Everglades National Park: A Remarkable Ecosystem Unlike Any Other Place On Earth
Everglades National Park is only a one-hour drive from Miami, but it’s quite literally a world away from this bustling metropolis. The park encompasses 1.5 million acres of tropical and subtropical habitats with one of the world’s most diverse ecosystems. Within the Everglades, there are five unique habitats, 750 different varieties of native plants, over 300 types of birds, and hundreds of animal species — 60 of which are endangered. In order to protect and preserve this idyllic region, Congress established the Everglades as a National Park in 1934. The park has since been designated as an International Biosphere Reserve, a Wetland of International Importance, and a World Heritage Site. Everglades National Park is a real-life Garden of Eden — a pristine oasis that offers an authentic, up-close experience with nature that’s simply unparalleled.
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More than one million people from all over the globe visit the Everglades each year.
There are three entrances into the Everglades: you can find directions right here. The entrances include the Gulf Coast Visitor Center, the Shark Valley area, and the park's main headquarters at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center.
With over 1.5 million acres of wetland spread out over multiple counties in southern Florida, Everglades National Park is the third-largest park in the lower 48 states.
As such, you'll definitely want to plan ahead when organizing your adventure here. While you can definitely make a day trip out of the Everglades, you'll benefit immensely from spreading out your visit over a few days.
The Everglades display one of the most extraordinary ecosystems in the world. There are nine distinct habitats within the park, including pine rocklands, coastal lowlands, mangroves, sawgrass prairies, and freshwater slough.
In fact, the Everglades showcases the largest contiguous cluster of protected mangroves in the entire western hemisphere. Mangroves are vitally important to the ecosystem here: they clean water, provide shelter, and protect against erosion. These towering tree canopies are also absolutely marvelous to behold.
This extraordinary ecosystem is home to amazing animals, including manatees, white-tailed deer, bobcats, and over 60 endangered animals, like the American Crocodile and the Florida Panther.
Although it's a rare sight, both of these remarkable reptiles can sometimes be seen living side by side in Everglades National Park. In fact, southern Florida is the only place in the world where both species co-exist!
You can get up close to these ubiquitous beasts by taking an airboat tour.
There are several airboat tour companies in the area; Everglades Swamp Tours offers a wide selection of tours, all conducted from the safety of their water vehicles.
In a park defined by its wetlands, there are endless opportunities for exploring the Everglades by water.
Canoeing and kayaking is another popular option for outdoor recreation in the Everglades, offering adventurous explorers the once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience this spectacular wonder at their own pace. Flamingo Adventures offers a range of adventures for beginners, families, and more experienced outdoor enthusiasts.
While paddling through the Florida Everglades, you'll be within arm's reach of alligators, anhinga, green herons, turtles, and other wildlife. This is a truly remarkable way to experience nature.
If you're an inexperienced paddler, it's recommended to tour the waterways with a guide, to prevent getting lost and to keep both kayakers and wildlife safe.
If you are feeling extra adventurous, you can experience a side of the Everglades that most people never see by joining a ranger-led hike called slough slogging.
Slogging is essentially hiking... in a swamp. At the Everglades, slough slogs are led by experienced park rangers, making this a very safe -- and absolutely memorable -- way to enjoy this magical place.
For those who prefer to experience nature from dry land, the bird watching at this park is exceptional.
The popular trail is less than a mile long and fully paved, and winds through a sawgrass marsh teeming with wildlife: alligators, turtles, anhingas, herons, egrets, and myriad other birds.
If you just can't bear the thought of leaving the park, there are several designated campsites where you can pitch your tent and stay for a while.
The park's ecosystems, wildlife, and plants are immeasurable beyond the scope of comprehension. Getting in touch with this sense of awe and wonder is incredibly important, as we are all stewards of this wild and wonderful world.
With regard to the environment, the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program is a massive environmental initiative aimed at protecting and restoring this natural wonder’s freshwater supply, biodiversity, and flood control. The hope is that someday, there will be a virtually endless supply of clean, fresh, water as a result of Everglades restoration. To learn more about Everglades National Park, visit the National Parks Service website.
General Information:
Accessibility: Everglades National Park is one of the most accessible national parks, offering a variety of accessible facilities, services, and programs including backcountry camping, front country camping, boat tours, and assistive learning devices.
Pet Friendly: Pets are permitted in select areas within the park. Pets must be kept on a leash (maximum of six feet in length) at all times. Read the full pet policy of Everglades National Park here.
Parking: Everglades National Park’s 1,509,000 acres expand across Florida’s Miami Dade County, Monroe County, and Collier County. Due to its immense size, the Everglades has three entrances in three different cities. Find directions and more information at the NPS website.
Seasonal Access: The Everglades has two very distinct seasons: dry season and wet season. The dry season lasts from November to March and the wet season lasts from April to November. The dry season is also the busy season because of the warm winters that attract the largest variety of wading birds and their predators. The wet season is buggy, and many ranger programs are not offered during this time.
Cost: The entrance fee to the Everglades National Park is $30/vehicle, and your pass is good for 7 consecutive days starting from the day of purchase. All entrance fees and passes can be paid for at the Homestead Entrance, Shark Valley Entrance, or online.
For another bucket list adventure in the region that will leave you spellbound, be sure to check out The Florida Keys and subscribe to our weekly Bucket List Newsletter.
Address: 40001 State Hwy 9336, Homestead, FL 33034, USA
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