Roadside Parks

Before Big Cypress National Preserve was established in 1974, road-weary drivers traveling along Highway 41 found few opportunities to pull over and stretch their legs. H.P. Williams and Kirby Storter Parks provide the opportunity to recharge your batteries and appreciate the beauty of this special place.

Both parks are midway between Miami and Naples along the Tamiami Trail.

 

H.P. Williams Roadside Park picnic area.

H.P. Williams Roadside Park

A 200m boardwalk with one accessible entry point, H.P. Williams offers views of the cypress swamp and a waterway where a variety of wildlife are often seen, including alligators, turtles, egrets, herons, hawks, anhingas, and a variety of other bird species. Picnic tables and a vault toilet are also available at this site.

Park rangers are sometimes present to answer your questions. Please also stop at the Preserve's visitor centers and ask about ranger programs to help you better experience the preserve at H.P. Williams and elsewhere!

Historical Significance
This small rest stop and wildlife viewing area is named for Homer P. Williams, an engineer, who worked for Barron Collier during the construction of Tamiami Trail (Highway 41) in the 1920s. Designated in 1965 by the Florida Legislature, this park is older than the Preserve and is a great stop for wildlife viewing and experiencing your public lands.

 

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Kirby Storter Roadside Park picnic area.

Kirby Storter Roadside Park

KIRBY STORTER IS ONLY PARTIALLY OPEN DUE TO A FIRE IN SUMMER OF 2025. WE ARE WORKING QUICKLY TO BE ABLE TO CLEAN UP AND REBUILD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

Approximately halfway through your drive across Big Cypress along Highway 41 is Kirby Storter Park, this one-mile, round-trip Boardwalk offers an excellent opportunity to explore a mature cypress strand without getting your feet wet.

The boardwalk ends at an overlook at a gator hole, where you will often find a variety of wildlife enjoying the oasis. Although it's not a guarantee you'll see an alligator, this pond was dug out by 'gators to assure a deeper water source during the driest parts of the year. This oasis provides food and shelter for alligators and many other birds, reptiles, and mammals.

Historical Significance
Named after one of the area's pioneering families, Kirby Storter worked for several years as a carpenter and electrician for Barron Collier, and later oversaw construction of South Florida roads (including Tamiami Trail) for the Florida Roads Department.