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Big Cypress National Preserve

Photo: Jason Hollinger / CC BY 2.0 · source

🌊 Lakes & rivers

Big Cypress National Preserve

Ochopee, FL · The Everglades

About

Big Cypress is the wild, watery buffer that wraps the western edge of the Everglades, a vast freshwater swamp of dwarf cypress, pine islands, and sawgrass prairie just off the Tamiami Trail in Ochopee. Drive the 24-mile gravel Loop Road to spot alligators, wading birds, and the occasional river otter from your car, or wade in on a ranger-led swamp walk. The cooler dry season, December through April, brings the best wildlife and the fewest mosquitoes.

Highlights

Loop Road scenic drive, 24 miles of gravel through cypress strands rich with alligators and wading birdsRanger-led swamp walks straight into the flooded cypressNathaniel P. Reed and Oasis visitor centers with boardwalks and alligator-watchingSome of the darkest night skies in the eastern United States for stargazingFree admission and one of the country's first national preserves

Getting there

33100 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee, FL 34141

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Part of these collections

Curated guides that feature Big Cypress National Preserve.

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