Off-Road Vehicle Use

 

PLEASE NOTE:
The annual 60-day closure of off-road vehicle trails to wheeled vehicles begins June 3 - August 1, 2013.

Effective April 8, 2013, Zone-4 airboat access to the Preserve is closed due to low water levels.

 

Nearly impossible to reach by foot, generations explored remote areas of the preserve by homemade airboats or swamp buggies. Today, people enjoy this traditional activity along an extensive trail system by obtaining permits for a variety of allowed vehicles.

 

The Off-road Vehicle Permit Office (located at the Oasis Visitor Center) is open Thursday through Monday from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. The office is closed December 25. The office is only available for renewals on Mondays. For more information contact the office at 239-695-1205.

Click here for more information related to the Bear Island Unit decision

Off-road vehicle operation on designated trails for hunting, fishing, frogging, camping, wildlife observation, transportation to private property, and other traditional nature-based activities are consistent with the Big Cypress National Preserve enabling legislation and the Addition Act, and are, therefore authorized in the Preserve.

Operation of off-road vehicles in excess of the authorized speed limit, off designated trails or for the purpose of challenging the vehicle against Preserve resources or other vehicles, such as racing, mudding, sport riding, motocross riding, and competitive events, is not consistent with the Big Cypress National Preserve enabling legislation, or the Addition Act. These non-traditional pursuits damage the resource and, therefore, are not authorized in Big Cypress National Preserve. Engaging in these activities can result in forfeiture of Off-Road Vehicle access privileges.

---

To learn more about Off-Road Vehicle recreation within the preserve, please use the following links.

• Off-Road Vehicle Permit Guidelines
• Permit Renewal Form
• Want to register an ATV or UTV? Learn more about the state's title requirements here.
• To view maps of designated Off-Road Vehicle trails click here. Maps can be viewed per unit on printable PDF files, or all designated ORV trails may be viewed using Google Earth or Garmin software.
• The Off-Road Vehicle Advisory Committee was established pursuant to the Preserve's 2000 Recreational Off-road Vehicle Management Plan and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, to examine issues and make recommendations regarding the management of Off-Road Vehicles within the Preserve. For more on the committee click here.
• Organizers of group off-road vehicle events are required to obtain a special use permit, by clicking here.
• Off-Road Vehicle Management Plan (2000).
• Camp Owner Questions and Answers
• BICY Land Protection Plan
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area Hunting Regs. For more information on Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, click here.