Big Cypress National Preserve - Everglades City - TravBuddy

Big Cypress has some beautiful areas for viewing wildlife. My favorite part was a scenic route to drive through the best area of the preserve along highway 94. This route has exquisite bird watching and alligators are laying all along the side of the road. A very beautiful ride no matter what you are interested in. Also the most southern part of the Florida Scenic Trail cuts through the Preserve.

Our trip across the southern portion of Florida took us straight through the buffer area between the quickly moving development of civilization and the huge yet very easily broken Everglades ecosystem. The swamps of southern Florida are home to many species you will not find in other places. One is the Florida panther which is highly endangered. Winter is the driest season of the year, and the coolest, which means it is also the time that attracts the most visitors because it is easier to get around when the water level is low. It is also easier to spot some animals like alligators and wood storks because they gather where water remains. The area was designated a national preserve back in 1974 by Congress, but included some different guidelines which were much less strict and allowed hunting, off road vehicles in some areas. Enlarged in 1988 the area now covers 729,000 acres. There are trails to hike, a 26 mile driving loop along with others, and nine different camping areas. We stopped at the Visitors Center near the center of the preserve to get some information and learn more about the area. It is on Tamiami Trail (US-41). That stop gave us the opportunity to walk a special boardwalk in front where several alligators were relaxing along the waters edge.