Mobility

Visitors with impaired mobility, especially those reliant on wheelchairs, will find this information helpful in planning an enjoyable visit to Everglades National Park.

 

Visitor Centers

• The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, located at the park entrance near Homestead, offers an accessible route from the parking lot to the building via a curb ramp. The parking lot contains van accessible parking spaces clearly identified by signage. The center offers ease of access to the interior of the building through automatic swinging doors operated by an easily accessed manual switch. This is a good place to begin your visit and orient yourself on what the park has to offer.

• The Royal Palm Visitor Center is accessible to wheelchairs. The trailheads and store can be accessed via a curb ramp from the parking lot through a barrier-free path. The parking lot contains van accessible parking spaces identified by clear signage. This area allows for ideal wildlife viewing along the Anhinga Trail, which is also wheelchair friendly.

• The Guy Bradley Visitor Center (Flamingo) is accessible by a steep ramp or elevator. The parking lot contains van accessible parking spaces identified by clear signage. All doors can swing open automatically by manually pressing easily accessed buttons. The Guy Bradley Trail is a paved, 1-mile path that is wheelchair-friendly. Check with park rangers for current conditions as the trail can flood in inclement weather.

• The Shark Valley Visitor Center is accessible to wheelchairs from the parking lot via a curb ramp. The parking lot contains van accessible parking spaces identified by clear signage.

• The temporary Gulf Coast Visitor Center is accessible by ramp. The parking lot contains van accessible parking spaces identified by clear signage.

Wheelchairs are available on loan on a first-come, first-served basis at Royal Palm Visitor Center, Guy Bradley Visitor Center, Shark Valley Visitor Center, and Gulf Coast Visitor Center.

 

Trails

A great way to experience the Everglades is to do so on one of the many accessible trails. These have a firm and stable surface which can be paved or a boardwalk. The following are wheelchair accesible and less than 3/4 of a mile in distance.

• Anhinga Trail
• Gumbo Limbo Trail
• Pineland Trail
• Pa-hay-okee Overlook
• Mahogany Hammock Trail
• West Lake Trail
• Bobcat Boardwalk Trail

Other trails at Long Pine Key and Flamingo used to be two-track roads. These may be muddy or passable depending on the season.

 

Campgrounds

Front Country Camping

The Long Pine Key and Flamingo frontcountry campgrounds both have accessible campsites. Each contains wheelchair accessible restrooms. The parking lot contains van accessible parking spaces identifiable by clear signage.

Backcountry Camping

There is only one backcountry site that is accessible to visitors with mobility impairments. It is the Pearl Bay Chickee, located about a four hour canoe trip away from the main park road. It features handrails, a canoe dock, and an accessible chemical toilet.

 

Ranger-led Activities and Concession Tours

Ranger-Led Programs

There are a variety of ranger-led activities ranging from guided tours of some of the trails to amphitheater programs. Most of these occur during our winter season, during the summer our programs are limited. Check the list of current ranger-led activities.

Boat, Tram, & Other Concession Tours

Many of the concession-led boat tours from Flamingo and Gulf Coast are wheelchair accessible. The Shark Valley tram tour is accessible as well; trams contain a ramp for wheelchairs. Tour includes a stop at an observation tower which has a steep ramp; it may be accessible with assistance. Call ahead for arrangements. View our list of guided tours and other services.

 

For more information contact Everglades National Park information, 305-242-7700. For TDD, call 305-242-7740.