Big Cypress National Preserve protects a landscape of dramatic proportions, more than 1,125 square miles.
It is undeniably rich in botanical beauty from the broadest expanses of prairie to the tiniest spout of a whisk fern in the crook of an ancient bonsai-like cypress.
The Big Cypress Swamp encompasses a series of shallow linear cypress strands stretching north to south, with names like Robert’s Strand and Skillet Strand.
They are part of a large mosaic of tropical hammocks, marl prairies, pine rocklands, pine flatwoods, and the mangrove fringe.
Protecting the heart of the Big Cypress Swamp, Big Cypress National Preserve was established in 1974 to prevent further incursions of development into this sensitive rain-fed ecosystem.
Exploring its lush subtropical landscapes means wading through crystal-clear swamps or paddling its channelized rivers.
Bisected by the Tamiami Trail (US 41) and Alligator Alley (I-75), the preserve offers numerous opportunities to explore, either on foot or by kayak.
The southern terminus of the Florida Trail starts at the Oasis Ranger Station, plunging backpackers into several days of wading through swamps up to hip-deep at times.
Resources
Resources for exploring the area
Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.
Interactive Map
Destinations we’ve written about inside Big Cypress National Preserve
About the Preserve
Visitor Centers
Big Cypress Swamp Visitor Center, 33000 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee. Phone: 239-695-4758
Oasis Visitor Center, 52105 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee. Phone: 239-695-1201
Fees and Permits
Most access is free. Camping fees charged. OHV permits required. Backcountry camping (free) permits required; sign in at kiosks or check in at a ranger station prior to your trip.
Trails
Big Cypress North Loop Traverse a vast mosaic of pinelands, prairies, and cypress swamps on a spectacularly scenic loop along the Florida Trail developed and maintained by the Florida Trail Association.
Big Cypress South Loop Explore a grand mosaic of sawgrass prairies, cypress swamps, and pinelands on a 16.2 mile remote backcountry loop along the Florida Trail starting at Oasis Visitor Center.
Eastern Continental Trail A hiking route spanning more than 4,800 miles along the East Coast, the Eastern Continental Trail spends nearly 1,300 miles crossing Florida from its southern terminus at the Southernmost Point in Key West. 
Florida Trail, Big Cypress North 11.9 miles. The northern portion of the Florida Trail in Big Cypress is very different from the southern part, more elevated and shady with several outstanding backcountry campsites.
Florida Trail, Big Cypress South 30.3 miles. Traversing a vast wilderness in the wet wilds of Big Cypress National Preserve, the southernmost segment of the Florida Trail is the toughest backpacking trip in Florida
Kirby Storter Boardwalk An accessible walk through the habitats of the Big Cypress Swamp, Kirby Storter Boardwalk gets you up close to the wonders of nature in Big Cypress National Preserve.
Roberts Lake Trail 8.2 miles. Now the Roberts Lake Trail, the former Loop Road to Oasis section of the Florida Trail is now blazed blue. It is where sawgrass and cypress meet, where the Everglades and Big Cypress blend.
Tamiami Trail Triathlon 3.0 miles. Trying the hiking portion of the Tamiami Trail Triathlon in summer is a little crazy, but we wanted to check it out. The swamp is lovely, but the loop uses a rough OHV road
Tree Snail Hammock Trail On the Tree Snail Hammock Trail, walk slowly and look carefully at the limbs and the trunks of the trees in this tropical hammock to discover some of the smallest and rarest creatures of Big Cypress.Featured Articles
Celebrate National Park Week (1/9/2024) Enjoy a week-long nationwide celebration of America's National Parks in 2024, starting with fee-free admission on Saturday April 20. Get outdoors and explore Florida's National Parks.
Big Cypress Backcountry Access (12/4/2020) By December 15, all public comments are due on the new Big Cypress Backcountry Access Plan. Here's our analysis of it and our opinions, along with a discussion of backcountry and wilderness in Florida.Explore More
Nearby Preserves in the Big Cypress Ecosystem
Collier-Seminole State Park Protecting the largest natural hammock of royal palms in the United States, Collier-Seminole State Park opened in 1947 south of Naples along the Tamiami Trail.
Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park It’s the Amazon of North America, home of the ghost orchid. Protecting more than 85,000 acres, Fakahatchee Strand is Florida's largest state preserve and most certainly our wildest.
Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge Explore the habitat of Florida's apex predator on a pair of short hiking trails in one small corner of the vast territory that the endangered Florida panther roams.Slideshow
NEARBY: Big Cypress Seminole Reservation, Everglades City, Everglades National Park, Immokalee, Fort Lauderdale, Naples, Miami | PART OF: South Florida
- Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park - November 3, 2026
- A.J. Henry Park - November 1, 2026
- Okeeheelee Nature Center Trails - October 22, 2026