• 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 »

Places To Go

When you enter the preserve be on highway 41 this is where the fun begins. Not only is this roadway an experience in itself, it is the route to all places of interest in Big Cypress. All along the scenic drive there are scenic pull-offs, designed to give you wildlife viewing opportunities.

Depending on which direction you're coming from, you'll definitely want to get the latest information and recomendations at one of our visitor contact stations. Big Cypress National Preserve (from the east) is Oasis Visitor Center, Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Center (from the west). At these locations, you will be greeted by a National Park Ranger, who will welcome you and provide you with a map and other information about the national peserve.

In addition to a few stops along the way, plan a stop at the visitor centers, bookstores, and interesting exhibits. Kirby Storter Boardwalk is a great place to spend some time and you will see hiking trailheads all along the scenic drive.

If you want to visit virtually, get to know Big Cypress National Preserve by clicking on Nature & Science and History & Culture. Take a web trip to other National Park Service areas by visiting nps.gov and the Web Ranger site.

Did You Know?

Many large trees that did exist were harvested in the early 1900s.

There are few "big cypress" in Big Cypress National Preserve. The name comes from the great expanse of cypress forest, hundreds of thousands of acres, within the Big Cypress Swamp.