News Release

South Florida National Parks and Preserve update their status following Hurricane Ian

Park ranger assesses road flooding near Flamingo

NPS Photo

News Release Date: September 29, 2022

Contact: Everglades and Dry Tortugas: Allyson Gantt, 786-610-8023

Contact: Biscayne: Liz Strom, 786-335-3673

Contact: Big Cypress: Scott Pardue, 239-695-2000

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Following the passing of Hurricane Ian, visitors to the South Florida National Parks and Preserve should continue to exercise caution while in the park due to the possibility of unidentified hazards on land and in park waters. Marine waters continue to be open in all locations. Current status is available on each park’s website under Alerts. 

On Sept. 30, Biscayne National Park will reopen for normal operations. These areas include:  

• Convoy Point Grounds  
• Dante Fascell Visitor Center  
• Park Headquarters 
• Biscayne National Park Institute tours 
• Florida National Parks Association bookstore 

Also on Sept. 30, Everglades National Park will partially reopen certain areas of the park including: 

• Shark Valley entrance at 8:30 a.m. 

• Airboat tour operators along Tamiami Trail 

• Homestead entrance and the Main Park Road for 25 miles to Paurotis Pond from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Starting Oct. 1, this area will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. until the park is able to reopen the Flamingo area.  

These Everglades areas remain closed: 

• Gulf Coast Visitor Center and Everglades City entrance  

• Flamingo 

• Main Park Road south of Paurotis Pond 

• Wilderness and front-country camping 

For guided tours and services, visitors should call or check individual websites for more information. Links can be found on the park’s website: www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/guidedtours.htm 

Dry Tortugas National Park sustained a direct hit and remains closed while staff assess damage. Vessels may seek safe harbor within the one nautical mile anchoring zone around Garden Key, including Bird Key Harbor. No services are available. Garden and Loggerhead Keys are closed, including the campground, main dock and visitor courtesy slips on Garden Key and the main dock at Loggerhead Key. 

Big Cypress National Preserve also remains closed at this time.  
 

For more information about Biscayne National Park, visit nps.gov/bisc or follow the park on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  

For more information about Everglades National Park, visit nps.gov/ever or follow the park on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

For more information about Dry Tortugas National Park, visit nps.gov/drto or follow the park on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  

For more information about Big Cypress National Preserve, visit nps.gov/bicy or follow the preserve on Facebook or Instagram.