Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park is a large subtropical wilderness at the southern tip of Florida protecting extensive sawgrass marshes, mangroves, hammocks and coastal estuaries. The park preserves a unique ecosystem that supports a wide range of wildlife, including wading birds, manatees and both American alligators and American crocodiles.

Visitors use several distinct access areas and trailheads to experience different habitats - short boardwalk trails and observation towers for wildlife viewing, canoe and kayak routes for backcountry access, and ranger-led programs. Notable visitor activities include wildlife photography, guided tram or bike tours in Shark Valley, and paddling segments of the 99-mile Wilderness Waterway.

The park was established in the 1930s to protect the region’s waters and habitats and was later recognized internationally for its biological importance. Since then it has been central to conservation and water management efforts in South Florida.

Everglades National Park spans the southern portion of the Florida peninsula, bordering Miami-Dade, Monroe and Collier counties, and extends from the urban fringe near Homestead to the Gulf Coast; main visitor entrances include Shark Valley, Royal Palm and Flamingo.

• Size and status: The park covers about 1.5 million acres (roughly 6,000 km²) of subtropical wetlands and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and international biosphere reserve.
• Best time to visit: Dry season (November-April) generally offers easier access and better wildlife viewing; the wet season brings mosquitoes and higher water levels that may limit some trails.

What to See #

• Shark Valley: Shark Valley - a visitor area on the park's northern edge with a 24-km loop road, an observation tower and paved trails for walking and cycling.
• Royal Palm (Anhinga Trail): Anhinga Trail and Royal Palm - short boardwalk and trail near the Royal Palm area noted for close wildlife viewing of wading birds and alligators.
• Flamingo: Flamingo - the park's southern visitor area at Florida Bay with boat launches, shoreline wildlife viewing and access to the southern Everglades and Gulf coast.