The 5 Best Ways to Spend Your Winter Vacation in the Everglades

When wintertime blues come upon you south Florida is the place to go. Most people go to the sparkling beaches of Miami or Naples. But for those of us who like to get away from the crowds and do more than just lay on a beach, there is an amazing wilderness just waiting to be explored if you dare to get off the beaten path.

The subtropical ecosystem of south Florida is unique and beautiful. It is home to many rare and endangered species, including ones found nowhere else on the North American mainland. Many of these, like certain orchids, for example, will only be found in remoter areas. As Marjorie Stoneman Douglas writes in Everglades, River of Grass "There are no other Everglades in the world. They are, they have always been, one of the unique regions of the earth; remote, never wholly known. Nothing anywhere else is like them..."

The vast subtropical wilderness of Everglades National Park and Big Cypress Preserve offers a plethora of exciting opportunities for adventurous travelers to explore on foot, in a tent, by bike, or with a paddle.

HIKING

In the Everglades, there are several off-the-beaten-path trails within the Pine Rocklands of Long Pine Key. In the south end of the park near Flamingo, the Christian Point trail meanders through hardwood hammocks, mangroves, and salt marsh flats to end at the Florida Bay.

Off-trail trekking can be a rewarding experience. Pick a distant cypress dome or hardwood hammock, park on the side of the road, and hike out to it. There are many places in this vast wilderness where you will feel like you are the only human being to have ever set foot on that patch of ground. Not ready to go off-trail on your own? Park rangers lead guided "wet hikes".

Wet hiking in Big Cypress Preserve is an experience unlike any other. The dense cypress forest covered with bromeliads and orchids rising up out of crystal clear water is, in itself, awe-inspiring. Stepping out into this watery wilderness is another thing altogether. There are several good day hikes that take adventurers deep into this wild and mysterious place. Sign up for a ranger-led hike at the Visitor Center or take a map and compass and go it alone. Try Gator Hook or a section of the Florida Trail.

BACKPACKING

In Everglades National Park, the Pine Rocklands are high and dry all season and offer many options. The 22 mile old Ingraham Highway that goes through sawgrass prairie is also an excellent choice. Off-trail excursions to remote hammocks or cypress domes are good choices for more experienced backpackers with good navigation skills.

In Big Cypress Preserve, the Florida National Scenic Trail, which begins at the Loop Road Scenic Drive and stretches through the entire state, offers some of the best backpacking on the East Coast. The portion from Hwy 41 north to Interstate 75 is extremely remote, while the southern end from Loop Road Scenic Drive to Hwy 41 sees slightly more traffic. There are several spurs that are good overnight or beginner trips.

BIKING

In Everglades NP, a few of the trails in the Pine Rockland area are designated for bike use. A portion of the Old Ingraham highway, an old roadbed through the sawgrass prairie, is also a good bike route. For beginners or those who wish to remain on paving, the 15-mile loop at Shark Valley offers spectacular views and abundant wildlife, however it can be crowded.

In Big Cypress, the Loop Rood Scenic Drive, Birdon Road, and Bear Island Road are graveled access roads excellent for biking.

PADDLING

Nine Mile Pond trail is a good beginner trail through sawgrass prairie and mangroves in the Everglades. Near Flamingo, the Hell's Bay, Noble Hammock, West Lake, and Coot Bay Pond are more intermediate level trails, as well as the Sandfly Island trail on the Gulf Coast side of the Everglades. Open water areas in the Florida Bay and Whitewater Bay range from Intermediate to Advanced. For expedition-length trips, the Wilderness Waterway stretching nearly 100 miles, is the ultimate in backcountry paddling.

In Big Cypress, the Turner River trail and the Halfway Creek trail are good beginner to intermediate level trails. Go on your own or sign up for a ranger-led trip.

CAMPING

In Everglades National Park, the two campgrounds are at Long Pine Key and Flamingo. Big Cypress has six public camping areas, however some of them are primitive camps used mainly by hunters. The two main campgrounds are Midway and Monument Lake, located off of Highway 41.

What to Expect. Exploring the wilderness of South Florida can be intimidating for even the most seasoned adventurers. Besides being one of the most remote places on the east coast, much of the terrain is covered with water. For backpacking and paddling, plan your trip well. Know how to use a map and compass and recognize land features to find dry ground for your camp. In sawgrass prairie and cypress forest be prepared to hike on rough terrain and through water or thick mud. A hiking stick is helpful to keep balance, help find footing, and flush out snakes. High top hiking boots are the best choice for footwear to both protect feet and maneuver through the mud and water

The sun is hot even in winter. No water is available on trails. In the southern part of the Everglades the water is salty, so carry fresh water. Water levels fluctuate greatly in the winter dry season. Winds can become strong in the afternoons and can abruptly change direction. Have a map and compass as well as nautical charts if paddling. Carry bike tools and a spare tube when biking. Have an alternate method of communication in case you have no cell phone service. Bugs are not usually bad in winter, but bring repellant just to be sure.

Public campgrounds fill up quickly. You may need advance reservations. Campfires may be banned during the driest part of the season. Many backcountry campsites require a permit or may need to be reserved well in advance.

Thousands of people travel to the Everglades and Big Cypress every winter. But very few of them truly experience this incredible place. She is a wilderness whose beauty and mystery would take many lifetimes to explore. She beckons the adventurous to become immersed in her remoteness, to lose themselves in the depths of her soul. And for those brave enough to answer the call, her reward is magnificent treasures, the likes of which can be found nowhere else on earth.