Everglades National Park in Florida - Best Time - 9 Things to Do

The Everglades consist of a freshwater river and the saltwater of the Gulf of Mexico. This creates a unique ecosystem for a huge variety of animals and birds. Most water comes from the rain. Before 1880 the Everglades were connected with Lake Okeechobee. Due to draining for farming and urban development, only 50 % of the original Everglades remained.

The Greater Everglades Ecosystem is an 18.000-square-mile unique landscape formed by the Everglades National Park, many preserves, and nature reserves, such as Big Cypress National Preserve, Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve, the pristine Ten Thousand Islands, Collier-Seminole State Park, and others. These nature parks are similar to and as impressive as the Everglades but less visited and known.

What makes the difference between these parks? Unfortunately, they don't have the same status and are not as protected as a national park as the Everglades. A broader spectrum of use is allowed in a national preserve, which means oil and gas exploration and production are possible. These nature parks and the Everglades are a treasure trove of quiet beauty and wonders of this water system.

We spent seven days in this area; each day was spectacular, with many wildlife sightings and bird spotting. By car is just a fraction of the Greater Everglades accessible. Therefore, to experience the park, you must walk, take a kayak, or a boat.

With patience and luck, you spot many wading birds at Ten Thousand Islands and, of course, alligators in the Everglades, along the Big Cypress Drive, in Fakahatchee, and in other parks. More than one million alligators call Florida their home.

7 Travel Tips for the Greater Everglades

1 Tamiami Trail

Drive along the scenic Tamiami Trail on HW 41. It's an awesome road trip with alligators along the road. We spent three nights on the Collier Seminole Campground.

2 Ten Thousand Islands

Visit the Ten Thousand Islands in the afternoon for bird watching. You won't be disappointed. This 35-square-mile refuge is home to masses of wading birds. It was established in 1996 to protect this unique estuarine ecosystem. Several trails and an observation tower give a closer look at this birding paradise.

3 Fakahatchee Strand Preserve

For me, one of the most beautiful parks in entire Florida is the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve. Walk on one of the hiking trails in the preserve, explore nature along the short boardwalk, or book a guided tour. The Fakahatchee Strand is 20 miles long, 3-5 miles wide and the major drainage slough of the Big Cypress Swamp, the biggest strand in Florida.

Even more, it is the largest subtropical strand swamp in the world. This preserve has the largest population of native royal palms and the largest concentration and variety of orchids in North America. We even got a glimpse of a black bear running away.

4 Big Cypress

Spend at least half a day at the Big Cypress Nature Preserve. Make a stop at the Visitor Center, drive along 94 the Long Road Big Cypress, and walk the different short nature trails and boardwalks. Giant cypress trees can survive while standing in water.

They often form dense clusters called cypress dom. The trees deep in the centre's soil grow taller than the ones standing on dryer ground. If you ever wanted to see alligators, there are heaps of them.

5 Dolphin Tour Everglades City

Take a guided boat tour from Everglades City. During the ride along the channels and residential houses, we already saw alligators and pelicans; when we reached the Gulf Coast, a school of dolphins accompanied us. Depending on where your hotel or campground is located there is also a tour available from Marco Island.

6 Canoe or Kayak Tour in the Mangrove Channels

Book a canoe or kayak tour and paddle through the mangrove channels and the wide-open slough. Enjoy the quiet beauty and mystic atmosphere from the canoe. This canoe tour was my highlight in the Greater Everglades Park.

7 Collier Seminole State Park

Hike on the Royal Palm Hammock Nature Trail Boardwalk in the Collier Seminole State Park. This 0.9 mi / 1.5 km long trail is exceptional, with a thick canopy of royal palm hammocks and other trees, which are more common to see in the Caribbean. The boardwalk ends at a platform with fantastic views of the salt marsh and nesting birds.

Activities – 9 Things to Do in the Everglades

1. Airboat Tour

   

   Airboat rides are the only opportunity to get into the shallow waters to experience the wildlife and unique landscape. Rides are allowed outside the National Park only.
2. Boating from Miami
   
   The inland and coastal waterways are a great way to experience the remote areas of the Greater Everglades. You either need good navigation skills for it or book a guided day trip from Miami. The tour we booked led through the channels, an island, and into the heart of the Everglades; two boat rides and lunch were included. 
3. Canoeing

   

   Gliding silently is one of the best opportunities to experience the real beauty of the Greater Everglades. Canoe rentals are available at Flamingo and Everglades City. This activity is best during the winter months. 

   

   Some of the most popular canoe trips are Mud Lake, a 6.8-mile-long loop, Nine Mile Pond, a 5.2-mile loop, Noble Hammock loop is 2 miles long or Turner River near Everglades City, which is 11 miles long one way. A two-day canoe trip is the West Lake Canoe Trail. It takes 8.1 miles to the Alligator Creek campsite and another 8.7 miles to Flamingo. 

   

   Even a 99-mile wilderness waterway connects Flamingo to Everglades City, which takes 7-10 days. You spend the night in your tent on a chickee. These wooden platforms are along the canoe trail, providing a dry and safe opportunity for camping. Maps for canoe trips are provided at the end of the article. However, if you are not familiar with the area, we recommend a guided tour. We booked a half-day trip from sunrise to midday, which was definitely a highlight because of our excellent guide, Joshua Lewis. We spotted a racoon in the mangroves, lots of birds, and alligators, and the atmosphere along the waterways was incredible. 
4. Kayaking
   
   There is a rental station for kayaks at Flamingo. Single and double kayaks are for rental for two and four hours. Prices may vary during the winter and summer seasons.
5. Hiking
   
   There are many interpretive boardwalk trails within the park and some longer day hikes. However, keep in mind that most of the park is rather wet than dry. The most popular tracks are the Long Pine Key Trail, Rowdy Bend Trail, Christian Point Trail, or Coastal Prairie Trail. Continue reading for our 5 best boardwalk hikes. 
6. Slogging

   

   Slogging is off-trail hiking in wet areas. It is permitted in the entire Everglades park. Usually, snakes and alligators are more scared than you, but I have to confess this wasn't the right activity for us. Rangers also lead this activity. Ask at one of the information centres for the next guided tour. 
7. Biking
   
   Shark Valley is great to explore by bike, also the Snake Bight Trail is close to Flamingo. Another one is the Long Pine Key Nature Trail which is 6.1 miles long one-way. Hikers and bikers share this trail. At some parks, rental bikes are available, but you better bring your own.
8. Birding
   
   Birding is one of the most rewarding activities in the park. Masses of wading birds are nesting in Florida's wetlands and especially at 10 Thousand Islands. 

   

9. Fishing
   
   The Everglades are popular for freshwater and saltwater fishing. The Everglades are home to nearly 300 different freshwater fish species. You can charter a boat at Flamingo. Nevertheless, first, check out the park's regulations for fishing. A license for both saltwater and freshwater fishing is required. Eating just one bass per week is recommended because of its high mercury content. Pregnant women and children shouldn't eat any!

5 Top Boardwalk Hikes

Often, people ask if it is worth visiting the Everglades. Yes, even if you have just one day available. To glimpse nature's beauty, walk some of our recommended interpretative trails, and you will get overwhelmed. I am sure you will agree it is utterly worth visiting the Everglades. These trails are not strenuous or long, and they are all well-maintained and wheelchair accessible, showing how outstanding and important the Greater Everglades are.

1. Mahogany Hammock Trail - 0.4mi / 700m long (Google Maps)
   
   Don't miss this wonderful walk. You enter a lush tree island that was hidden from logging activities in the swamp. The forest is wild and beautiful with strangler figs, old mahogany trees, palm trees, and more. We spotted an osprey here on top of a tree. Check out our pictures for a detailed map.
2. Pa-hay-okee Trail - 0.2mi / 250m (Google Maps)
   
   You can see the "grassy waters" and bald cypress trees on this boardwalk. You have an even better view from the observation tower. Unfortunately, stairs lead down from the tower, so they are not utterly wheelchair accessible. Check out the pictures for a detailed map at the end of the article.
3. Gumbo Limbo - 0.4mi / 700m (Google Maps)
   
   The trail leads along a boardwalk that is paved in some sections; as long as it is not wet, it should be wheelchair accessible. Also, this is a beautiful wild nature trail that presents the best of the Everglades. It is an excellent example of how the trees mix up in the hardwood hammock. The trail is shady even in the summer, but don't forget the bug spray.
4. Big Cypress Bend in Fakahatchee - 1mi / 1.6km (Google Maps)
   
   This wheelchair-accessible boardwalk leads into the heart of a swamp with the real wilderness around. It ends at a viewing platform and pool with birds and orchids around. Bald eagles and owls are often spotted. This walk is a hidden gem that has not been visited much, but it is a nature lover's dream. Most of the walk is under a large tree canopy; therefore, it is also worth coming here in the summer. A nice little gift shop is next to the parking and trailhead. Entrance is free, though a donation is requested for maintenance. 

5. Kirby Storter Boardwalk in Big Cypress - 1mi / 1.6km roundtrip (Google Maps)
   
   The wheelchair-accessible boardwalk leads to the heart of a cypress strand and different vegetations. It gives you another view of the unique landscape of the Everglades. Also, this walk is not busy and well known. If you drive too fast, you miss the entrance of this beautiful wilderness walk. We spotted a snake here and many different bird species. There is plenty of parking available.

11 Facts About the Florida Alligators

1. More than one million alligators call Florida their home
2. Growing 6 - 10 inches per year
3. A male alligator can reach 14 feet in length but on average 8-10 feet
4. Reaching maturity after 6 - 7 years
5. They can live without food for long periods by slowing their metabolism, feeding whatever is available, including turtles and birds, roughly 15-20 times per year.
6. April is the mating time - Some males mate with several females
7. It is the female's job to build the nest and to protect the hatchlings
8. Females lay 30-50 eggs
9. Late August, September the hatchlings emerge
10. Newly hatched baby gators are 9-10 inches long
11. Only 20% of the newborn will reach adulthood
     

Alligator - Keeper of the Swamp

Gator holes are ponds often created by alligators that play an essential role in the dry season. Fish, birds, frogs, snakes, turtles, and mammals all concentrate in and around these holes. Prey is available when needed, but alligators don't often feed; therefore, they share this vital habitat.

Is Swimming Safe in the Everglades?

Swimming is definitely not safe and only in marked areas. Don't swim at night or dusk when alligators may be present. Don't let your pet swim in areas where large alligators may be around. I have to confess we didn't swim anywhere. We spotted plenty of alligators on our trip.

Wildlife in the Everglades

• American crocodiles: grey to green colour, teeth of upper and lower jaws are visible. Flamingo is home to the rare American crocodile.
• American Alligator: black in colour, only teeth of the upper jaw visible.
• Black Bears; over 3000 bears are living in the Greater Everglades.
• Florida Panther is highly endangered and rarely seen moving at night. Roughly 100 exist here in the Greater Everglades.
• Bobcats; are widespread, but usually, it is more likely to spot their tracks in the mud.
• Racoons; are widespread, often seen in the mangroves or around campgrounds.
• White-tailed deer, the same species as in the east of the US. These deers are smaller because they don't need an extra layer of fat for the winter.
• West Indian Manatees can be spotted in the Flamingo Marina close to the Flamingo Visitor Center.

Birds

The Greater Everglades is a haven for bird watchers. However, you mainly spot birds of prey and wading birds. These birds wade through shallow water or along the water's edge, searching for frogs, fish, and insects. All of them have different feeding techniques. 

• Roseate spoonbills are breeding between November and February. Only a few hundred occur in the south of Florida.
• Wood Storks, the more than 3 feet tall stork, is the only breeding stork in the US. It prefers tropical and subtropical habitats because it inhabits the Greater Everglades. 
• Caribbean Flamingos were here in abundance during the 1800s, with flocks of over 1000 birds. Nowadays, they are rare to spot due to overhunting locally and in the Caribbean.
• Osprey; You find plenty of nests around the Flamingo Visitor Center area. They nest high above the grounds.
• White Pelicans; thousands of white pelicans winter in Florida Bay. They are often spotted in front of the Flamingo Visitor Center.
• Black Vultures are often seen in larger groups in the swamps.
• Owls; different species of owls occur in the Everglades. They are night active. You may spot a roosting owl high in a tree during the day.
   

The Greater Everglades Landscape

The mangroves in the Everglades are under threat due to the rising sea level. They form coastal channels, waterways, and islands. They protect the coast from heavy storms, and the roots are a habitat for many aquatic species, the nursery for young fishes. Three different types of mangroves exist.

1. The red ones are evidence of saltwater.
2. The black mangroves are at a slightly higher elevation where saltwater and freshwater mix up. 
3. White mangroves are found landward also in a mix of saltwater and freshwater. 

The prairie is a wide-open slough that fills up with freshwater during the wet summer months and heavy storms with seawater. The prairie is salt-tolerant. 
 

The biggest islands are hardwood hammocks laying on higher and dryer ground which usually don't get flooded. They are rich in plant and animal life. Often woodpeckers are found on the trees.
 

In the winter, the bald-cypress trees look bare and lifeless. These conifers shed their needles, becoming green again when the wet season starts. This is their way of coping with the seasonal drought. 

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