitat of many wild animals and should work to minimize your impact on them.  Human impacts of wildlife can result in negative human-wildlife interactions, aggressive animals, a decline in the ecosystem’s health, and relocated or euthanized animals. All these impacts can be avoided if visitors respect wildlife on all outdoor trips. 

The Basics:

• Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
• Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
• Control pets at all times, or leave them at home.
• Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter.

Principle 7: Be Considerate of Others

One of the most important components of outdoor ethics is to maintain courtesy toward others. It helps everyone enjoy their outdoor experience. Exessive noise, uncontrolled pets, and damaged surroundings detract from the natural appeal of the outdoors. Being considerate of others ensures everyone can enjoy nature no matter how they interact with it.
 

The Basics:

• Respect others and protect the quality of their experience.
• Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail.
• Greet riders and ask which side of the trail to move to when encountering pack stock.
• Take breaks and camp away from trails and others.
• Let nature’s sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises.

 

Downloadable Files

You may download .kml (Google Earth) and .gdb (Garmin Map Source) files of hiking trails 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 you 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.