Everglades National Park

The Everglades is a slow-moving, shallow river roughly 60 miles wide and 100 miles long, originating from the Kissimmee River and Lake Okeechobee and flowing south to Florida Bay. The water moves at roughly 0.25 miles per day, barely perceptible, creating a vast freshwater marsh dominated by sawgrass. The ecosystem includes distinct habitats: sawgrass marshes, cypress domes, mangrove forests, pine rocklands, and coastal prairies, each supporting different plant and animal communities. The marl prairies, located on limestone bedrock, support diverse grasses and wildflowers. The park's hydrology has been dramatically altered by human activity, with over half of the original Everglades drained for agriculture and development. The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, authorized by Congress in 2000, is the largest environmental restoration effort in history, aimed at restoring natural water flow to the remaining ecosystem. The park's elevation varies by only a few feet across its entire expanse, and even small changes in water level have significant ecological effects. The mangrove forests along the coast are among the largest in the Northern Hemisphere and serve as critical nurseries for marine life.

The Anhinga Trail, near the Royal Palm entrance, is the park's most popular trail, a 0.8-mile boardwalk over a sawgrass marsh where alligators, anhingas, herons, and turtles are frequently visible. The Gumbo Limbo Trail is a 0.4-mile loop through a tropical hardwood hammock showcasing the park's subtropical forest. Shark Valley, located on the northern boundary, features a 15-mile loop trail accessible by bike, tram, or foot, with a 65-foot observation tower at the halfway point offering panoramic views of the River of Grass. The Flamingo area, at the end of the main park road, offers boat tours, canoe rentals, and access to Florida Bay. The Coastal Prairie Trail is a 7.5-mile one-way hike through coastal hammock to Cape Sable, the southernmost point in the continental United States. The Eco Pond Trail near Flamingo is a short loop around a freshwater pond excellent for birdwatching. Canoeing and kayaking are popular, with the Wilderness Waterway, a 99-mile paddling route from Everglades City to Flamingo, being the premier backcountry paddling experience in the park, typically requiring seven to ten days.

Everglades National Park is located in southern Florida, roughly 45 miles west of Miami and 40 miles south of Naples. The park has three main entrances: the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center and Royal Palm entrance near Homestead, accessed via the main park road that extends 38 miles to Flamingo; the Shark Valley entrance off the Tamiami Trail; and the Gulf Coast Visitor Center in Everglades City, which provides access to the Ten Thousand Islands and the Wilderness Waterway. Entrance fees are $30 per vehicle, valid for seven days, and are good for all entrances. The main park road from the Coe Visitor Center to Flamingo passes through the park's varied habitats and offers numerous trailheads and viewpoints. Lodging is available at the Flamingo Lodge, which reopened in 2023, and there are two drive-in campgrounds: Long Pine Key Campground near the main entrance and Flamingo Campground at the end of the road. Backcountry camping requires permits, with sites along the Wilderness Waterway and in coastal areas. The nearest airports are Miami International and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International, both roughly 50 miles from the main entrance.

Everglades National Park has two distinct seasons: the dry season from December through April and the wet season from May through November. The dry season is the most popular time to visit, with lower humidity, cooler temperatures, and lower mosquito activity. Wildlife is concentrated around remaining water sources, making alligators, wading birds, and other animals easier to spot. The wet season brings heavy rain, high humidity, and abundant mosquitoes, but it is also when the ecosystem is most alive, with lush vegetation and fewer crowds. Summer temperatures routinely reach the 90s, and afternoon thunderstorms are common. Hurricane season runs from June through November, and the park can close during tropical storms. The park is home to over 360 bird species, including roseate spoonbills, wood storks, and great blue herons, making it one of the premier birdwatching destinations in North America. American crocodiles are found in the saltwater areas of Florida Bay, one of the few places in the world where both alligators and crocodiles coexist. The endangered Florida panther, with fewer than 200 individuals remaining, occasionally ranges into the park's northern sections.