Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park

Location: Florida
Difficulty: Easy
Features: hiking, bird watching, tropical and subtropical ecosystem, tours, kayak,canoe

Everglades National Park is an hour drive from Miami. Its  tropical and subtropical ecosystems encompass 1.5 million acres. It is the country’s biggest tropical wilderness and awarded as an International Biosphere Reserve, a Wetland of International Importance and a World Heritage Site at the same time. Florida panther, the American crocodile, and the West Indian manatee, along with many other species of birds, fishes,mammals and reptiles inhabit the park. Hiking trails established in the park include Gumbo Limbo Trail (0.4 mile) and Anhinga Trail (0.8 mile), and Long Pine Key Trail (6.1 miles). Tours are available by  boat, bicycle or on foot. Visitors can enter from either the Gulf Coast Visitor Center near Naples in Everglades,  the Shark Valley area thru US 41 or the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, which is the parks’ main headquarters. Campsites with RV parking are available near the area.

Top 3 Adventure Hacks

1) Hot summer

Canoe trips can’t be offered in summer due to sweltering heat. Bring lots of water for a summer visit

2) Plan ahead

To maximize your visit, bring an Everglades map and ask Everglades park rangers for safety tips. The park is vast, it is important to choose an entry point based on your planned activities.

3) Ranger led programs

December through March are the best months to visit because most ranger programs and park concessions are available. This is also the best time for bird spotting