sign in sign up
<<
Home , Biscayne National Park, Guy Bradley, Miami River (Florida), Tequesta, Wakulla Springs

COMPLIMENTARY $3.95 2019/2020 YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE PARKS SOUTH ’S NATIONAL PARKS

ACTIVITIES • SIGHTSEEING • DINING • LODGING • HISTORY • MAPS • MORE

OFFICIAL PARTNERS T:5.375” S:4.75”

WELCOME

Welcome to the national parks and pre- tropical hardwood hammocks of its keys. S:7.375” T:8.375” SO TASTY EVERYONE WILL WANT A BITE. serve of . These very similar , 68 miles yet different parks provide visitors with the west of , includes seven islands chance to explore rare and endangered amid 100 square miles of shoals, water ecosystems such as reefs, swamps and coral. The freshwater of Big Cypress and forests. National Preserve is vital to the health This American Park Network guide to of South Florida, including and South Florida’s national parks will help to mangrove estuary. enhance your appreciation and enjoyment All are unparalleled wildlife sanctuaries, of these unique places. More than 2.1 mil- protecting an incredible diversity of mam- lion people visit the parks each year. With mals, birds, fish and flora. your interest and assistance, their magnifi- The is responsible cent resources will continue to be protected for the management and protection of and preserved for future generations. these resources, for the well-being of visi- , the largest tors and for overseeing all aspects of con- remaining subtropical wilderness in the cession operations. continental United States, is located less The guide has been made possible by than an hour’s drive from . Nearby, the support of the sponsors whose mes- protects the sages appear inside. No matter what parks spectacular underwater life of Biscayne you decide to visit in South Florida, we AD Bay and the coral reefs, as well as the hope this guide travels along with you! FAST FACTS

Introduction: Showcased by sparkling waters, Everglades and Big Cypress provide protected ©2019 Preferred Brands International. reserved. rights All marshy swamps and biodiversity, the national habitats for several endangered species like the parks of South Florida are a paradise on the wa- Florida panther, manatee, Atlantic loggerhead tur- ter. Biscayne, Dry Tortugas, Everglades and Big tle and . Biscayne and Dry Tortu- Cypress are all located on water. These settings gas have thriving marine life. give visitors an opportunity to experience under- Popular Activities: With miles of beaches, slow- water life in a way few other locations can. moving rivers, sparkling lakes and lush swamps, Wildlife: Underwater wildlife is one of the rea- boating is great in South Florida’s national parks. sons these parks are so important. Biscayne Paddling, and canoeing are some of and the Dry Tortugas are both home to exten- the best ways to explore the swampy areas and sive coral reefs that are extremely fragile. Visi- other waters that are otherwise inaccessible. tors can dive to shipwrecks that are in shallow Boats can be rented from businesses outside water and relatively easy to reach. the parks and Everglades Guest Services. TASTY BITE® is all-natural and perfect for the . Look for the yellow pouch in the PHOTO OP! international food aisle.* Send us your stories and photos and you could be a part of our guide! Be a part of the Oh,Ranger! world! ohranger.com/everglades/photos tastybite.com *Keep wildlife wild; Don’t feed the animals. | SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS 1

A23899_2d_9tas_2967_Q2_Print_Oh-Ranger.indd 04.04.19 A23899x01D_OhRanger_smp.psd Epson A23899X02C_Tasty Bite Final 032919-Product_smp.psd HP

FINAL Client: Tasty Bite APPROVAL SIGNATURES ROUND(s) 3 Filename: 19tas_2967_Q2_Print_Oh-Ranger.indd SIZE / Date: 4-2-2019 2:32 PM MECHANICAL SPECS (w x h) FONTS & IMAGES PROOF FORMAT Job #: 2967 Bleed: 5.875” x 8.875” Fonts TRAFFIC Insert Date: 4/1 Trim: 5.375” x 8.375” Knockout (HTF49 Liteweight), Acumin Pro Condensed (Light), Pubs or Loc: PROD. Oh Ranger Viewing: 5.375” x 8.375” Acumin Pro (Black, Regular, Bold) Magazine Description: None Live: 4.75” x 7.375” Images STUDIO Scale: 1” = 1” Print Tasty Bite Final 032919-CMYK.psd (CMYK; 448 ppi, 494 ppi; AD Notes: None ACTUAL SIZE (w x h) 66.93%, 60.7%), Tasty_Bite_Logo.ai (17.81%), Tasty Bite Final 032919-Product.psd (CMYK; 536 ppi; 55.95%) CW Bleed: 5.875” x 8.875” Mekanism Trim: 5.375” x 8.375” Inks CD 640 Second St Viewing: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black SF, CA 94107 5.375” x 8.375” BM 415.908.4000 Live: 4.75” x 7.375” Gutter: None Designer: Dustin Page Printed at: None CLIENT CONTENTS

Unforgettable Adventures. Welcome 1

American Park Network® publishes OhRanger. What’s New! 4 com, Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder™ and Oh, Ranger!® guides —a collection of visitor guides for public Plan Your Visit 6 lands all across America­—and operates Oh, Ranger! Wi-Fi in parks and public lands. American Important Numbers 9 Park Network is an official partner of the National Forest Foundation, National Parks Conservation Association, National Fish and Wildlife Park Regulations & Safety 10 Foundation, American Hiking Society and the Student Conservation Association. History & Culture 12 Publisher & Editor-in-Chief MARK J. SAFERSTEIN EVERGLADES Visitor Services 15

Associate Publisher & Executive Editor EVERGLADES Things To Do 17 Joel S. Saferstein Group Sales & Partnerships Director EVERGLADES Walking & Hiking 19 Alex Frenkel

EDITORIAL / PRODUCTION EVERGLADES Camping 21 Editors: Monette A. Bailey, Jacqueline Kehoe, Amanda McConnon, Julie McCool, Danielle Taylor BISCANYE Visitor Services 23 Proofreader: Scott Tabor Production Manager: Mario Arce Centerfold Map Graphic Designers: Karla Aldana, Dennisse Cruz, Tatiana Hurtado, Yamileth Recinos BISCANYE Things To Do 25 DIGITAL Technology Manager: Scott Falconer BISCANYE Camping 28

ADVERTISING SALES & MARKETING BIG CYPRESS Visitor Services 29 (212) 581-3380 [email protected] BIG CYPRESS Things To Do 32 Business Development: Randy Burton, Mary Pat Kaleth, Pat Keane, Craig King, Kristi Rummel Dry Tortugas 33 Feel-Good Savings. Operations Manager: Matthew Price American Park Network Nature & Wildlife 35 41 East 11th Street, 11th Floor, NY, NY 10003 Preservation 42 Heed the call of adventure with great insurance coverage. @OhRanger 15 minutes could save you 15% or more on RV insurance. ©2019 APN MEDIA, LLC · All Rights Reserved Just for Kids 44 Oh, Ranger! and American Park Network are registered trademarks of APN Media, LLC. Photography 46

If You Only Have a Day 48

Cover: A Florida panther in Everglades National The publisher of this guide and the advertisers herein are not Park (iStock) geico.com | 1-877-434-2678 | Local Office affiliated with, or endorsed by, the National Park Service.

FOR MORE INFORMATION For answers to all your questions, go to OhRanger.com Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states, in all GEICO companies, or Distribution requests in all situations. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, DC [email protected] 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2019 GEICO Oh, Ranger! Wi-Fi™ installation/sponsorship 3 [email protected] WHAT’S NEW! WE’RE ALL CONNECTED

As a young man, John Muir, the naturalist known as, “Father of the National Parks,” Mark, Joel & Alex – connecting in parks! had an accident that left him temporarily blinded. It changed his life forever. When he science. I often find inspiration in parks. In its regained his sight, he emerged into the light traditional form, yoga was about joining with ever-determined to pursue his dreams of the collective universe. So, too, is Muir’s quote, exploration. Fortunately for the world, Muir’s best illustrated by an example from Yellowstone. trials led him to help move Congress to set When wolves were reintroduced there after a aside Yosemite, one of his many contributions 70-year absence, the rampant elk population to our nation’s preservation movement. could no longer leisurely nibble on willows, graze When faced with adversity, we have but in open meadows or congregate by the rivers. In two choices. We can either rise above our a short period of time, the forests and meadows circumstance or succumb to our demons of began to regenerate. Song birds appeared. doubt, fear, resentment and apathy. While Beavers flourished, building dams, which Muir was lucky to have his sight return, his created habitats for otters, muskrats and ducks. subsequent efforts drew strength from hope, Cooler waters, shaded by more trees, attracted compassion, kindness and love to rise up different species of amphibians and fish. Tree from personal adversity. roots stabilized the river banks, diminished Lately, it feels like we’re all dealing with erosion and even changed the geography of the too many hurdles. Every hour, “breaking” park! Indeed, pick out anything by itself and we news spews forth accounts of tragedy and quickly find that everything is connected. divisiveness. It was with this backdrop that I Now is the time to seek out connection— SOMEWHERE was preparing to teach a restorative yoga class, whether in a park, a yoga studio or anywhere to create a safe environment for my students you find inspiration—to find strength to rise up BETWEEN and provide an hour’s worth of peace and quiet and overcome the obstacles that face us all… to carry out into the world. What theme would capture their imagination and neatly underscore STUNNING our human need for connectedness? When teaching, I try to use examples that marry ancient tradition with contemporary and SURREAL

GET CONNECTED AT YOUR FAVORITE PARKS! VISITUTAH.COM Parks are about enjoying nature, but what if you want to share a great picture or are awaiting an important email? If you’re looking to add connectivity to your park, or if you already have Wi-Fi and would like help adding content or generating sponsor revenues, please let us know at [email protected].

4 SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS | Flamingo Adventures at PLAN YOUR VISIT Everglades National Park Restaurant Coming soon! Visitors can enjoy most activities in PACKING ESSENTIALS Gift Shop • Kayaking South Florida’s national parks and pre- serve year-round. Many people visit dur- Don’t hit the trail without: Camping & RV Sites ing the cooler, dry winter season, when • Topographic Map and Compass + GPS range from the 40s at night • Whistle • Flashlight or Headlamp to the 80s during the day. Summers can • Sunglasses, Sunscreen and Hat be warm and buggy on land, but it is • High-energy Food and Plenty of Water the perfect time of year for visiting Bis- • Appropriate Clothing and Extra Layers cayne’s and Dry Tortugas’ coral reefs. • Waterproof Matches During the summer season, from May FLAMINGOEVERGLADES.COM • Insect Repellent through October, the weather is subtropi- RESERVATIONS: (855) 708-2207 • Pocket Knife cal and humid, with temperatures in the 80s • First-Aid Kit and 90s. Expect to find few other visitors and • Sturdy Footwear ample opportunities for solitude. Afternoon thunderstorms turn the sawgrass prairie at the Everglades a brilliant green. Abundant endeavor. Birdwatching is exceptional, as The Lodge at waters flow over and nourish the flat land- many species winter in the relative warmth of scape, providing a lush habitat for diverse ani- the South Florida wilds. mal communities. On rare occasions, weather condi- During the winter season, dry condi- tions may require temporary closures. Lodging •Dining •Gift Shop tions and lower temperatures bring about Call each site or visit their websites for significant changes in the landscape. In- conditions. For a 24-hour weather sects, such as mosquitoes and biting flies, service recording out of Miami, call become virtually non-existent in most (305) 229-4550. areas. As water levels drop during the dry THELODGEATWAKULLASPRINGS.COM season, large numbers of animals congre- GETTING TO THE PARKS RESERVATIONS: (855) 632-4559 gate around remnant water holes in the Ev- Air service is available to Miami In- erglades, making wildlife viewing an easy ternational Airport, 25 miles northeast of Homestead, where main entrances to both South Florida National Parks Everglades and Biscayne are located. Big Cypress is accessible via Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale Airport from Flor- Ft. Myers Big Cypress ida’s east coast, and Fort Myers International National Preserve Airport from the west coast. Dry Tortugas is Naples Ft. Lauderdale located 68 miles off of Key West and is ac- Miami Biscayne National cessible by boat from Key West or by plane Park Managed by Everglades from Key West and Fort Myers. National Dry Park Bus service is offered by Greyhound to Mi- Tortugas National ami and Homestead. The Homestead National Park Parks Trolley provides free public transpor-

6 SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS | guestservices.com

GSI19_Ad_OhRanger_5-375x8-375_20190430.indd 3 5/3/2019 11:10:42 AM PLAN YOUR VISIT PLAN YOUR VISIT

ing” chapter. Other accessible facili- restrooms. Tram Tours iStock ties include primitive campsites (ask are wheelchair accessible (boarding at visitor centers for more informa- assistance provided). The - symbol tion), Biscayne and Flamingo Ma- throughout this guide indicates wheel- rina, and all park visitor centers and chair-accessible areas in the parks.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS EVERGLADES

Park Headquarters/Information (305) 242-7700 nps.gov/ever 911 or #NPS Emergencies (844) 677- 0911 Lost and Found (305) 242-7700

Camping Information (786) 335-3609

Campground Reservations (855) 708-2207 flamingoeverglades.com/camping/

Southern Florida’s waters are often best photographed at sunset, using long exposures. Everglades Guest Services – Flamingo (305) 501-2852 Shark Valley Tram Tours (305) 221-8455 tation every weekend from late December EVERY KID OUTDOORS BISCAYNE to late April to Everglades and Biscayne To help engage and create our next gen- National Parks. Free transportation, parking eration of park visitors, supporters and ad- Park Headquarters/Information (305) 230-PARK (7275) nps.gov/bisc and guided tours are provided. Trolley riders vocates, the Every Kid in a Park initiative Emergencies (844) 677- 0911 receive free admission to both national parks was launched in 2015—and the Every Kid as well as the Homestead Outdoors Act was signed into law in 2019. Lost and Found (305) 230-PARK (7275) beach, where the trolley also makes a stop. The immediate goal is to provide an oppor- Camping Information (305) 230-PARK (7275) Car: I-75, state road 29, and U.S. 41 all tunity for each and every fourth-grade stu- BIG CYPRESS travel through Big Cypress, which has no dent across the country to experience their available public transportation. Biscayne federal public lands and waters in person. Park Headquarters/ Information (239) 695-2000 nps.gov/bicy can be reached from the Florida turnpike All kids in the fourth grade have access Emergencies (844) 677-0911 south or from U.S. 1. to their own free Every Kid in a Park pass at Lost and Found (239) 695-4111 or (239) 695-4758 Rental cars are available in Home- everykidinapark.gov. This pass admits stead, at airports and in major towns near the pass owner and any accompanying Camping Information (239) 695-4111 or (239) 695-4758 the parks. passengers in a private non-commercial Campground Reservations (877) 444-6777 or recreation.gov Train service to Miami is offered vehicle to the park. You can obtain the pass Off-road Vehicle and Hunting Information (239) 695 - 4111 by Amtrak. by visiting everykidinapark.gov and you Note: Some of the areas in the park (camp- must print it and present it at the park. The DRY TORTUGAS grounds, trails, etc.) may only be accessible by Every Kid in a Park pass is valid until Au- Park Headquarters/Information (305) 242-7700 nps.gov/drto boat. If there is a specific location you would like gust 31, 2019. Emergencies (844) 677- 0911 to visit but are unsure if it is reachable by road, call the individual park. Many areas in the Everglades, SPECIAL SERVICES - Camping Information (305) 242-7700 Biscayne and Dry Tortugas require visitors to Most self-guiding trails are accessible. Yankee Freedom III (Ferry) (800) 634-0939 or (305) 294-7009 have small boats, such as canoes or kayaks. For trail descriptions, please see the “Hik-

8 SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS | | SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS 9 PARK REGULATIONS PARK REGULATIONS & SAFETY allowed on trails, in the backcountry or in eas that are shallow with muddy bottoms. & SAFETY amphitheaters where programs are held. Stingrays are plentiful and underwater At Biscayne, pets are allowed only in the visibility is poor. Use a navigation chart or Help protect these special places for cayne Bay-Card Sound Lobster Sanctuary. developed areas of Convoy Point and Elliott GPS when boating on park waters. Have other visitors and future generations by Fishing is prohibited in Biscayne’s har- Key. There are no kennels in the parks or all required safety gear accessible on your adhering to all NPS regulations and guide- bors, no-wake zones and marked channels. preserve. State law prohibits leaving pets boat. If you are or scuba div- lines. Doing so will help keep the park unattended in any vehicle other than an RV. ing outside of designated swim areas at clean and safe for everyone. At Dry Tortu- BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING Biscayne or Dry Tortugas, you must display gas and the other sites, ask rangers about Backcountry permits are required for DRIVING a dive flag. Do not touch fragile coral. Many new or special regulations. camping overnight in the backcountry Speed limits are posted in the park and kinds of coral are razor sharp and may also and may be purchased for a small fee at preserve. Drive safely and watch carefully cause painful skin irritations. Swimming is REGULATIONS Flamingo and Gulf Coast visitor centers. for animals. Use the wide shoulders to prohibited in Biscayne’s harbors, no-wake Backcountry camping is not permitted in stop and view the scenery. zones and marked channels. BOATS AND OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES Biscayne National Park. Most backcoun- Airboats, swamp buggies, personal wa- try camping sites at the Everglades are VANDALISM WEATHER tercraft/jet skis and all-terrain vehicles are chickees (elevated platforms with a roof Vandalism and the removal or distur- Watch for weather changes, especially not permitted in Everglades, Dry Tortugas and a chemical toilet; you must bring ALL bance of any plants, animals, artifacts or if you are on the water. Severe thunder- and Biscayne. Big Cypress, however, does of your gear including a tent) and are ac- any other cultural or natural resource is storms with lightning and high winds allow airboats and off-road all-terrain vehi- cessible only by boat. prohibited. Use of metal detectors is pro- can develop rapidly. The sun can be in- cles with a proper permit. hibited in the parks. tense, so remember to apply sunscreen SMOKING liberally and to wear sunglasses, long BOATING SAFETY Smoking is not permitted on trails in the SAFETY TIPS sleeves, long pants and a hat. Boaters must observe no-wake zones Everglades or inside at Dry and also reduce speeds in marked mana- Tortugas. HIKING WILDLIFE tee caution areas and in narrow creeks Be extremely careful when hiking; sharp Disturbing or feeding wildlife is danger- where paddlers may be obscured by heavy FIRES rocks and jagged holes can make walk- ous and is prohibited. Although alligators vegetation. Waterskiing is prohibited in Ground fires are allowed only within Big ing tricky and even dangerous. Always let appear slow and clumsy, they can move Everglades. Cypress and at the group campsite on Bis- someone know your itinerary before you with incredible speed. These predators will cayne’s . Ground fires are also leave and bring extra water. eat anything they can catch, so keep your- FISHING permitted on certain backcountry camp- Bring insect repellent to ward off biting self, children and pets at a distance. Rac- A Florida saltwater or freshwater fishing li- sites at Everglades. “Leave No Trace” insects, particularly in the warm, wet sum- coons and other wildlife are unpredictable cense is required for most anglers. You must ethics are strongly encouraged, and visi- mer months. Mosquitoes are the biggest and can bite. contact (888) 347-4356 or visit myfwc.com tors should pack-in and pack-out all trash. annoyance. South Florida is home to four types of for updated Florida State fishing regulations Please keep in mind your physi- poisonous snakes. Watch out for east- or to purchase a Florida State fishing license. WEAPONS cal limitations when hiking in the Ev- ern diamondbacks, pygmy rattlesnakes, Fishing licenses are not sold in parks. Firearms regulations vary by location. erglades. The subtropical environment eastern coral snakes and water moc- Go online at nps.gov/ever for Ever- Check with the NPS or the park you plan can be very hot and humid, especially in casins. When in doubt, ask a ranger for glades National Park Fishing Regulations to visit before your trip for the most up-to- the summer. descriptions. and visit nps.gov/drto for Dry Tortugas date information. National Park Fishing Regulations, which SHARE YOUR FAVORITE vary slightly from Florida State Regulations. PETS Swimming in the Everglades is prohib- PHOTOS WITH US! Lobstering is not permitted in Pets must be leashed in the parks and ited outside of designated areas. Alligators FOLLOW US! Everglades, Dry Tortugas or within the Bis- preserve. At Everglades, they are not live in freshwater ponds and saltwater ar-

10 SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS | | SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS 11 HISTORY & CULTURE

HISTORY & CULTURE soldiers. The soldiers occasionally pro- NPS voked acts of hostility, culminating in the killing of one of the uncles of the Through the years, colorful characters have hammers, chisels, fishhooks, and other tools chief. This enraged the , who populated, explored and preserved South and household implements. They used sharks’ attacked and forced the missionaries to Florida. Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de teeth to make knives, chiseled out cypress retreat. León, who came to Florida searching for the logs for canoes, and made pottery from mud. The Spanish continued to establish mis- Fountain of Youth, eventually died from an The huge shell mounds along southern sions and forts along the Florida coasts in American Indian’s arrow. , the Florida’s coast and on nearby islands mark an effort to strengthen their hold on the pirate, ambushed sailing ships passing his ref- sites where these villagers settled. Arche- New World. During this time, however, the uge at present-day Caesar Creek. ologists have determined that some mounds Tequestas and began to feel the The completion of the in 1928 Nineteenth-century South Florida wel- were used as burial sites, ceremonial sites decimating effects of slave raids and Euro- interfered with the way of life of the people, shown here in 1934. comed naturalist , and habitation sites, but that they most prob- pean diseases. By 1800, the native popu- and 20th-century Florida would not be the ably began as middens (refuse piles) of dis- lations of South Florida were reduced to a refused to leave and declared war on the U.S. same without writer and conservationist carded shells. handful of survivors. Army. The of 1835–1842 and . 1855–1859 inflicted heavy losses on both THE EUROPEANS ARRIVE THE SEMINOLE WARS sides, finally ending with an 1859 truce. Af- PALEOINDIANS When the Spanish first arrived in the surrendered Florida to British con- ter the battles ended, the 150 that The history of South Florida begins with early 1500s, the Tequestas’ territory ex- trol at the end of the Seven Years’ War remained hid deep in the cypress stands and indigenous people who migrated here about tended north to present-day Pompano and in 1763 and the Spanish missionaries and sawgrass prairies. Today, some descendants 11,000 years ago. south to the . In the 16th cen- soldiers departed. After 20 years as part of of that small band, now recognized as the Over thousands of years, the descendants tury, the Tequestas numbered about 800, Britain, Florida returned to Spanish Control. Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, of these “paleoindians” became known as while the population of the Calusas was The Spaniards did little with the territory, leav- still live within Everglades National Park. the Tequesta on the southeastern coast and about 2,000. ing South Florida to native bands of Creek, The Miccosukee have preserved their cul- the on the southwestern coast at the In 1513, Spanish explorer Ponce de Muskogee Creek or Maskoki people who ture by retaining their native language, living time of Spanish contact. León sailed from his governor’s mansion moved after the Creek War of 1813–1814 and in strong matriarchal family units, practicing These early people used no metal or stone. in Puerto Rico to Florida, searching for were pushed south from the Carolinas, Geor- traditional medicine and utilizing ancestral and From shells, they created picks, drinking cups, gold and slaves. After giving gia and Alabama by the ever-growing United modern skills to create a viable economy. its name, he stopped briefly at a place he States. They became known by non-natives called Manataca—present-day Cape Ro- as “Seminoles.” “WRECK ASHORE!”

NPS mano. The Calusas at Manataca had heard By 1821, the population of Seminoles When the United States acquired the about Spanish cruelty from indigenous trad- in Florida was about 5,000. They lived and territory in 1819, Florida’s coast was a well- ers who traveled throughout the area in hunted throughout the state and provided known haunt for pirates such as Black great seagoing canoes. refuge for runaway slaves. Florida’s officials Caesar. By the 1820s, the U.S. Navy In 1565, Spanish Captain-General Pedro sequestered the Seminoles on a reservation cleared out the pirates, making room for a Menéndez de Avilés sailed to South north of Lake Okeechobee, and the Semi- new industry—salvaging ships. Florida to make peace with the indigenous noles retaliated by raiding white settlements. Whenever a ship grounded, the cry peoples and settle the lands for his king. In 1830, Congress decreed that all Indians “Wreck ashore!” halted all onshore activi- His fleet was caught in a storm and the east of the Mississippi be relocated “far be- ties as residents rushed to scavenge the crew took refuge in a Tequesta village in yond the possibility of any contact with white unlucky vessel. Today, more than 40 ship- Biscayne Bay. men.” Many American Indians were forced wrecks are located within the boundaries Israel Jones and his family farmed, fished and Menéndez returned in 1567 and estab- to travel west on the Trail of Tears to pres- of Biscayne. You can still view the remains sponged in today’s Biscayne National Park. lished a mission that was protected by 30 ent-day Oklahoma. A number of Seminoles of some of these wrecks on boat tours, or

12 SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS | | SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS 13 HISTORY & CULTURE EVERGLADES

NPS VISITOR SERVICES

The park is open year-round, but peak ENTRANCES visiting season is from mid-December From the north, use the Shark Valley en­ through mid-April. For more information trance, located on U.S. 41, 35 miles west of about visiting the park, please contact Park downtown Miami and 70 miles east of Naples. Headquarters at (305) 242-7700. From the west, use the Gulf Coast Visi- tor Center, located at Everglades City, 83 ENTRANCE FEES miles west of downtown Miami and about A seven-day visitor pass can be bought 37 miles southeast of Naples. for $30 per private vehicle—commercial From the Florida Keys, the park is ac- vehicle fees are higher—$25 per motor- cessible only by boat or the main entrance cycle and $15 per person for pedestri- west of Florida City. ans, motorcycles and bicycles. An annual pass is available for $55. Fees are set to VISITOR CENTERS President Lyndon Johnson signed the bill establishing Biscayne as a national monument. increase in 2020. (However, the fee to The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, launch a motorized or nonmotorized boat in located at the park’s main entrance by diving and snorkeling sites on the park’s President Harry S. Truman finally dedicated the park has been discontinued as of 2019; on State Road 9336, features orienta- Maritime Heritage Trail. Everglades National Park. completion of the Boater Education Pro- tion films, educational displays, activ- Turn-of-the-century South Florida also be- In that same year, Marjory Stoneman gram is necessary). Prices are subject to ity schedules and boat and canoe rental came home to poachers and plume hunt- Douglas first published The Everglades: change. All park passes are available at the information. Souvenirs and limited sup- ers. Plumes of great and snowy egrets were River of Grass. She understood its impor- park entrances. Visitors can also purchase plies can be purchased here. in demand as fashion accessories. tance as the major watershed for South annual and seven-day digital entrance Located a little more than a mile from In 1905, the National Audubon Soci- Florida and as a unique ecosystem. The first passes online at yourpassnow.com. Sim- the main entrance station, Royal Palm In- ety hired to protect and line of Stoneman’s book reads, “There are no ply present your device at the gate. formation Station and Bookstore offers egret breeding colonies in the area. It was other Everglades in the world.” during this work that Bradley was tragically In the 1960s, developers proposed a chain FEDERAL RECREATIONAL LANDS PASSES killed while investigating shots he heard of resorts on the keys of Biscayne Bay. Con- near Oyster Keys rookery. The resulting servationists reacted by campaigning and A federal recreation pass is helpful if you plan to visit many national parks, forests or other fed- publicity and outrage fueled the demand for fighting to preserve the bay and its remain- eral lands. For information, call (888) 275-8747 or visit store.usgs.gov/pass. protecting the wading birds’ remaining colo- ing untouched islands. In 1968, Congress Type Cost Availability Details nies. In 1916, a small area of Paradise Key designated Biscayne a national monument, Annual $80 General Public This one-year pass is available on site, by phone or was granted protection by the creation of citing its “rare combination of terrestrial, ma- Pass $20 Adults age 62+ online (see above). Royal Palm State Park. rine and amphibious life in a tropical setting Senior This lifetime pass is available on site, online or via $80 U.S. residents age 62+ of great natural beauty.” In 1980, Congress Pass mail order. ID required. NATIONAL PARK STATUS expanded this area of reefs, keys, bay and Military U.S. active military and This one-year pass is available on site. Thanks to the Everglades’ foremost sup- and renamed it Biscayne National Free Pass their dependents ID (CAC Card or DoD Form 1173) required. porter, Ernest F. Coe, Congress tried to pass Park, becoming the park we know today. Access U.S. residents with per- This lifetime pass is available on site or via mail or- a bill in 1934, dubbed by opponents as the Today, Everglades National Park is a Wet- Free Pass manent disabilities der. ID and documentation required. “Alligator and Snake Swamp Bill.” The leg- land of International Importance, as well as Volunteer 250 cumulative volunteer Inquire locally to obtain information about this one- islation stalled during the Great Depression a World Heritage site and International Bio- Free Pass service hours with NPS year pass. and World War II, but on December 6, 1947, sphere Reserve.

14 SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS | | SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS 15 EVERGLADES VISITOR SERVICES EVERGLADES books, film, postcards, insect repellents, cally for the location of the closest hospital THINGS TO DO vending machines and other items. Royal or urgent care facility. Palm is the departure point for the and Gumbo Limbo trails. GAS AND SERVICE STATIONS The Everglades offers endless options is very rewarding. Hundreds of egrets, Located 38 miles from the main en- Gas and propane may be obtained in of things to see and do in its more than , wood storks and other water trance at the park’s southern end, is the nearby towns or at Flamingo Marina. 1.5 million acres. birds feed here. Some species that are Flamingo Visitor Center. It offers edu- Bicycling is a popular activity in Ev- uncommon or endangered throughout cational displays, park information and LODGING erglades National Park. Bicycles can be other parts of the world are relatively backcountry permits. The Flamingo Marina Lodging is not currently available in Ev- rented year-round at the Shark Valley Visi- common in the Everglades. The best provides fuel, tours, canoe/kayak/boat and erglades National Park. Flamingo Lodge is tor Center and the Flamingo Marina. places to see birds are at Shark Valley bike rentals and a food truck is available 11 permanently closed due to the damage sus- Fishing in the inland and coastal wa- and Royal Palm, particularly in the dry a.m. to 6 p.m. tained from Hurricanes Wilma and Katrina; ters of the Everglades is excellent year- winter months. The best times to see The original Gulf Coast Visitor Center, lo- however, 24 cottages and 40 eco-tents are round. Snapper, redfish, sea trout, bass, birds and animals are the early morning cated at the west entrance, was destroyed set to open in Flamingo December 2019 (as bluegill and tarpon are plentiful. Salt- and late afternoon. by in September of 2017. A is a restaurant). Lodging is available in the water fishing areas include The Anhinga Trail at Royal Palm is temporary Visitor Contact Station is now nearby communities of Homestead, Florida and Ten Thousand Islands in the park’s one of the most dependable areas for open with maps, informational displays, City and the greater Miami area. Contact coastal zone. Freshwater and saltwater wildlife viewing. The region with cypress backcountry permits, and restrooms. Shark the Tropical Everglades Visitor Association fishing require separate Florida fishing trees on the main park road near Rock Valley Visitor Center, on the Tamiami Trail at (800) 388-9669 or the Homestead and licenses. Pass, 10 miles west of the Ernest (U.S. 41), offers sightseeing trams, bike rent- Florida City Chamber of Commerce at Wildlife-watching in the Everglades F. Coe Visitor Center, is also particularly als, access to trails, and a bookshop. (305) 247-2332 for more information.

BOATER EDUCATION PROGRAM LOST AND FOUND iStock As of summer 2019, nearly everyone To recover lost items or report found operating a motorboat in Everglades Na- ones, check the nearest visitor center or tional Park must take the Boater Education ranger station or call (305) 242-7700. Course and obtain a permit (free of charge). It is a roughly one-hour online course to pro- MARINAS AND BOAT RAMPS vide all boaters with information, not only on Boat-launching ramps are available in boat safety in the park, but also on the key Everglades City near the Gulf Coast Visi- elements of the park’s marine areas. Access tor Center, in Flamingo, and at West Lake the course at nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/ along the Main Park Road. Check visi- boater-education-faq.htm and print out tor centers for horsepower restrictions. the permit—or save it to your phone or other Overnight docking for boats is available at device—and bring it with you. The course is the Flamingo Marina for a fee of $2/foot. also available at the Flamingo and Gulf Coast Visitor Centers in English and Spanish. SUPPLIES AND SOUVENIRS Books, postcards, film and other digital EMERGENCIES media are available at the Ernest F. Coe In case of an emergency, please call 911, Visitor Center and the Shark Valley Visitor (305) 242-7740 or (844) 677-0911 from a Center. The Flamingo Marina store car- cell phone. is available from park ries groceries, camping supplies, bait, rangers and at ranger stations. Check lo- tackle and fuel. Check out an airboat ride to see the Everglades’ backwaters and byways — far faster than a kayak!

16 SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS | | SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS 17 EVERGLADES THINGS TO DO EVERGLADES good for wildlife viewing. the park, as more than one-third of it is made WALKING & HIKING Guided hiking, canoeing and wilder- up of marine areas and estuaries under shal- ness walks are offered by park rangers. Nu- low water. Birds, sea turtles, a variety of fish merous tours are available on a year-round and endangered manatees live in the park’s Everglades National Park is the third- All of the nature trails are open year- basis at Everglades, but schedules are waterways where food is plentiful. Skiffs, largest park in the contiguous United round for hiking, conditions permitting. limited in the summer months. Call ahead or kayaks, canoes and houseboats are available States, after Death Valley and Yellowstone. To avoid the worst of the mosquitoes, visit nps.gov/ever for current schedules. for rent at Flamingo. Call for more information Unlike those parks, Everglades is com- stay on designated trails away from grass Tram tours are a great way to see the Everglades Guest Services at (305) 501-2852. prised of water and waterways. For this and walk during midday. Evening and Everglades. A two-hour guided tram tour The following are one-way water trails reason, the longest “trails” in the park are early morning hours, when there is little departs from the Shark Valley Visitor Center. and their estimated times and distances. designed for boat and canoe travel. See breeze, are when bugs seem most vora- The tram tour journeys through the saw- All of these trails begin near Flamingo. the “Things To Do” chapter for details on cious. Wear insect repellent, long-sleeved grass prairie that is dotted with small tree Check with the Flamingo Visitor Center for canoe trails. shirts, long pants and a head cover. It may islands. Guides identify trees, plants, birds, mosquito and trail conditions. Land lovers can also explore the numer- be necessary to follow these precautions alligators and other points of interest. The Noble Hammock Trail: Two-mile loop, ous short, self-guided walking trails that even in winter. tour stops at an observation tower to pro- one to two hours. introduce visitors to the unique flora and Select trails also offer a variety of ob- vide a panoramic view of the Everglades. Hell’s Bay Trail: Three miles to Lard fauna of southern Florida. Trailheads are servation points where visitors can try to For reservations call Shark Valley Tram Can, two hours; 3.5 miles to Pearl Bay, well marked and most hikes begin just off spot some of the unique wildlife that lives Tours at (305) 221-8455. three to four hours; 5.5 miles to Hell’s Bay the main road. Bring along your best pair of in the Everglades. Often wading birds Boat Tours are available from the Fla- Chickee, five to six hours. waterproof shoes because sometimes the and other creatures can be found not far mingo District of Everglades National Park. West Lake Trail: 7.7 miles, five to trails can get a little soggy. Stick to the trails from the boardwalk trails that cut through Boat tour tickets may be purchased in the six hours. with boardwalks to avoid getting wet. swampy areas. Marina Store. Visit flamingoeverglades. Nine Mile Pond Trail: 5.2 miles, three com or call (352) 701-6581 for more to four hours. information. The Wilderness Waterway is a 99- iStock Everglades Guest Services operates a mile inland water route between Fla- seasonal backcountry boat tour from Fla- mingo and Everglades City (six to eight mingo into Whitewater Bay. This area is hours with an outboard motor, eight to one of the best places in South Florida to 10 days by canoe). Numbered markers view an in the wild. guide you through the area. Boats more For more information, call (305) 501-2852. than 18 feet in length should not at- Guided Eco Tours are also available in tempt the trip because of narrow chan- several areas. For a full list of the outfit- nels. Campsites are available along the ters, visit nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/ route. A backcountry camping permit is guidedtours.htm. required if you will be staying overnight. As of May 2019, boat tours along Permits may be obtained in person at the Gulf Coast will cease being offered the Flamingo or Everglades City visitor through Everglades National Park Boat centers. Rental canoes are available in Tours. The National Park Service is working Flamingo Marina. to resume interpretive boat tours in this area later in the year. Check the park web- TAKE YOUR MOMENTS AND site or Facebook page for more specific, SHARE WITH US up-to-date information. TELL US! Paddling is one of the best ways to explore The elevated Anhinga Trail is a great spot viewing the diverse wildlife of the Everglades.

18 SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS | | SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS 19 EVERGLADES WALKING AND HIKING EVERGLADES WALKING & HIKING TRAILS CAMPING Round-Trip Trail Distance Difficulty Trailhead Description Time Elevation Gain Everglades’ campgrounds are open year- FLAMINGO- Shark Valley Loop Road An observation tower provides a 15 miles moderate round and offer a great diversity of choices. The largest campground sits on Florida Shark Valley Visitor Center panoramic view. In wet weather, several fairly level Front country campgrounds in Flamingo Bay at the end of the main park road in roads may be temporarily underwater. hours and Long Pine Key are ideal places to pitch Flamingo. This site offers easy access Bobcat Boardwalk A boardwalk trail crosses an open 0.4 mile easy your tent and sleep under the stars. For the to hiking and canoe trails and fishing in South of Shark Valley sawgrass prairie and into a bayhead 30 minutes level more adventurous, 45 designated wilder- the bay. There is also an amphitheater in of coco plum and red bay. Visitor Center ness campsites offer solitude along 156 the winter. There are 234 drive-up sites, Otter Cave Trail A gently rolling footpath following 0.2 mile easy miles of canoe and walking trails. Carl Ross including 55 with water views and 40 0.5 mile from Shark Park Loop Road to Otter Cliffs with 20 minutes fairly level Key is open for day use only and is periodi- walk-up sites (nine on the water’s edge). views of the rock-bound coast. Valley Visitor Center cally closed for nesting birds. Flamingo has solar-heated showers and Anhinga Trail The trail winds through 0.8 mile easy to moderate Campground reservations are accepted up cold-water showers, two dump stations, Pine Island where you may see alligators, 50 minutes mostly level to five months in advance. During the winter picnic tables and grills. Forty-one of Fla- turtles, herons and egrets. season (November 1–April 30), camping is mingo’s pull-through sites have elec- Gumbo Limbo Trail Walk through a jungle-like hammock 0.5 mile easy limited to 14 consecutive days and may not tricity, no other hook-ups are available. Main Park Road of royal palms, gumbo limbo 30 minutes mostly level trees, lush ferns and orchids. exceed 30 days in one year. Camping from EcoTents are scheduled to be available as Long Pine Key Trail This network of trails ranges 28 miles strenuous May through October is by self-registration of December 2019 (as is a restaurant!). Pine Island through unusually diverse pinelands 4-5 day trip mostly level (no fees charged from June to August). Reservations are strongly recommended that are home to approximately 200 types of plants! Pinelands Trail The trail loops through pinelands 0.5 mile easy and a variety of small, flowering Pine Island 30 minutes mostly level iStock plants that are beautiful. Pahayokee Trail This boardwalk trail ends with an 0.2 mile easy Pine Island observation tower that gives visitors a 15 minutes level sweeping view of the “river of grass.” Mahogany Hammock Trail The trail winds through a dense, 0.2 mile easy Pine Island jungle-like hardwood hammock 15 minutes fairly level where the largest living mahogany tree in the U.S. grows. West Lake Trail The trail wanders through a forest 0.4 mile easy Flamingo of red, white, black and buttonwood 30 minutes mostly level mangroves beside a brackish lake. Rowdy Bend Trail This trail travels through shady 5.2 miles moderate Flamingo buttonwoods. The old road is great 3-4 hours mostly level for woodland bird watching. Snake Bight Trail The trail parallels a canal, home to 3.2 miles moderate Flamingo alligators and birds, and ends at 2.5 hours mostly level Florida Bay. Prepare for mosquitoes! Christian Point Trail The trail passes through buttonwood 3.6 miles moderate Flamingo forest and coastal prairie habitats, 2-3 hours mostly level ending with a view of Florida Bay. Coastal Prairie Trail Travel back in time on this old road 15 miles strenuous Flamingo to Florida Bay that was once used 1-2 day trip fairly level by fisherman and cotton pickers. As they say—and it’s even more true in Southern Florida—“half the park is after dark.”

20 SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS | | SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS 21 EVERGLADES CAMPING BISCAYNE for electric sites at Flamingo as they go The limit per group site is 15 people. For VISITOR SERVICES quickly. For reservations, go to flamingo- group site reservations at Flamingo, please everglades.com or call (855) 708-2207. call (855) 708-2207. GENERAL INFORMATION miles east of U.S. Route 1 on North Canal LONG PINE KEY- WILDERNESS CAMPING Convoy Point, where most people be- Drive (SW 328th Street). Exhibits cover the Located seven miles from the main en- There are 45 backcountry campsites in the gin their visit to Biscayne National Park, park’s cultural and natural histories. trance, just off the main road, the camp- park—three are accessible by land, the oth- houses a visitor center, bookstore, picnic ground at Long Pine Key has 108 drive-up ers can only be reached by water. Eighteen grounds and boardwalk. The park wa- FOOD SERVICES sites. There are restrooms, water, showers are chickees (raised wooden platforms with ters and islands are open 24 hours a day, There are no dining facilities in Bis- and a sewer dump station with freshwa- thatched roofs adopted by Seminoles during while the Convoy Point mainland grounds cayne, though grab-and-go items are ter fill. Recreational vehicles are welcome, the Second and Third Seminole Wars); the and facilities are open daily from 7 a.m. to available at Convoy Point, along with pic- but there are no hookups. Hiking trails are others are beach and ground sites. The Pearl 5:30 p.m (hours scheduled to change on nic tables and grills. also in the area. Reservations for groups Bay Chickee is accessible to people with mo- major holidays). Elliott Key and Boca Chita and RVs only; closed May to October. bility impairments, equipped with handrails, a Key are accessible 24 hours a day, but EMERGENCIES Go to flamingoeverglades.com or call canoe dock and an accessible chemical toilet. is for day use only. Park per- In case of an emergency, call 911 from (855) 708-2207. Backcountry camping permits are available sonnel are available to answer questions your cell phone. First aid is available from on a first-come, first-served basis from the and help you to plan your trip. For more park rangers at the Visitor GROUP CAMPING Flamingo or Gulf Coast Visitor Centers. Per- information, call (305) 230-PARK (7275); Center. The nearest hospital is in Home- The Long Pine Key campground has one mits cost $15 each plus $2 per person, per or visit nps.gov/bisc. stead, five miles from the main entrance. group site and the Flamingo campground night and can only be obtained the day before has three, all available for $30 per night. or the day of the start of your camping trip. FEES GAS AND SERVICE STATIONS There are no fees to enter Biscayne There is no gasoline in the park. There National Park. There is a $25-per-night are stations in Homestead or Florida City. boat camping fee at Boca Chita and Elliott keys. Boca Chita pavilion is available for LODGING Flamingo Adventures at half-day rentals at $100 for a four-hour pe- There is a wide range of lodging op­ riod of exclusive use. tions in nearby Homestead, Florida City Everglades National Park and in the greater Miami area. Contact Restaurant Coming soon! ENTRANCES the Tropical Everglades Visitor Asso­ Gift Shop • Kayaking • Camping & RV Sites From the west, Park Headquarters, Located at the southernmost tip of the Florida Peninsula within Convoy Point Grounds and the Dante Everglades National Park, Flamingo provides beautiful campgrounds, Fascell Visitor Center are located south of an abundance of recreational activities and phenomenal views of the

Miami, nine miles east of the city of Home- Shutterstock largest subtropical wilderness in the nation. Visitors are delighted by the exotic wildlife and bird watching, as well as a variety of concession stead on North Canal Drive (SW 328th services, such as boat slips & launch ramps, houseboat rentals, boat Street), adjacent to Homestead Bayfront tours, canoeing and kayaking, fi shing and hiking. Park.

VISITOR CENTER The Dante Fascell Visitor Center of- RESERVATIONS: fers stunning views of Biscayne Bay from (855) 708-2207 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (closed on Christmas FLAMINGO Day). From the Florida Turnpike, take exit EVERGLADES.COM Take a glass-bottom boat tour to see Biscayne’s 6 and follow the signs. The center is nine vibrant, but threatened, reefs.

GSI19_Ad_OhRanger_4-75x3-375_20190510.indd 1 5/10/2019 2:52:51 PM 22 SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS | | SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS 23 BISCANYE VISITOR SERVICES BISCAYNE

iStock THINGS TO DO

Biscayne National Park is an amazing and other nearby marinas. No boat location for any marine enthusiast. Ap- launches are available at Convoy Point un- proximately 95 percent of the park is under- less you can self-launch your vessel. The water, but it is easy to access. park maintains a 66-slip harbor at Elliott Key. Boat owners can also tie up at Boca BIRDWATCHING Chita Key’s harbor. Docking operates on a Birdwatching is rewarding along the man- first-come, first-served basis and there is a grove shorelines of Biscayne Bay. You can see $25-per-night fee imposed between 6 p.m. numerous species of wading birds, including and 6 a.m. Anchorage areas may be found many that nest within the park. Several birds off of Elliott and Sands Keys. winter here and more than 170 species have been observed within the park. Canoeing the BOAT TOURS mainland mangrove shoreline in the shallow Many visitors would prefer to explore waters is a good way to birdwatch. the park’s coral reefs and islands on the The Biscayne Birding Trail is a fun, certif- water but don’t own a boat. The Biscayne icate-earning program for visitors who like National Park Institute offers guided wildlife and the outdoors. The program awards boat tours and programs at the Dante Fas- achievement certificates at various levels cell Visitor Center. Tours include a Boca Boca Chita Lighthouse, a 65-foot beacon in the Upper Floriday Keys, dates back to the 1930s. based on the numbers of bird species spotted Chita Key interpretive cruise, snorkeling in the park. The program is free and available and sailing excursions, paddleboating, and ciation at tropicaleverglades.com, or POSTAL SERVICES to any park visitor at the park’s Dante Fascell camping shuttle trips to Elliott Key. Check call (800) 388-9669; or visit the South Post offices are located in Florida City Visitor Center. Full-color certificates will be out biscaynenationalparkinstitute.org Dade Chamber of Com­merce website at and Homestead. awarded at four lifetime achievement levels for more information. southdadechamber.org, or call (305) starting at a life list of 30 native park bird spe- 247-2332 for more information. MARINAS AND BOAT RAMPS cies (double-crested cormorant, beginner) and FISHING The park maintains harbors at Elliott and culminating at 120 species (mangrove cuckoo, Fishing is exceptional at Biscayne all SUPPLIES AND SOUVENIRS Boca Chita Keys, where boaters may spend expert). year. Snapper, grouper and sea trout Non-perishable snacks, water and the day or night. Docking is first come, first- are plentiful in the bay. On the ocean soft drinks are available on Convoy served and there is a $25-per-night fee. BOATING Point, but groceries and supplies are Boat ramps are located in several nearby Boating is the best way to appreciate the not. They can be purchased in Home- county and city parks, including Homestead beauty of Biscayne. Canoeing and kayaking stead or Florida City. Bayfront Park, Black Point Marina, Mathe- are great ways to explore the park’s mangrove-

The Dante Fascell Visitor Center, Gal- son Hammock Park, and at fringed shorelines and shallow bay waters. Gallagher Judy lery and Museum sells books, cards, post- on . Check size Protective islands make the park good for small cards and nature-related games as well as regulations before you go to these locations. crafts. Boaters should use NOAA Nautical other souvenirs. Boca Chita pavilion is available for half- Chart 11451 and pay close attention to channel day rentals at $100 for a four-hour period markers. (Search online for the chart.) Stay at LOST AND FOUND of exclusive use plus an additional $100 least 300 feet from a boat flying a diver’s flag. To report a lost or found item, go to the refundable deposit. Docking space is avail- Boat launches are available at Home- Biscayne is a birdwatcher’s paradise, with a park visitor center or call (305) 230-7275. able on a first come, first served basis. stead Bayfront Park, Black Point Marina huge number of resident and migratory species

24 SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS | | SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS 25 BISCAYNE THINGS TO DO BISCAYNE THINGS TO DO

A self-guiding trail at Elliott Key harbor BOATING SAFETY iStock takes you through a tropical hardwood hammock of rare vines, flowers and trees. Boating in Biscayne Bay, Florida Bay and the • Refer to your chart prior to leaving the For a longer hike, take the old road that Everglades backcountry can be a challenge. dock. runs the length of the seven-mile island. Much of the water is quite shallow, and you There is a quarter-mile boardwalk and jetty can ground your boat easily. In addition to dam- REMEMBER THESE RHYMES, WHICH walk at Convoy Point where you can ob- aging your boat, groundings destroy precious HAVE AIDED MARINERS FOR YEARS: serve birds, boats and an occasional mana- seagrasses that provide food and shelter to • Avoid brown creatures that inhabit these waters. To prevent Brown, brown, run aground. tee or dolphin. All other trails are on islands areas! This water color indicates that reef and accessible only by boat. Both Adams damage to your property and to the fragile re- sources of the park: formations or seagrass beds are close to and Boca Chita Keys offer short nature trails the surface. More than 90% of Biscayne is under water. with interpretive waysides to guide you. PLEASE COME PREPARED! • White, white, you just might. Use caution! Sand bars and rubble areas may be much side of the keys, you’ll find hogfish and WATERSPORTS • Learn how to read and use nautical charts. shallower than they appear. barracuda. You must possess a Flor- Waterskiing is allowed in the park, but • Know the . Stop by any local marina • Green, green, nice and clean. Green ida state fishing license and adhere water skiers are required to stay out of an- or the park visitor center for the latest waters are generally safe for shallow draft to catch regulations on size, number, chorage areas and at least 100 feet away information. boats. Larger, deeper draft vessels should season and method of take. Copies of from the dock and other boats. • Learn how to use your electronic exercise caution. regulations are available at the visitor cen- and stand-up paddle- navigation equipment and always keep a • Blue, blue, cruise on through. Clear sailing ter, marinas and bait shops. boarding is excellent because of the visual watch on your soundings. park’s shallow, protected waters. Rentals, in deep water areas. • Check the marine forecast prior to leaving SWIMMING & DIVING including stand-up paddleboards and kay- the dock and watch for any changes in OH NO! YOU RAN AGROUND, Swimming is popular throughout the park, aks, are available at a private vendor at the weather. but beaches are rare. Homestead Bayfront park’s visitor center from Wednesday– NOW WHAT? • Always file a float plan. Be sure that a Park, which is adjacent to Biscayne National Sunday; call (305) 390-0393. Stop! Attempting to power off can cause family member or friend knows where significant damage to your vessel and to the Park’s Convoy Point, has a man-made swim- you are going and when you are planning living bottom communities. If you do run ming lagoon that is popular with locals. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS to return. Provide them with a written aground or if you venture into shallow water Excellent areas for bay seagrass snor- Ranger programs offered year-round in- description of your vessel and directions and start stirring up mud in your wake, stop! keling are south of Billy’s Point and east clude guided walks, lectures, boat tours and about whom they should contact if you of Long Arsenicker Key. Try Elkhorn Reef a variety of special events. For information, do not return as scheduled. • Turn your motor off. Do not attempt to (good for beginners) and the wreck of the call (305) 230-PARK (7275). From December • Be sure that your vessel has all safety power off. Mandalay. Avoid damaging delicate coral through April, the monthly Family Fun Fest equipment, including Coast Guard- • Trim your motor up. and anchor your boat in sandy patches— provides hands-on learning opportunities. approved personal flotation devices (PFD), which appear as light areas underwater— Dante Fascell Visitor Center is home fire extinguisher, flares, noise-making • Try to push or pole your boat off, following or use mooring buoys. Be sure to display to the park’s museum exhibits, community device and a working VHF radio. the route in. a dive flag and stay clear of other boats artist gallery and auditorium where bilingual • Remember that all passengers six years • Wait for high tide in order to drift off. flying them. video presentations are shown on request. of age and younger must wear a PFD at all • Call for commercial assistance on VHF The gallery hosts various exhibits of local art- times. WALKING & HIKING ists inspired by the park and its surroundings. channel 16. • Be sure that your VHF radio, and any other Only five percent of Biscayne consists The Discovery Room serves as a stag- communication equipment, is in good Alcohol is a major contributor to boating fatali- of land, and while limited, there are walk- ing area and indoor classroom for Biscayne’s working order. Do not depend on cellular ties. Don’t drink and boat—impaired boaters ing and hiking trails. Access to the islands education program. For more information on phone service in remote areas. become impaired drivers. is by boat only. these programs, call (305) 230-1144 ext. 08.

26 SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS | | SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS 27 BISCAYNE BIG CYPRESS CAMPING VISITOR SERVICES

Biscayne National Park offers a wonderful The fresh water of Big Cypress National ENTRANCE FEES respite from the rapid pace of urban life. One Camping on Boca Chita Key is allowed Preserve is vital to the health of the neigh- There are no entrance fees to access the of the best ways to enjoy the park’s beauty is year-round wherever there are picnic boring Everglades and supports the marine preserve, however, there are fees for some to spend a few days camping on Elliott Key or tables and grills. There are restrooms, estuaries along Florida’s southwest coast. campgrounds within Big Cypress. There Boca Chita Key, both accessible only by boat. but no sinks or showers. Fishing is per- This vast swamp contains a mixture of are also fees for off-road vehicle (ORV) per- Before you go, remember that fuel mitted (with a license); however, it is not tropical and temperate plant communities mits and park passes. For more informa- and supplies are not available on the is- permitted in the harbor, western bulk­ that are home to an array of wildlife, includ- tion, contact the off-road vehicle office at lands. Bring whatever you will need with head or creek going into the wetlands. ing the elusive Florida panther. Culturally, (239) 695-4111. The office is open 9 a.m.- you, including repellent—mosquitoes There is no potable water on the is­land; the region has served as home and refuge 12 p.m., Friday–Sunday for walk-in permits, are present throughout the year. Always bring your own to use for drinking and to many people throughout time including from 12:30 p.m.–4 p.m. by appointment keep food, supplies and trash in rigid, cooking. the Miccosukee and Seminole Nations and only. Monday, the office is open by appoint- animal-proof containers to keep rac- Pets are neither permitted on Boca early settlers. ment only. coons from making a mess of your gear Chita Key, nor on vessels in the harbor or you. Never keep food in your tent and or tied up to the island. No ground fires OPERATING HOURS AND ENTRANCES VISITOR CENTERS always pack out all trash for disposal. Call are allowed. Big Cypress National Preserve is open Big Cypress National Preserve has two (786) 335-3609 for more information. year-round, 24 hours a day. Most of the information centers located along U.S. 41 FEES preserve’s facilities are accessible from (Tamiami Trail), The Oasis Visitor Center ELLIOTT KEY Individual campsites (max. two tents/ U.S. 41, Turner River Road, U.S. Interstate and the Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Elliott Key, the park’s largest island, was six people) are $25 per night and include I-75 and State Road 29. Center. Both centers are open daily from 9 once a thriving community of pioneers a docking fee. Group campsites (max. a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except on December 25th. engaged in pineapple farming, sponging, six tents/25 people) are $30 per night. The centers offer exhibits related to natural wrecking and other pursuits. Senior Pass or Access Pass holders re- and cultural history, a wildlife exhibit, books

Camping on Elliott Key is allowed year- ceive a 50 percent discount on camping Shutterstock about Big Cypress, and an introductory film. round in designated campsites which have and boat camping fees. Reservations are National Park Service staff are available to as- a picnic table and a grill. There is a group not accepted. All camping is on a first- sist visitors with information about activities. campsite located on the ocean side of the come, first-served basis. The Oasis Visitor Center, (239) 695-4111 island. Elliott Key also has cold, freshwa- Register on the islands at the kiosk lo- is located 50 miles west of Miami. The ter showers and restrooms. Please call cated next to the harbor. Fees are pay- Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Center, (305) 230-7275 for more details. able in U.S. currency only. (239) 695-4758, is located 33 miles east Pets are only allowed in the developed of Naples. For more information, please call areas of Elliott Key and must be kept on an (239) 695-4111, visit nps.gov/bicy or write attended leash no longer than six feet. to Big Cypress National Preserve Headquar- There are trails and a buoyed swim area. PHOTO ters, 33100 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee, FL Fishing is permitted (with a license) from the 34141. maintenance dock and from the shoreline OP! Send us your stories and photos outside of the harbor and swimming area. EMERGENCIES and you could be a part of our guide! Ground fires are only permitted in the Be a part of the Oh,Ranger! world! In case of an emergency within the fire ring located at the group site, a quar- ohranger.com/biscayne/photos Preserve call (800) 788-0511. The closest ter-mile east of the harbor on the ocean Nearly 200 species of birds may be seen in Big medical facilities are located within Naples side of the island. Cypress throughout the year! or Miami.

28 SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS | | SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS 29 BIG CYPRESS VISITOR SERVICES BIG CYPRESS VISITOR SERVICES BIG CYPRESS VISITOR SERVICES

BIG CYPRESS MAP GAS AND SERVICE STATIONS with proper permits, can launch from BIG CYPRESS MAP A number of service stations oper- the Mitchell’s Landing and Boundary

To Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Seminole Museum 10 mi ate within the community of Everglades Line Trail sites along Loop Road. Canoe North 16 km h 0 1 5 10 Kilometers Sunniland g BIG CYPRESS SEMINOLE INDIAN RESERVATION u Access into this area is by permit only l o 0 1 5 10 Miles S City on the western boundary and the rentals and other marinas can be found

K

Levee 28 Canal e i e s c h s o i Miccosukee Village on the eastern bound- within the neighboring communities. o m C a c o l o m w L a Nobles C e k Gator a v O e l e Head B i e e f 2 e o 8 l ary of Big Cypress. Street-legal 4x4s, 3.9 mi r In B l n t 6.2km e ATVs, and swamp i i r S a c l e No ORVs Pink Jeep p buggies permitted l t t FLORIDA 29 west of here y r S o on designated trails a l r Panther d n o C n S a POSTAL SERVICES a u r d n t t 2.5 mi g a S E h l a rs st H a r 4.0km h inson M Snake Road y a p Bear m FLORIDA PANTHER Island n u Carpenter t d STATE LOST AND FOUND Post offices are located in the small S 1.4 mi Recreation Access NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Recreation Access 2.2km (mile marker 51) (mile marker 70) 0.9 mi (Hike-in only) (Hike-in only) 1.5km Alligator Alley Panther Refuge Trails 75 Rest Area/Recreation Access To report lost or found items, contact community of Ochopee within Big Alligator Alley (mile marker 63) To Naples 75 (Hike-in only) No MICCOSUKEE 10 mi E d access To 16 km e a Doctors Fort Lauderdale n i Oasis Visitor Center at (239) 695-4111 or Cypress and in neighboring communities ir s 3.7 mi ra t 25 mi a P 6.0km Prairie d B 40 km r C a y M Flo m t t i n r u l ri b C o l e t da o S s s S l o o e a s u g l h S INDIAN i Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Center at of Everglades City and Chokoloskee. i r n N l o M ati e o g Ivy nal u t g h e

S S h

t S

c r c

a 4.0mi e t (239) 695-4758. n 6.4km n

a i d c RESERVATION PICAYUNE ail h e r ri T i a a r e P ri T r k i k Islan d ra a oc P i a l RELIGIOUS SERVICES R e r 2.6 mi F i F 4.2 km Oak Hill Access into this area is by permit only Travel not recommended

STRAND beyond this point. Get a local d 839 MARINAS AND BOAT RAMPS Churches of several denominations are n map from Oasis Visitor Center in e BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE

i a r r Big Cypress National Preserve. e i t a S k r Deep Lake P a Turner River Canoe Access is marked located outside the preserve in the com-

e e L STATE n To Naples n Deep Lake Trail 4.8 mi a 14 mi u l 7.7km y 22 km FAKAHATCHEE p a r c i by brown signage along U.S. 41. Within munities of Everglades City, Chokoloskee, i A P 13-Mile 29 FOREST Big Cypress, motors are not allowed Copeland and Naples. ie ir a p Royal Palm Hammock r STRAND P e ATVs and swamp Jerome Upper Wagonwheel s e e buggies permitted i e 837 along this marked canoe trail. It is rec- r i k Road on designated trails a a D

r t P S Janes Scenic 7.4 mi e r Drive 11.9km

COLLIER- s l Windmill Point Marsh Trail u u SEMINOLE a ommended to call one of the information SUPPLIES AND SOUVENIRS o n o PRESERVE L a F 92 STATE PARK H Prairie e C e 41 ri v Lower e n i

Mud e a 837 a r

2 Bay D Wagonwheel P h

8 r 10-Mile Grocery e Road 2.1 mi T centers for water levels while trip plan- Books, souvenirs and insect repellent Observation Big Cypress Bend v i Place i 3.4km e g

R Tower Copeland 841 B

Camp d a r

n c u e n t a k o l

Palm a i e SWAMP C

n STATE PARK RiverTurner Road w p a o Bay k Tamiami Trail Education n c TEN THOUSAND ISLANDS U o ning. There is a second small boat launch are available at the Everglades Association la C Center a Goodland B l l Bay NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE 7-Mile GOODLAND Big Cypress Swamp S

Sugar a Welcome Center 6.2 mi

k

Bay a 9.9km sales area within the Oasis Visitor Center. 4.0 mi at the end of Seagrape Drive. Airboats, Buttonwood F 839 Bay Pumpkin d 6.4km o Bay o r Water Conservation e W v Carnestown i Birdon Road R Ochopee Area 3A H.P. Williams Faka Dump Union Seagrape Dona Roadside Park Station d Dismal 29 Drive Drive Road Bay n Key d T a Turtle Key Ferguson n E Preserve r N Bay t a Fakahatchee Headquarters r Burns Lake S t r Bay 2.9 mi Burns d S Monument n 4.6km Gullivan Bay l Halfway Creek i a e Lake a r d Dade-Collier Hog Canoe Trail r t n d Gullivan Key T v Barron S a n Training and Key t r Lane River t a Oasis Visitor Center Transition Airport i e s S r Cove l t White Horse e Kirby Storter l S Key EVERGLADES CITY i g Plantation Roadside Park R s T r Monroe s k a H Island e o o S Station t P O n e Tamiami Trail Panther e a e e R e U C o n o Shutterstock Key h G r tc S r n b ha A Gulf Coast Visitor Center e n a e a r v o r

i G t ak ss N e F v s Midway Round a i R M

P D R t Tiger Dump Station Key s e Key w L W r e d a e n k Camp Picnic n N a r t r 4.3 mi e nd Lulu Key s u S s tra as Sandfly Chokoloskee T 6.9km S Key P k es ey Island Bay o o 2.4 mi Lak K H G 3.9km T n ts ia r a er r Stop Keys d er o t il ob a n iv t o Tra R i I Jenkins R G a r Hook l Indian Key w k Key Cross Bays Sunday Bay Ne Jack CHOKOLOSKEE r Daniels Chickee 41 Kingston G a t o r H o o k S w a m p Loop Key a Key r Sunday d I e Bay n GULF OF S iv a h L R r Everglades National Park boundary A t Jewel Key N Lopez S S z River 3.2 mi D y Pass pe Ke Lo r 5.1km S it t e b a b w Ra et e Loop Miccosukee To South Florida Natural Water Flow Oyster w Cultural Center Miami Turtle Key Bay S House Pinecrest 29 mi Lake Hammock Road Fortymile Bend 47 km Lumber Key Tree Snail Okeechobee Bay W Hammock Trail il e r S t Tamiami de l k r a Rabbit Key rn a n ATVs and swamp Pinecrest Ranger Shark Valley es Sweetwater Bay W d Station Huston s g buggies permitted r Chickee i Visitor Center Crate Key S EVERGLADES e Bay on designated trails Bobcat Boardwalk iv Last h Loop Road R Huston g Mitchell Otter Cave Hammock Trail Education Bay u Landing NATIONAL PARK o Center l n S Big Cypress Basin o Deer t Wate f s rw Island f

u G u m h The a S l o o H Watson r y u g h g e h y Big Cypress Place iv a u Duck R o National Preserve Rock Chevalier D l Pavilion Bay e S Cove ri Key m i ha a at r t h P s Gulf of Gun Rock Point C C h Cannon y a a Storter Bay Darwins Place a E Mexico t Bay B h Tour Tram a Florida Dog Key m r Airboat use only Atlantic o Bay B t on designated trails e a Ocean n d G

g h Mormon Key u o l S Alligator

Crab Key Bay Bight s Dads n Snake Key Buttonwood Prairie a Observation Bay m h National Park Service Picnic area Unpaved road 0.5mi Hiking trail Plate Creek Bay t u g Tower New Turkey Key s l o campground 0.8km distance indicator Plate Creek Bay L o S Chickee National Park Service Boat launch Turkey Key n s ORV trail x o primitive campsite and canoe launch Backcountry access with ORVs and Lostmans Five Bay D i Buzzard Key Lostmans Five Bay EVERGLADES State Park campground Canoe launch airboats is along designated trails Bird Key Airboat trail only. Trails may also be used for hiking Bight North Plover Key NATIONAL PARK Private campground Lodging and biking if conditions allow. Two Island Bay Plover Key Big Cypress National Preserve Canoe trail Mullet Bay Tenmile Corner Interpretive trail Food service Bird Key Everglades National Park Hiking trail Alligator Cove Wildlife viewing Gas station Alligator Point Toms Bight

They may look slow and ungainly, but Alligators are deceptively fast—don’t get within reach.

3030 SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONALNATIONAL PARKS PARKS | | | SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS 31 BIG CYPRESS THINGS TO DO DRY TORTUGAS

Big Cypress is the backyard to the resi- (approximately 28 miles one-way), and In- Dry Tortugas National Park—a destina- Florida straits. In 1846, construction of mas- dents and visitors of southern Florida. En- terstate 75 to the preserve’s north bound- tion as well-known for its legendary intrigue sive Fort Jefferson began and lasted almost compassing more than 729,000 acres, ary (approximately eight miles one-way). as it is for its natural wonders—is comprised 30 years, but it was never completed. Chang- Big Cypress provides the protection of a Big Cypress also offers miles of unspoiled of coral reefs and rubble and surrounded by ing technologies and times rendered the fort national park area while still allowing for a areas to explore, although this area of generous shoals and waters. One major at- obsolete. In the early 20th century, the Dry broader array of recreational opportunities flat terrain and varied vegetation is chal- traction is Fort Jefferson, one of the largest Tortugas’ abundant sea life and unusual va- like hunting and off-road vehicle use. Off- lenging and appropriate for the most forts ever built in the United States. riety of birds became its central attraction. road vehicle permits are available at Oasis experienced hikers. Grab a map, com- The Dry Tortugas is a cluster of seven In 1935, President Franklin Roosevelt des- Visitor Center at (239) 695-4111. For infor- pass or GPS unit to explore the preserve small islands that lie 68 miles off the coast ignated Fort Jefferson and its surrounding mation on obtaining a hunting license, visit by orienteering. For more information, of Key West in South Florida. Ponce De waters as a national monument. Congress myfwc.com. please visit floridatrail.org or contact the León was the first European to name them redesignated it Dry Tortugas National Park in For the general visitor, exploring Big Cy- Florida Trail Association. in 1513. He relied on the massive sea tur- 1992 to better protect the area. press may begin with a driving tour along There is an easy one-mile round-trip tles or “tortugas” found there as a food the Loop Road or the Turner River/Birdon boardwalk at the Kirby Storter Wayside source for his sailors. Dry was added to the ACTIVITIES AT DRY TORTUGAS Roads route. Views of the variety of Flor- that explores the depths of a cypress area’s name to warn mariners that no fresh Visitors to Dry Tortugas National Park ida’s sub-tropical habitats and wildlife can strand. The Fire Prairie Trail is a five-mile water could be found here. The Dry Tortu- can participate in a variety of activities on be found along these routes. round-trip walk that provides sweeping gas’ reefs and shoals have proved - both land and sea. The visitor center in Fort

Visitors may also want to visit wildlife views of prairies affected by fire. ous to seafaring0 100 200navigators; Feet they are the Jefferson offers an overview of the island’s 0 100 200 Meters North viewing areas at the H.P. Williams Way- Ranger-led activities such as canoe site of hundreds of shipwrecks. activities.B Self-guided walking tours of Fort

0 100 200 Feet U

SH 0 100 200 Meters GARDEN side and the Oasis Visitor Center. trips, boardwalk explorations and swamp In the early 1800s, the tiny groupKEY of islands JeffersonKEY SH are a perfect way to explore the North B

U North coaling

SH dock ruins Popular canoe routes within Big Cy- walks are typically available during winter came to the attentionGARDEN of the U.S. military— island. Nature lovers will enjoy birdwatch-

KEY SH

KEY T OAL MOA press include the Turner River and the Half- months. Visit nps.gov/bicy, or inquire at mostly because of its strategicNorth coaling location in the ing and wildlife-watching (the Dry Tortugas dock ruins Magazine

T OAL way Creek Canoe Trails. the Oasis Visitor Center for details. MOA are known for spring bird migrations and Officers’ Soldiers’ 0 100 200 Feet Quarters Barracks Biking is popular in the Bear Island area Magazine L E K R O N S tropical bird species), picnicking and a va- 0 100 200 Meters Visitor Center Harbor light BUSH North Soldiers’ Officers’ Park B KEY of Big Cypress, located in the northwest Quarters Barracks Cistern U riety of water sports. Snorkelers and scuba CAMPING L E K R O N S Headquarters

SH Visitor Magazine GARDEN Seaplane Center KEY SH KEY Harbor light BUSHbeach corner of the protected area. Frontcountry campgrounds with vari- divers will enjoy the incredible marine life Cistern Headquarters North coaling A R E A dock ruins Magazine ous amenities can be found at the Midway Seaplane Boat pier in the coral reefs that dot the islands. New T beach Dockhouse OAL MOA Swimming HIKING and Monument Lake campgrounds on U.S. A R E A area regulations are in effect at Dry Tortugas. Boat pier DinghyDinghy Magazine beach Dockhouse Big Cypress offers hikers a variety of 41. More primitive camping can be found Swimming GoodSoldiers’ snorkeling off Boaters should call (305) 242-7700 or go to area Officers’ coaling docks and Quarters BarracksDinghyDinghy L E K R O N S moat walls South coaling challenging terrain—pinnacle rock, muddy at the Burns Lake, Mitchell’s Landing, Visitorbeach dock ruins nps.gov/drto for updates. Good snorkeling off Center Harbor light BUSH coaling docks and Park KEY prairies and shallow water provide incred- Pinecrest and Bear Island campgrounds. moat walls Cistern HeadquartersSouth coaling Magazinedock ruins Seaplane beach ibly diverse hikes. The southernmost sec- All campgrounds require a fee and some E A A R E A A R PLANNING YOUR VISIT A G E Boat pier"11" H O R A N C tions of the Florida National Scenic are by reservation only. Pink Jeep, Gator Dockhouse Dry Tortugas National Park is open A Swimming R E area "12" A A G E "11" DinghyDinghyH O R Trail—which stretches across the state Head, Burns Lake and Monument Lake "10" AbeachN C all year; Fort Jefferson on Garden Key is Good snorkeling off from Gulf Islands National Seashore to campgrounds are closed until August 15. coaling docks and "12" open during the daylight hours—as is Log- moat walls ViSouthsible ruin coaling Picnic area Primitive campground "10" dock ruins Big Cypress National Preserve—lie within Call (239) 695-4111 for more details. Restrooms gerhead Key. Bush Key is usually open Big Cypress (parts of this trail can get very Visible ruin Picnic area Primitive campground from mid-October–mid-January. All other Restrooms E A A R wet in the rainy season). The Big Cypress A G E keys are closed year-round. For answers to all your questions, "11" H O R A N C portion of the Florida Trail can be divided go to OhRanger.com "12" The Garden Key Visitor Center is lo- into two sections: U.S. 41 to Interstate 75 "10" cated inside Fort Jefferson and is open all

Visible ruin Picnic area Primitive campground 32 SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS | Restrooms | SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS 33 DRY TORTUGAS NATURE & WILDLIFE iStock

The South Florida national parks pro- ern Florida. Palms and other tropical trees vide a sanctuary, as well as a breeding and such as the gumbo limbo and mahogany feeding ground, for many species of wad- grow in jumbled harmony alongside wil- ing birds that depend on the climate’s wet lows, pines and oaks. and dry cycles to reproduce. The great egret, snowy egret and roseate spoon- FRESHWATER MARSH bill live relatively undisturbed in the Ever- Sawgrass covers approximately glades with other rare and unique birds. 572,200 acres of open, flat prairie. This The anhinga, sometimes called the member of the sedge family is the most “snakebird” because it swims through dominant plant, flowing through the park the water with only its thin neck show- as a broad, sweeping river of grass. ing, also lives here. Another resident, the This seemingly endless plain of sharp- threatened wood stork, is the only stork toothed sawgrass is interrupted only native to North America. The few hundred sporadically by gentle humps of ham- remaining endangered snail kites are also mocks, which are outcrops at home in the Everglades. where tropical plants and trees grow. Fort Jefferson is the largest brick masonry structure in the U.S.—even though it’s unfinished. For years, botanists from around the Ranging in size from a few feet to several world have marveled at the more than acres in area, hammocks conceal within year from 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. It features and reservations, contact Key West Sea- 2,000 species of plants—both tropical and their cool and gloomy retreats deer, rac- artifacts, a video on the fort’s history, sou- plane Adventures at (305) 293-9300 or temperate—living side by side in south- coons, bobcats, barred owls, hawks and venirs and a bookstore. For additional in­ keywestseaplanecharters.com; or Yankee formation, call (305) 242-7700. Freedom III at (800) 634-0939, (305) 294-7009 The Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center or drytortugas.com. iStock hosts exhibits, a gift shop and information about the Dry Tortugas and other preserved lands and waters in the area. The center THE FLORIDA KEYS is open Tuesday–Saturday, from 9 a.m.–4 Few marine environments in the U.S. com- p.m., is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas, pare to the Florida Keys in terms of natural and is located at 35 East Quay Road, Key beauty and natural resources. The 126-mile is- West, FL 33040. For more information, call land Keys chain boasts an extensive (305) 809-4750 or visit floridakeys.noaa.gov. ecosystem in its shallow ocean-side waters, and mangrove forests and seagrass meadows GETTING THERE are found throughout the region. Together, Since there are no roads to Dry Tortugas these habitats support one of the most unique National Park, visitors can only reach the and diverse assemblages of plants and animals area by seaplane or ferry. Private pleasure in North America. In 1990, the Florida Keys Na- boats and charters are welcome, as long tional Marine Sanctuary, which encompasses the 2,900 square nautical miles surrounding as they are totally self-sufficient; no provi- the Florida Keys, was designated to protect and sions—food, water or fuel—are available manage this national treasure. in the park. For ferry schedules, prices It’s photos like this that warrant you packing a zoom lens. Never get this close to an alligator.

34 SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS | | SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS 35 NATURE & WILDLIFE NATURE & WILDLIFE

after widespread logging are located on ENDANGERED SPECIES OF THE PARKS iStock Long Pine Key and in nearby eastern sec- tions of the Everglades. At Everglades and Biscayne, habitat loss Due to loss of habitat and water manage- ment activities, the snail kite is one of At the highest, driest elevations (three and degradation are increasingly impact- ing the native wildlife. Threatened species America’s rarest birds, and several hundred to seven feet above sea level), the slash have low or declining populations and if not are believed to exist here. The Florida pine, or Dade County pine, is a hardy tree protected, may become endangered. En- semaphore cactus, considered one of that can put roots down in minimal soil. dangered species are in immediate threat the world’s rarest plants, has a population It can grow in the hollows of limestone of extinction, but the future of these ani- numbering 600 individuals in Biscayne. bedrock, which contain peat and marl, a mals is not without hope. The National Park Service has joined fed- rich combination of decayed vegetable The seaside sparrow has eral, state and private agencies to actively matter, clay and shells. the most restricted range of any North preserve these animals. Sea turtles, mana- The pinelands are also home to the American bird and is found almost entirely tees and Florida panthers are all endan- saw palmetto; the moonvine, a type of within the Everglades and Big Cypress. gered species who live in the parks. Mangrove forests and estuaries provide safe morning glory; and the coontie, which is a marine habitat for developing organisms. plant resembling a palm tree. The cotton mouse, opossum, raccoon, pine war- Decomposed mangrove leaves contribute hogany and other tropical plants common marsh rabbits. Water moccasins may live in bler and reef gecko all find food and shel- generously to the food chain, providing to the West Indies. the ring of water that often collects around ter within the pinelands. nourishment for bacteria, fungi and other Biscayne’s coral reefs are the work the hammocks. microorganisms, which in turn, feed wild- of billions of tiny individual coral animals The aptly-named parasitic strangler fig MANGROVE FORESTS life higher on the food chain. called polyps. Relatives of the sea anem- drops its long aerial roots to the ground and From the southern end of the park, along There are four “worlds” at Biscayne: one, these soft-bodied animals live in small twists itself around its host tree’s trunk. Soon the shoreline of Florida Bay, the tangled, the mangrove shoreline, the waters of the cups of calcium carbonate (limestone) that it robs its host of light, water and nutrients, dense mangrove forests their way bay, the keys and the coral reefs. Since 95 they secrete around themselves as exter- ultimately killing it. up the western side to the Ten Thousand percent of Biscayne is comprised of water, nal skeletons. Thin layers of these skel- In contrast, the air plant, or epiphyte, Islands in a swampy maze that is part land most animals that live there are associated etons form coral reefs, with only the thin grows harmlessly on other plants, obtaining and part water. It is here that the freshwater with ocean or shoreline habitats. outermost layer being alive. water and nutrients from the air. The most of Okeechobee mingles with the ocean’s Biscayne’s mangrove shoreline acts as More than 500 species of fish, both celebrated epiphytes are wild orchids. Most saltwater, creating a brackish, nurturing en- a nursery for all types of land and marine large and small, inhabit Biscayne National grow in the damp, dimly-lit hammocks and vironment. Water birds, sea turtles, fish, animals. The mangrove swamps also keep Park. Most of them live in or near coral cypress sloughs. The night-blooming epi- alligators, manatees and crocodiles find the waters of Biscayne Bay clear and spar- reefs. Such congestion partially explains dendrum, with its showy white blossom and shelter and abundant food here. kling by trapping eroding soil and pollutants the coral reefs’ brilliant colors and distinc- spiky leaves, is often considered to be the The sturdy red mangrove, found near- from inland sources. tive patterns. most beautiful and fragrant orchid in the park. est the shoreline, is well supported on nu- The turquoise and aquamarine waters of To survive, a fish must be able to instantly A rare and special member of the hammock merous above-ground prop roots that arch the bay teem with sea stars, , soft identify potential rivals or mates. Some are community is the liguus tree snail. Snails of from its trunk and take hold in the muck , hundreds of types of fish and other even able to change color at night to better each hammock have their own unique color below. Growing farther inland, the black marine life. The endangered manatee, or sea hide from predators. The vividly colored fish variations—their intricate patterns range from mangrove displays unusual aerial roots, cow, also inhabits many of the park’s water- include the rock beauty, the queen angel- orange and lavender to yellow and deep blue. pneumatophores, which stand like pen- ways (see the sidebar in this chapter). fish and the parrotfish, which has sharp cils all around the base of the tree. They The keys (islands) are made of ancient front teeth that resemble a parrot’s beak to PINELANDS serve as respiratory organs in this marsh coral rock. Similar to those found in the rasp from coral. Another unique environment occasion- plant. White mangroves prefer higher, Everglades, the hardwood hammocks Also in residence are the gold-flecked ally disrupts the sawgrass plains. The inland ground. They often form hammocks of the keys support gumbo limbo trees, moray eel, stingrays, squid and five spe- rough and rocky pinelands that remained with mahogany and gumbo limbo trees. Jamaican dogwood, strangler fig, ma- cies of sea turtles.

36 SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS | | SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS 37 NATURE & WILDLIFE NATURE & WILDLIFE

SAVING THE MANATEES ALLIGATORS VS. CROCODILES Alligators Crocodiles

Shutterstock

Crocodiles generally appear to be a grayish- Alligators tend to be a black-gray color and olive green color, closer to that of a dark army are never green.

COLOR camouflage.

Range from nine to 14 feet, depending on Can reach a top length of 15 feet in the wild gender. and up to 20 feet in captivity. LENGTH

Weigh less than crocodiles, usually not Average about 1,000 lbs, with the largest up to exceeding 1,000 lbs. 2,000 lbs.

West Indian manatees are large, gray ing manatees today. There are approximately A wider “U” shaped snout than its croco- Have a much pointier “A” shaped snout that aquatic with bodies that taper to 3,000 West Indian manatees left in the United dile counterpart. tends to be much longer and thinner. SNOUT a flat, paddle-shaped tail. They are native States. Without aggressive protection, their to Florida and are common residents of Bis- future remains in jeopardy. Alligators inhabit freshwater areas, Crocodiles prefer areas with a higher concen- cayne, Big Cypress National Preserve and Boaters must observe all manatee protec- mostly swamps and marshes with warm tration of salt water, but can live in freshwater. ABITAT temperatures.

Everglades National Parks. Manatees, or sea tion zone requirements and are urged to report H cows, usually frequent shallow, slow-moving any accidental strikes to the National Park Ser- rivers, estuaries, canals and coastal areas, vice or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conserva- Top jaw overlaps bottom jaw. Lower teeth Have interlocking teeth and both sets are vis- propelling themselves with two flippers and tion Commission. Boaters will not be subject are hidden with mouth closed. ible when the animal closes its mouth. TEETH their flat, broad tail. It may seem hard to be- to prosecution provided they were operating in lieve, but the manatee’s closest land rela- accordance with any applicable vessel speed SAFETY TIPS tives are the elephant and the hyrax, a small, restrictions at the time of the strike. Alligators and crocodiles both call the wa- overly fast, appearances can be deceiving. gopher-sized . The average adult To reduce the chance of hitting a manatee, ters of Florida home. In order to stay safe it In the water, alligators can reach a manatee is about 9.8 feet long and weighs stay in deep water channels when boating is important to keep a few important rules speed of 20 mph and hold their breath between 800-1,200 pounds. and avoid seagrass beds and shallow areas in mind. for an hour. They can also move quickly in West Indian manatees have few, if any, where manatees may be feeding. If you see a Do not feed wildlife under any cir- short bursts while on land. natural enemies, and it is believed they can manatee when operating a powerboat, main- cumstances. When animals associate peo- Properly dispose of all garbage. live for more than 60 years. Today, human tain a safe distance of at least 50 feet. If you ple with food, they are more likely to approach Keep away from the edges of lakes, activities are the greatest threat to the spe- want to observe the manatee, cut the motor, and return to areas with humans. ponds, streams, rivers, canals and cies’ survival. Most manatee mortalities oc- but don’t drift over the animal. Do not try to move an alligator or croco- other freshwater bodies. Be sure to cur from collisions with watercraft, ingestion To learn how you can help protect these dile from the road or pathway. Approaching swim only in designated areas. of fishhooks, litter and monofilament line and unique mammals, contact the Save the and touching the animal can cause them to feel If an alligator takes hold of you, entanglement in crab trap lines. Ultimately, Manatee® Club at (800) 432-5646 or visit threatened and attack. make sure to fight back. Hit the animal loss of habitat is the most serious threat fac- savethemanatee.org. Although these animals may not appear in the snout/nostrils or in the eye.

38 SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS | | SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS 39 NATURE & WILDLIFE NATURE & WILDLIFE

WATCHABLE WILDLIFE WATCHABLE WILDLIFE

1 2 3 7 8 9

4 5 6 10 11 12

1. ATLANTIC BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN 4. (Pelecanus occidentalis) 7. GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea hernias) 10. QUEEN ANGELFISH (Holacanthus ciliaris) (Tursiops truncates) • The bottlenose dolphin With white heads, black feet and brown bodies, With its long legs and thin beak, the blue heron Queen angelfish live in the colorful reefs of South is seen off Flamingo and Cape Sable. The brown pelicans are hard to miss. Their signature wades into the waters of the Everglades in search Florida and are easily spotted when snorkeling in name comes from their short snouts that re- long bill, about 9 to 13 inches long, helps them of food. Its diet consists mainly of small fish and warm waters. These shy fish rarely swim in schools semble the top of an old-fashioned gin bottle. scoop up water as they search for fish. Once en- some land animals. The heron uses its sharp beak and are found alone or in pairs. Queen angelfish are This social species travels in pods of about 12 dangered, the brown pelican has made a come- to pierce prey. These birds are year-round inhabit- omnivorous and their diet includes algae, plankton individuals and displays a variety of vocaliza- back. • Weight 6.6–11 lbs • Height: 50 in • ants of the park. • Weight 5–8 lbs • Length 5.5– and coral. • Weight up to 3.5 lbs • Size 8–14 in • tions. • Weight 419–573 lbs • Length 8.2–8.9 Active year-round. Photo: Shutterstock 6.5 ft • Active year-round. Photo: Shutterstock Active year-round. Photo: Shutterstock ft • Active year-round. Photo: Shutterstock 5. FLORIDA PANTHER (Puma concolor) • The 8. GROOVED BRAIN CORAL Diploria labyrinthi- 11. RIVER OTTER (Lutra Canadensis) 2. ATLANTIC LOGGERHEAD TURTLE only panther thought to be remaining in the formis) Found in the reefs of Biscayne, grooved Otters are always on the move, attempting to (Caretta caretta) • Aptly named for their mas- eastern U.S., the Florida panther was hunted brain coral is one of the largest types of coral and avoid predators like bald eagles while keeping sive heads with sharp beaks, loggerheads are almost to extinction. Protected by state law can reach a diameter of five feet! With intricate their hard-caught fish away from larger animals. the most commonly observed sea turtles in Bis- since 1966, this feline is now endangered due grooves covering the surface, this type of coral As long as an otter stays in sliding distance of cayne. Their threatened status may be elevated to shrinking habitat and highway traffic. Fewer is easily identifiable. Often a yellowish hue, the water, it is safe. Otters prey on fish and frogs, to endangered due to nest predation, mortality than 200 panthers are thought to remain. • species is in danger due to habitat loss and pollu- but will eat almost anything that swims or in boat collisions and entanglement in gear. • Weight 85–100 lbs • Length 5–7 ft • Active tion. • Weight varies by size • Length up to 5 ft • floats. • Length 2–3.5 ft • Weight 6 to 31 lbs • Weight 170–350 lbs • Size 31–48 in • Migrates year-round. Photo: Shutterstock Active year-round. Photo: Shutterstock Active year-round. Photo: Shutterstock south in winter. Photo: Shutterstock 6. GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus) • The 9. (Falco peregrinus) 12. WHITE PELICAN (Pelecanus erythrorhyn- 3. BOBCAT (Lynx rufus) • Bobcats roam within glossy ibis is defined by its distinct dark col- The peregrine falcon can be found wintering in chos) • A resident of the Everglades, white the pinelands, coastal prairies and hardwood oring and long bill and is often spotted in Biscayne National Park. The name “peregrine” pelicans are often found feeding in Snake Bight. hammocks of the park. Look carefully and you marshlands. Its downward curved bill is advan- means wanderer, as the peregrine falcon has one Equipped with long bills and extensible pouches, may catch a glimpse of these creatures, as tageous for catching small fish and is distinct of the longest migrations of any North Ameri- pelicans plunge underwater and scoop up fish. they remain active during the day. Bobcats hunt from other waders with straight bills. Glossy can bird—wintering in South America. They can Look for wintering pelicans on the mudflat at smaller animals, but are capable of bringing down ibises also live in Europe, , and Aus- travel 15,500 miles annually. • Weight 3–4 lbs • low tide, at the end of the Snake Bight Trail. • large prey like deer. • Weight 20–30 lbs • Length tralia. • Weight 4–5.5 lbs • Size 19–24 in • Height 1.5 ft; 3–3.5-ft wingspan • Migrate south Weight 9.9–19.9 lbs • Length 50–65 in • Ac- 3.5 ft • Active year-round. Photo: Shutterstock Active year-round. Photo: Shutterstock in fall. Photo: Shutterstock. tive year-round. Photo: Shutterstock

40 SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS | | SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS 41 PRESERVATION PRESERVATION MOTHER AND FATHER OF THE EVERGLADES Marjory Stoneman Douglas was a to and history of the region’s watershed and ad- be reckoned with. Called the “mother of the Ev- dresses modern civilization’s impact on this fragile The South Florida ecosystem is one of our of the ecosystem, cattails are spreading at erglades,” she was an environmentalist, activist, ecosystem. country’s richest biological preserves and it is the rate of four acres per day, clogging open feminist and independent thinker in a time when Ernest F. Coe was a Connecticut landscaper in peril. Canals and levees now capture and di- waterways and crowding out animal life. each of those titles was an accomplishment. Her who settled with his wife in , Flor- vert its water for human needs, including drain- name is synonymous with the Everglades for her ida, in the 1920s. During his trips to the Everglades, age, drinking water, irrigation and flood control. ENDANGERED SPECIES tireless, groundbreaking efforts to protect a region he was shocked to learn of orchids and rare birds These factors are challenging and altering the The Everglades no longer teems with wild- her adversaries considered a worthless swamp. being destroyed. Coe was insistent that the state Everglades’ delicate ecological balance. life as it had for thousands of years. Many of Douglas lived in South Florida from 1915 until save its wildlife and unparalleled tropical beauty. the larger animals, including the panther, are her death and became absorbed in the movement He created the Tropical Everglades National Park WATER CONSERVATION now either endangered or threatened. Ac- to preserve the Everglades. She served on the Association (later Everglades National Park Asso- committee to create Everglades National Park, The campaign to drain the Everglades cording to the National Audubon Society, the ciation) and outlined a proposal for a national park. worked toward establishing Biscayne National started in the early 1900s under the direction number of wading birds, like wood storks But it wasn’t until 1947, nearly 20 years later, that Park, helped form the Friends of the Everglades of Governor Napoleon Bonaparte Broward. and egrets, that nest in the southern Ever- Everglades National Park was established. and advocated for legislation to protect the parks In 1905, the governor himself lifted the first glades has declined from 265,000 to 18,500 In 1996, on the eve of the park’s 50th an- and their wildlife. shovelful of dirt, thus beginning the digging of (93 percent) since the 1930s. The roseate niversary, a new visitor center was christened Douglas is perhaps most known for her best- hundreds of canals. These canals would har- spoonbill population has declined by 50 per- “Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center” in honor of the selling book, The Everglades: River of Grass. Published ness the water from the lake and redirect it for cent since 1980. In the past few years, the man who dedicated his life to the preservation of in 1947, her prose portrays the strange beauty use by developers, farmers and businesses. park’s alligators have experienced reduced the Everglades. In 1909, the Everglades Drainage District reproduction and the threatened wood stork completed the , connecting Lake has sometimes failed to reproduce at all. Everglades Restoration Plan, a state-federal faced trails. The remaining 20 percent is Okeechobee to the and the sea. A recent count within Everglades and Bis- partnership to disassemble part of southern distributed to other parks. The land south of the lake was then available cayne National Parks, Big Cypress National Florida’s flood-control canal system and re- for farming. People moved into the area and, Preserve and Dry Tortugas National Park indi- store the meandering and WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP with limited success, began to farm in the Ever- cates that there are 14 federally listed endan- its surrounding wetlands. • Recycle. At Everglades and Biscayne, re- glades. But hurricanes in 1926 and 1928 swept gered and nine threatened species of wildlife. Efforts to restore the Everglades continue, cycle glass, plastic and aluminum cans the lake and, in 1930, the Army Corps of Engi- Since the park was established not to but the vision and commitment of elected of- using the bins located next to park trash neers built the Hoover Dike, which prevented safeguard a geographic feature like a forest ficials are not enough. The Everglades and all cans and dumpsters. At Shark Valley, dis- the lake from overrunning its banks. Beginning or river canyon, but to protect a fragile and other areas that are home to threatened and pose of aluminum cans in the provided in 1948, more than 1,900 miles of levees and complex ecological system, the situation is all endangered species need your support. receptacles. canals south of Lake Okeechobee were built. the more poignant. While legislation such as • Join Biscayne National Park’s cleanup cam- The flow of water became dependent on the the Endangered Species Act of 1973 has af- REVENUE WELL SPENT paigns, which are held several times a year. decisions of engineers and the interests of busi- forded some measure of legal protection, it is Everglades, Dry Tortugas and Biscayne • Support conservation legislation. ness, not nature. unclear if it is too late to save these species. National Parks participate in the Recre- • Avoid purchasing products you suspect Farming has dealt two blows to ation Fee Program. There’s no entrance come from endangered or threatened plant the fragile and complex Everglades RESTORING THE BALANCE fee at Biscayne. The parks retain 80 per- or wildlife species. ecosystem. The first comes from its need for On December 13, 1989, President George cent of funds collected—including en- The National Park Service reminds us: “It is water, which, until this century, flowed freely H.W. Bush signed the Everglades National trance and interpretive fees—to improve not enough to merely appreciate nature, we into the Everglades from the lake. The second Park Protection and Expansion Act into law. visitor facilities and protect resources. must actively work to protect it. What we do comes from agricultural runoff— rich in nutri- This bill authorized the addition of 109,506 Completed maintenance projects include today toward that end is the legacy we leave ents, it has caused an explosion in the growth acres of the east Everglades to the park. In rehabilitated boat ramps, repaired board- our children and their children. The extinction of of certain plants like cattails. In certain areas 2000, Congress passed the Comprehensive walks, restroom improvements and resur- a species is forever… and the decision is ours.”

42 SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS | | SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS 43 Flamingo“ AdventuresThis experience at has JUST FOR KIDS Everglades changedNational Parkme forever.” Restaurant Coming soon! BECOME A JUNIOR RANGER can also become a WebRanger! Go to Gift Shop • Kayaking While becoming a junior ranger, you can nps.gov/webrangers to find out more. learn more about three of southern Florida’s Camping & RV Sites national park sites: Everglades National HABITAT HUNT Park, Biscayne National Park and Big Cy- Check off the habitats you can find press National Preserve. Discover their dif- (a habitat is a place where animals and ferent habitats and learn why each park is a plants live). What animals live in each hab- unique and special place. itat? Where would you want to live? Draw Ask for a junior ranger booklet at any a habitat for yourself that you would like visitor center and complete the section to live in (include a place to sleep, things FLAMINGOEVERGLADES.COM for the park you’re visiting. When you’re to eat, etc.). RESERVATIONS: (855) 708-2207 finished with the pages for a specific • Coral reef: ocean habitat where tiny polyps park, stamp the inside of the back cover build stone fortresses for other animals and with the stamp found in the park’s visitor plants. (Biscayne and Dry Tortugas) center. To receive a junior ranger badge, • Swamp: low, watery areas with trees. tell the park ranger you have finished the (Big Cypress and Everglades) The Lodge at pages for that park. • Hammock: densely forested areas with If you collect badges from all three dry land. (Big Cypress, Biscayne and Wakulla Springs parks, you can send a copy of the stamped Everglades) booklet page to the park headquarters and • Cypress stands: watery area with Lodging •Dining •Gift Shop you will receive an awesome patch! special trees—the roots above the wa- AD Dry Tortugas National Park has its ter look like knobby knees; long moss own junior ranger program that differs strands hang from the branches. (Big from the other parks in the area. Com- Cypress and Everglades) plete the book and earn a badge. You • Mangrove forest: ocean shoreline com- THELODGEATWAKULLASPRINGS.COM munity with trees growing partly on land RESERVATIONS: (855) 632-4559

NPS and partly in saltwater. (Biscayne, Big Cy- press and Everglades) • : dense patches of plant growth in shallow ocean areas. (Biscayne, Everglades and Dry Tortugas)

OUR READER FEEDBACK "My daughter was so proud to become a junior ranger, and Managed by we had so much fun watching Conserving Lands. Transforming Lives. her learn!" - Melissa Meyer Serve, support, learn more at Kids will get a kick out of junior ranger activities.

44 SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS | THESCA.ORGguestservices.com

GSI19_Ad_OhRanger_5-375x8-375_20190430.indd 3 5/3/2019 11:10:42 AM PHOTOGRAPHY

For millennia, we’ve looked towards the tion. Next, set your white balance to daylight heavens and contemplated what’s beyond settings (5500k) and turn on your mirror lock our orbit and universe. More recently, star- to avoid mirror shake. Wait until the moon is gazing has become increasingly difficult for out, too, as it’ll illuminate and add detail to millions of people living in developed areas. If your foreground. Make sure that it’s behind you live you in a populated area east of the you. To capture star trails: Mississippi or along the Pacific coast, odds • Set your ISO at 200 to reduce digital noise. are that you can count the number of stars • Compose your image, making sure you you see on your hands. National and state have interesting features in the foreground. parks—remote and minimally developed— • Choose your focal length. The longer the not only protect our land, but also our dark focal length, the quicker your star trails will skies which are ideal for astrophotography. start to form. There are two primary types of astropho- • Set your camera to manual mode so that tography shots that yield different, but stel- you can select your shutter speed and lar compositions. A long exposure setting aperture. will show stars trailing across the sky, while • Set your aperture between f/2.8 and f/4 for a shorter exposure will show pinpoints of best results. light—objects that a camera can capture that • Select “bulb mode” as your shutter speed. the unaided eye cannot. Both require a cam- • Use your cable release or remote to open era with interchangeable lenses and manual the shutter or set your timer for two to controls to set aperture, ISO, and exposure four minutes. AD settings. Here’s what you’ll need to start: Check your results. If your picture is too • A sturdy tripod: Simply put, a shaky tri- dark, increase the exposure time. If your trails pod will yield blurry photos. are to short, increase the exposure time. • A cable release or remote control or in- Keep playing around with your settings to get tervalometer: You’ll want to avoid touch- the results you desire. To learn how to take ing your camera to minimize shake. The photos of the milky way and millions of points addition of an intervalometer will allow you of light, visit ohranger.com/brightskies. to take sequential long exposures • Batteries: Your aperture may be open for several hours, so it’s important to have

multiple fresh and fully charged batteries. Shutterstock • A wide lens: Use the fastest, widest lens available. • A head lamp: It’ll be useful to set up your equipment and illuminate your foreground. Check the cloud cover; if there’s too much wait until you have a clearer night. Before you start, set your focus to infinity and turn Photographing the night sky is as close as many off your autofocus and high ISO noise reduc- of us will get to exploring space.

46 SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS | IF YOU ONLY HAVE A DAY

Although spread out over a wide area, and head to the mangrove shoreline at Bis- South Florida’s parks promise the possi- cayne Bay for some great and relaxing bility of adventure filled with water, sun- birdwatching. shine and wildlife. Each offers a variety of The roseate spoonbill, great blue heron, activities and outdoor experiences. If you brown pelican and wood stork are just only have one day, try to visit one park and a few of the species you may catch a explore everything it has to offer—the dis- glimpse of on your search. Each is ex- tance and wet landscape between them tremely colorful and beautiful to observe in makes park jumping extremely difficult. its natural habitat.

BIRDWATCHING EXPLORE THE WATER The Everglades, Biscayne, Big Cypress Visiting parks comprised primarily of and the Dry Tortugas are all home to a di- water creates unparalleled opportunities versity of rare and endangered birds. Rent to see marine life found only in warm wa- a kayak, pack a lunch, grab your binoculars ter areas. Snorkeling and are two excellent ways to explore the coral reefs in Biscayne National Park. The view iStock is made even more special because the reefs harbor some species that are on the brink of extinction. Spot colorful fish, otherworldly coral and even historic shipwrecks! In total, over 500 species of tropical fish live in the waters of the reef. The fish share their habitat with sponges, , squid and sea turtles. If you decide to go on a boat ride through the parks, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for bottlenose dolphins. These animals enjoy swimming alongside boats and traveling in groups. Manatees and alligators also inhabit the swamps of South Florida.

WATCH A SUNSET After a day filled with sunshine and warmth, find a sandy spot to watch some of the best sunsets in the country. Bring your camera along to capture a stunning sil- The Shark Valley observation tower offers houette of the mangrove trees or, if you get 360-degree views of the River of Grass. lucky, a beautiful bird wading in the water.

48 SOUTH FLORIDA’S NATIONAL PARKS | www.nalgene.com For more inspiration, follow us here @nalgeneusa AD