Everglades National Park page 2
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President Harry S Truman formally dedicated Everglades National Park on December 6, 1947 in a ceremony held at Everglades City, to protect its magnificent biological resources. Protection of wading birds and their rookeries from commercial exploitation and encroachments was the prime reason for setting the park aside. Although habitat changes have reduced historic numbers, tens of thousands of birds feed and nest within the Everglades, providing visitors with opportunities of a lifetime of bird watching. It encompasses 1,508,538 acres and attracts approximately 1,181,000 visitors a year, with visitation being highest from December through April and lowest May through November.
This is almost exclusively a biological park dedicated to the preservation of a complex and precisely ordered living mechanism. It lays at the interface between temperate and sub-tropical America, giving a rich diversity of species, many at the limit of their ranges. The topography is so subdued that a broad sheet of water slowly flows over and through the porous limestone bedrock on its way to the sea, rather than following well-defined valleys. Most of the park is actually covered with water during normal wet seasons, while dry winters cause fresh water to dwindle to a few open areas crowded with wildlife.
The great floral variety of the Everglades is one of the key resources of the park. Among its more prominent and colorful plants are Bromeliads and epiphytic orchids. As many as 25 varieties of orchids are known to occur in the park, in addition to over 1000 other kinds of seed-bearing plants and 120 species of trees. The park is so much more then what you see portrayed on TV shows and movies.
Visitor centers are located at the main entrance (west of Homestead), Royal Palm, Flamingo, Shark Valley, and Gulf Coast (south of Everglades City). They are all open year round. Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, Shark Valley Visitor Center, and Gulf Coast Visitor Center all have varying hours for winter and summer, but are mostly open 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Ernest Coe Visitor Center at the park entrance near Homestead is fully accessible to wheelchairs. There are audio programs available, as well as a captioned film “Everglades: River of Life.” The Coe Visitor Center is a good place to get oriented to all the park has to offer. The Royal Palm Visitor Center is also fully accessible and has a wheelchair available for loan on a first come, first served basis. This is an excellent place to view alligators on nearby boardwalks. The Flamingo Visitor Center is accessible by a steep ramp from the parking area. It contains a museum exhibit with both print and audio displays. A free wheelchair is available for loan on a first come, first served basis. The Eco Pond Trail is nearby and accessible to wheelchairs. The Shark Valley Visitor Center is fully accessible and has a wheelchair available for loan on a first come, first served basis. The Gulf Coast Visitor Center is accessible by elevator from the parking area. It contains a museum exhibit with print and captioned video displays.
Throughout the winter numerous activities from slide shows to canoe trips are offered by rangers in various areas of the park. At least half of these are accessible by wheelchair. Check the list of current ranger-led activities at a visitor center for information on programs and accessibility. The best way to experience the Everglades is on one of the many trails, many of which are paved or wooden boardwalks. All of the following are wheelchair accessible and less than 3/4 mile long: Anhinga Trail, Gumbo-Limbo Trail, Pinelands Trail, Pahayokee Overlook, Mahogany Hammock Trail, West Lake Trail, and Bobcat Hammock, so don’t miss out on any adventure.
Chickees, used for camping, are located along interior rivers and bays where no dry land exists. Miccosukee Indians describe a chickee as an open-air structure which allows wind to blow through for comfort on hot days and to keep insects away. Everglades Wilderness chickees serve a similar purpose. Some ground sites are old Indian mounds. Coastal aboriginals, who lived here well before the Seminoles, constructed mounds of shell or soil as dry dwelling sites amidst the mangroves. Others, such as the Lopez River campsite and the Watson Place, were cleared by early settlers. Beach sites are located on coastal shell beaches. Most of south Florida’s natural beach is built up from the shells of multitudes of marine organisms. While some shells are fragmented, many can be discovered completely intact. Some beaches, such as Highland Beach and Cape Sable, serve as essential nesting sites for the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta).
Sandfly Island, on the Gulf Coast, has a long human history. The island itself is a shell mound created by Calusa Indians, who arrived in this area over 2,000 years ago. In the early 1900s, settlers had a home, tomato farm, and even a store on the island. Today nature has reclaimed the island and few signs of human settlement remain. You can canoe to it and then if you walk quietly on the island, you may see raccoons, turtles, mangrove crabs or birds. Sandfly Island has a dock and a one mile (1600 m) loop walking trail. To go onto the island it is best to land on the shore and walk to the trail, rather than attempting to get out on the dock. After your walk you may want to continue exploring south of the island along Sandfly Pass.
Everglades National Park has many miles of biking and hiking trails. Bicycling is permitted along the main park roads, on the Shark Valley tram road, on the Old Ingraham Highway, on Long Pine Key Nature Trail, and on the Snake Bight and Rowdy Bend trails at Flamingo. Both hiking and biking make excellent adventure travel in this park.
Once, water flowed freely from Lake Okeechobee to Florida Bay, a “river of grass” 120 miles long and 50 miles wide, but less than a foot deep. In this flat landscape, even a few inches of elevation meant the difference between wet marsh and dry ground. Today, the Everglades are an ecosystem in danger. Canals and levees capture and divert its water for human needs, including drinking water, irrigation, and flood control. Often, too much water is withheld from the Everglades during the wet season, or too much is diverted into it during the winter drought, disrupting the natural cycles of feeding and nesting which depend on these patterns. Sometimes the water is contaminated by pollutants. Faced with loss of habitat, disruption of water flow, and the invasion of non-native species, many animals have declined dramatically in number. Some have virtually disappeared. Fortunately, in recent years the park has grown more aware of these threats, and of the importance of resolving them. Major efforts are under way to restore the natural flow of water through the river of grass. Research projects help to better understand the Everglades, and what it will take to protect it.
The Everglades is mild and pleasant from December through April, though rare cold fronts may create near freezing conditions. Summers are hot and humid, with temperatures around 90 degrees (32°C) and humidity over 90%. Afternoon thunderstorms are common. The Atlantic Hurricane Season is June-November. Tropical storms or hurricanes may affect the area. The rainy season is June through October (mosquito season coincides with the rainy season).
Mosquitoes are very prevalent June through October! Be prepared, so you can enjoy this unique park, with repellent, sunscreen, and loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants in summer or try the new insect repellent clothing now available. In winter, wear comfortable sportswear. Information on mosquito levels during the summer is available at (305) 242-7700 (8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST).
Visitors are advised to bring drinking water and snacks since these items are sparsely located. Do not leave food unattended. Store food in a secure compartment aboard a vessel or in a hard-sided cooler (not foam). Raccoons are aggressive and may chew through plastic jugs containing fresh water. Raccoons will also tear into a tent to obtain food.
Wilderness permits are required for all overnight camping, except in auto campgrounds or when sleeping aboard boats. There is a fee for processing of the permit. They may be obtained in person up to 24 hours before the day your trip begins. Please display your permit on your tent. Upon completion of your trip, turn your permit in to a Ranger Station or Visitor Center. Insect conditions are so severe during summer months that wilderness use is minimal and permit writing desks may not be staffed. Permits are still required – follow self-registration instruction at the Flamingo or Gulf Coast Visitor Centers, or the Key Largo Ranger Station (usually May to November). Winter wilderness users originating from the Florida Keys will be able to obtain permits by phone by calling 239-695-2945, no more than 24 hours prior to the start of their trip, for the following locations only: North Nest Key, Little Rabbit Key, Carl Ross Key, and the Cape Sable Beaches.
Practice Leave-No-Trace principles. Wilderness ethics dictate that visitors to the area try to leave no trace of their passage. Bring all trash out of the backcountry with you. Do not bury it or dispose of it in toilets. Use toilets where provided, for human waste only. Bring a small plastic trowel for use at other times. Where there is no toilet, dig a hole at least six inches deep and cover it after use or, better yet, pack human waste and toilet paper to the nearest toilet. At beach and coastal ground sites, urinate directly in the water. To avoid soap pollution in local waters, wash dishes (and yourself) away from waterways and sprinkle the gray water over the ground to soak in. International laws prohibit dumping trash at sea. Pets are not permitted at backcountry campsites, beaches, or ashore anywhere in the backcountry. Pets can disrupt feeding, nesting, and mating activities of wildlife.
Campers and boaters, carry fresh water (1 gallon / 4 liters per person per day), food, compass, nautical charts, topographical maps, anchor, sunscreen, sunglasses, rain gear, insect repellent, and tent (with insect netting). Safely exploring a wilderness by water requires careful preparation and planning. Plan at least two routes before arriving at the park in case your first choice is already filled. Leave a float plan with family or friends. If you require assistance planning your trip, call or stop by the Gulf Coast (Everglades City) or Flamingo Visitor Centers. The Flamingo Visitor Center is staffed intermittently during the summer. Flamingo Marina, open year-round, can accommodate more than 50 boats with electric and water hookups. The channel will accept a four foot maximum draft. Boat fuel is available for sale. Boat ramps are located at Flamingo, West Lake, and Little Blackwater Sound on Key Largo. All motors are prohibited on all freshwater lakes; however, water craft with engines of 6 horsepower or less are permitted on West Lake. Power boaters should reduce speed in narrow channels. They should idle past canoeists and avoid approaching canoeists too closely. Vessels within 100 yards (90 m) of any backcountry campsite need to approach sites at idle speed to avoid prop dredging and excessive wave action. Watch for manatees! Please check with the park for full boating regulations. All vessels must conform to Coast Guard regulations. Obey all posted signs regarding closures, no wake zones, etc.
Canoeing is an excellent way to explore the Everglades, because more than one third of the park is made up of marine areas and shallow estuaries. Check at the Flamingo or Gulf Coast Visitor Centers for maps and directions. Canoes may be rented at Flamingo and Gulf Coast. Don’t overestimate your abilities. Suggested equipment includes flotation devices (required by law), paddles, a bailer, bow and stern lines, waterproof bags for gear, a tide chart, water (1 gallon / 4 liters per person), long shirt and pants for sun and insect protection, a wide-brimmed hat, shoes that can get wet, sunglasses, sunscreen, and insect repellent. Boats more than 18 feet (5.5 m) long or with high cabins or windshields should not attempt the trip because of narrow channels and overhanging vegetation. Nautical charts are necessary for finding your way in the coastal zone, and are useful in planning your trip.
Here are a few boating safety tips while traveling in the Everglades. Beware of swift currents and tides when securing vessels overnight; tidal ranges can exceed 4 feet (1.2 m) in some locations. Beach canoes above the high tide line or anchor from three points at landings/docks. Tides can also be used to your advantage in travel. Tide tables are available at the Flamingo and Gulf Coast Visitor Centers. Numerous canoes and boats have been swamped by rough seas on windy days. Prepare for sudden wind and weather changes at any time. Anchor or tie your boat securely. Tides and winds can make canoeing difficult. Most canoeists plan to travel between 10 and 12 miles (16-19 km) per day, so keep track of your miles. If you are in trouble, stay with your vessel near a navigational marker or campsite. Set anchor immediately. Try to attract the attention of other boaters. The Gulf Coast Ranger Station and the Flamingo Ranger Station both monitor radio Channel 16 during daylight hours. Please use this channel for emergencies. The U.S. Coast Guard monitors the radio 24 hours per day.
This lists just a few of the fishing rules and recommendations. Anglers may have four (4) fillets per person for immediate consumption at designated campsites or on board vessels equipped with cooking facilities. All other fish must remain whole while on park waters. A Florida freshwater fishing license is required to fish in freshwater or to possess fresh water species. Live or dead fish (including minnows and shiners) or amphibians, and non-preserved fish eggs or roe, are prohibited. Digging for bait inside the park is not permitted. No fishing is allowed at the Ernest F. Coe (Main) Visitor Center lakes, Royal Palm Visitor Center area and trails, Chekika Lake, along the first 3 miles of the Main Park Road, including Taylor Slough, or along the Shark Valley Tram Road. High levels of mercury have been found in Everglades’s bass and in some fish species in northern Florida Bay. Do not eat bass caught north of the Main Park Road. Do not eat bass caught south of the Main Park Road more than once a week. Children and pregnant women should not eat any bass.
The following saltwater species caught in northern Florida Bay should not be consumed more than once per week by adults or once per month by women of child-bearing age and children: spotted seatrout, gafftopsail, catfish, bluefish, crevalle jack, or ladyfish. A Florida saltwater fishing license is required to fish in saltwater or to possess saltwater species. Bait, except for mullet and shrimp, is not included in bag limits. Saltwater bait can be shrimp, minnows, pilchards, pinfish, mullet, mojarras (shad), or ballyhoo. Bait may be taken with hook and line, dip net (not wider than 3 feet / 0.9 m), and cast net. No fishing is allowed in Eco, Mrazek or Coot Bay Ponds at any time. No fishing is allowed from the boardwalk at West Lake, or at the Flamingo Marina during daylight hours.
Remember that collecting plants and animals in Everglades National Park is prohibited. This includes such things as orchids, airplants, seahorses, starfish, conch, tropical fish, coral, sponges, and driftwood (except for fuel). One quart of non-occupied sea shells may be collected per person. The taking and possession of lobster and queen conch is prohibited.
The towing of persons by vessels utilizing water skis, hydra slides, knee boards or other similar types of equipment is prohibited so that manatees, crocodiles, and nesting birds will not be disturbed. The operation of “personal watercraft” also known as “wet bikes®”, “jet skis®”, and other trade names, is prohibited.
Do not approach or harass alligators and crocodiles, as they can be dangerous. It is illegal to feed wildlife. Backcountry sites are shared with alligators, marine turtles, nesting birds and other wildlife. Please observe, but do not disturb.
Areas frequented by manatees have been posted. Keep an eye out for manatees. Slow to an idle if observed, but do not approach or molest. These gentle creatures are becoming rare and need to be protected.
Entrance fees: Vehicle – $10, at main entrance and Shark Valley that is valid for 7 days, for single, private, non-commercial vehicles. An entrance fee is not charged at the Gulf Coast. Individuals – $5, at main entrance and at Shark Valley, that is a per-person fee for individuals 17 years of age or older when entering by foot, bicycle, motorcycle, buses carrying passengers not on a pre-packaged tour. An Everglades Annual Pass is $25, good for one year and covers the purchaser and family in a vehicle, on foot or bikes.
Camping fees: $14/day, regular sites with a maximum of 8 persons, Group Sites – $28, maximum of 15 persons. A backcountry permit is required for all wilderness campsites of $10 with an additional fee of $2/person per night. If you have a Golden Age Pass (U.S. citizen 62 or older) or Golden Access Pass (permanently disabled), camping is half price. This does not apply toward group sites.
A boat launch fee is charged to all vehicles entering the park with boats, including canoes, kayaks, and power boats. It is a per boat charge: 7 day boat launch fee – $5.00, 7 day non-motorized boat fee – $3.00, or an Annual boat launch pass – $60.00.
There are three camping areas: Flamingo Campground, Long Pine Key Campground and Wilderness Camping or Backcountry Camping. All three have accessible campsites. Each has wheelchair accessible restrooms. They are all open year-round allowing for winter camping. During the winter season (November 1 – April 30), camping is limited to 14 days. Camping may not exceed 30 days in one year. Only one primary camping unit (motor home, pop-up, camping, camper van, etc.) and one secondary unit (tent) may occupy a campsite at a time. Check-out is by 12:00 p.m. Chickees are located along interior rivers and bays where no dry land exists. They are elevated 10′ x 12′ (3 m x 3.7 m) wooden platforms with roofs, usually constructed on open water, well away from mangrove trees. A narrow walkway leads to a self-contained toilet. You’ll need a free-standing tent, since stakes or nails are not allowed. Ground sites are mounds of earth a few feet higher than the surrounding mangroves, located along interior bays and rivers. They tend to have more insects than chickees or beach sites.
Family/individual sites at the Flamingo campground are now only accepting reservation; Long Pine Key is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Reservations can be made through, The National Park Reservation Service at 877-444-6777 (domestic) or 518-885-3639 (international) or www.recreation.gov. Reservations are accepted up to five months in advance. Camping from May through October is by self-registration at all campgrounds. Fees are not charged from June to August.
Flamingo Campground is located at the end of the main park road in Flamingo. It has 234 drive-in sites (55 with a view of the water), 3 walk-up group sites (on the water’s edge), and 40 walk-up sites (9 on the water’s edge). It also provides cold water showers, two dump stations, picnic tables and grill for winter programs. There are no hookups for the RV campsites. Limited groceries and camping supplies are available at the Flamingo Marina store. Ground fires are not permitted at ground sites and chickees. Ground fires are only allowed at beach sites (except islands in Florida Bay), where they must be below the average high tide line. Use dead and down wood only! Backpacking stoves are recommended, as wood is often wet. Clean up after fires. Please be advised that it was heavily impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma in 2005.
Long Pine Key Campground is located seven miles (11 km) from the main entrance, just off the main road. It has 108 drive-up sites for tents and RVs, including one group site. There are rest rooms, water, and a sewer dump station with fresh water fill, but no showers or hookups. A picnic area is nearby, with fire grates and rest rooms. There is also a pond for fishing, an amphitheater for winter programs, and several hiking trails in the area.
Wilderness camping has 47 designated campsites. The majority of the sites are accessible only by canoe, kayak, and motorboat. A few sites are accessible by foot. None are accessible by car. There is one backcountry site that is accessible to people with mobility impairments. It is the Pearl Bay Chickee, which is about a four hour canoe trip from the main road. It features handrails, a canoe dock, and an accessible chemical toilet. Wilderness permits are only issued the day before or the day of the start of your camping trip. Permits are not issued over the phone, but are written from the Ernest Coe Visitor Center only for two land sites in the Long Pine Key area: Ernest Coe and Ingraham Highway. There are 156 miles (251 km) of canoe and walking trails in the wilderness. Ground fires are only allowed at beach sites (except islands in Florida Bay), where they must be below the average high tide line. Use dead and down wood only! Backpacking stoves are recommended, as wood is often wet. Clean up after fires. If you sleep aboard a vessel in the wilderness, anchor out of sight of chickees and 1/4 mile from other occupied sites. Quiet hours are in effect from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Please show mutual respect to other wilderness visitors.
Biscayne National Park is 22 miles away. Big Cypress National Preserve is 5 miles away. Dry Tortugas National Park is 210 miles away. De Soto National Memorial is 132 miles away. Canaveral National Seashore is 230 miles away. Castillo De San Marcos National Monument, Fort Frederica National Monument, Fort Caroline National Memorial, Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Rookery Bay National Estuarine RR, Collier-Seminole State Park, Mud Bay, Chokoloskee Bay, Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve, and John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park are nearby.
Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Fort Myers are serviced by international airports, buses, and numerous car rental agencies. Miami has an Amtrak station. The park may be explored by personal vehicle, commercial tour bus, bicycle, motor boat, or canoe/kayak. There is no public transportation in the park.
Visitors coming from the Miami area and points north may take the Florida Turnpike (Route 821) south until it ends, merging with U.S. 1 at Florida City. Turn right at the first traffic light onto Palm Drive (State Road 9336/SW 344th St.) and follow the signs to the park. Visitors driving north from the Florida Keys should turn left on Palm Drive in Florida City and follow the signs to the park.
To Shark Valley, take the Florida Turnpike to the exit for SW 8th Street (also known as U.S. 41 and Tamiami Trail). Travel 25 miles west on U.S. 41 to signs marked Shark Valley. From the Naples area, take U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail) east to signs marked Shark Valley.
To the Gulf Coast Visitor Center, take U.S. 41 west from the Miami area to the intersection of U.S. 29, then take U.S. 29 south three miles into Everglades City and follow the signs to the park visitor center. From the Naples area, take U.S. 41 east and turn south on U.S. 29.
Approximate Mileage from the following major cities to Everglades National Park:
By Car:
Miami, FL – 43.49 miles
Fort Lauderdale, FL – 72.22 miles
Fort Myers, FL – 185.30 miles
Florida City, FL – 8.92 miles
Key Largo, FL – 37.83 miles
South Miami Heights, FL – 23.76 miles
Everglades National Park, 4000l State Road 9336, Homestead, FL 33034-6733
Visitors Information (305) 242-7700
Fax (305) 242-7711
