33 Things to Do in Everglades National Park

(Last Updated On: April 9, 2021)

There are some awesome things to do in the Everglades National Park. The Everglades National Park within the southern tip of Florida encompasses over 2,400 sq. miles of wetlands and is dwelling to a novel ecosystem.

This article will give an overview of things to do in the Everglades National Park.

Naturally, there’s by no means a scarcity of issues to do within the expansive space. That is what you possibly can’t miss whereas on a visit to the Everglades.

One in all Florida’s most undervalued points of interest is the Everglades National Park, generally known as the River of Grass.

It’s an unspoiled space for recreation, providing issues to do within the Everglades that you just can’t discover wherever else in Florida

Other than the superior ecosystems, the Everglades additionally presents an ideal playground for lovers of outside pursuits and in the event, you’re into pine forest or shoreline walks with a cheeky little bit of canoeing or kayaking thrown in for good measure then welcome to Florida with no theme park in sight.

Things to do in the Everglades National Park

Ranging from Lake Okeechobee, this UNESCO World Heritage Web site of slow-moving water is 60 miles broad and 100 miles lengthy.

Principally lined by a prairie of razor-sharp sawgrass, the broad circulation is damaged by occasional hardwood hammocks as soon as inhabited by Seminole Indians.

1. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is a Florida State Park positioned on Key Largo in Florida.

It consists of roughly 70 nautical sq. miles of adjoining Atlantic Ocean waters, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park.

The park is roughly 25 miles in size and extends three miles into the Atlantic Ocean. It was the primary underwater park in the USA. The park was added to the National Register of Historic Locations on April 14, 1972.

The first points of interest of the park are the coral reefs and their related marine life. In Fiscal Yr 2004, the park had greater than 1,000,000 guests, making it the most well-liked park within the Florida State Parks system.

The Florida Keys and the Flower Backyard Banks within the Gulf of Mexico off the Texas coast are the one dwelling coral reef formations within the continental United States.

2. Theater of the Sea

Theater of the Sea, established in 1946, is a marine mammal park positioned within the Village of Islamorada, Florida, United States, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park.

It’s a vacationer attraction positioned on Windley Key within the Florida Keys. Guests can swim with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, and stingrays and nurse sharks.

Dolphins swim in and soar via a hoop and ring a bell. The 17-acre website additionally has unique birds, lizards, crocodilians, sea turtles, tropical, sport fish, sharks, and different types of marine life. Brief cruises and bottomless boat rides are additionally performed.

The park additionally engages in ecological conservation packages, together with the primary synthetic flipper transplant on a sea turtle.

3. A unique triathlon

This being the Everglades implies that as an alternative of the swimming part that’s usually featured inside triathlons you get to canoe or kayak which all provides as much as completely pleasurable expertise amongst a fully distinctive and exquisite setting.

Anybody can get entangled within the Everglades Triathlon all-year-round and in the event, you’re feeling match then the 15-mile cycle, a three-mile hike, and simply over three-mile paddle will allow you to to find loads of the park that informal guests typically miss.

4. Long Key State Park

Long Key State Park is a 965-acre Florida State Park positioned on Lengthy Key, one of many Florida Keys, in Monroe County, Florida, United States. It is at mile marker 67.5 on U.S. 1, 67400 Abroad Freeway.

5. Anhinga Trail

The Anhinga Path is a brief path within the Everglades National Park, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park.

Situated Four miles from the park entrance, it begins on the Royal Palm Customer Heart.

The path is a paved walkway and a boardwalk over Taylor Slough, a freshwater sawgrass marsh.

Ample wildlife is seen from the path, together with alligators, turtles, anhingas, herons, and egrets. it is among the hottest trails within the Park.

On November 5, 1996, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Locations. In 2003, vacationers witnessed a struggle between an alligator and a Burmese python which went on for 24 hours, till a bigger alligator joined the struggle and the snake escaped.

Video and information protection of the struggle was widespread and introduced consideration to the unfold of the python, an invasive species, within the Everglades.

6. Fabulous fishing

Though the Everglades are well-respected for safeguarding the animals which inhabit the million-acre boundaries there’s nonetheless plenty of room for licensed fishing inside each coastal and freshwater habitats, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park.

Snapper, trout, and bass, specifically, can all be caught and launched both from the land or by boat and though there is a good vary of rule and regs to stick to you’re sure to discover a good day’s reflection without an excessive amount of trouble.

7. Ten Thousand Islands

The Ten Thousand Islands are a series of islands and mangrove islets off the coast of southwest Florida, between Cape Romano and the mouth of the Lostman’s River.

Among the islands are excessive spots on a submerged shoreline, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park.

Others have been produced by mangroves rising on oyster bars. Regardless of the identity, the islets within the chain solely quantity within the whole bunch.

8. Calusa heritage

The Calusa has been the indigenous individuals who occupied the Everglades lengthy earlier than anybody else and if you wish to discover out extra then guided walks across the Ten Thousand Island space and Pineland, specifically, will definitely get you began.

March, particularly, is the perfect month to be taught in regards to the Calusa as there’s a collection of free occasions and actions happening through the Calusa Heritage Path in Pineland is open all-year-round and a completely worthwhile possibility.

9. Geocaching within the Everglades

Should you’ve haven’t found the delights of a day spent geocaching then, principally: it’s like a treasure hunt and an amazing excuse to get out and about with the Everglades National Park path proving to be completely no exception.

Registration is free and all you’ll want is a great telephone or GPS and earlier than you understand it you’ll be traipsing throughout southern Florida in quest of hidden goodies in addition to studying all in regards to the atmosphere and native wildlife alongside the way in which.

Family enjoyable: the possibility to undertake a geocache while changing into a brief Everglades NP ranger for a day is just about pretty much as good because it will get for the youthful members of your crew.

10. Indian Key Historic State Park

Indian Key Historic State Park is an island throughout the Florida State Park system, positioned only a few hundred yards southeast of U.S. 1 throughout the Florida Keys, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park.

The island was dwelling to the city of Indian Key, Florida in the midst of the 19th century however is now an uninhabited ghost city.

It’s incessantly visited by vacationers and is the topic of an archaeological challenge to uncover the historic constructing foundations. The park was listed on the National Register of Historic Locations in 1972.

11. Anne’s Beach

Anne’s Beach is positioned at Decrease Matecumbe Key, Florida.

The Islamorada Seashore is devoted to native environmentalist Anne Eaton, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park.

There are 2 parking tons roughly 1/Four mile aside on US-1 at MM 73. Anne’s Seashore encompasses a shallow swimming space, lined picnic tables, boardwalk, and loo amenities.

This Keys Seashore is positioned on the Atlantic Ocean, however, there may be nearly no wave motion, as a result of the broad expanse of shallow water typical for Florida Keys seashores.

Guests can benefit from the clear and heat waters yr spherical. Typical of Anne’s Seashore is the shallow and heat to very heat waters all yr round that one can keep in for hours having fun with the solar.

The sandbar consists solely of calcium carbonate. Anne’s Seashore is a well-liked vacation spot for kiteboarders and resulting from its broad expanse of shallow water, it presents a studying atmosphere for starting kiteboarders.

Sadly the seaside is at the moment closed as a lot of the seaside and all the boardwalk and buildings have been destroyed by Hurricane Irma.

12. Homestead entrance

There are tons to do on this stretch. You may stroll on the Anhinga Path, a boardwalk from which you’ll completely see alligators. Go to the Nike Missile Base Historic Space, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park.

Drive alongside the highway and cease for scenic overlooks and brief hikes. The oldsters on the customer’s heart are comfortable that can assist you to plan your day.

There’s additionally a campground and one thing you possibly can join known as “slough slogging,” which we weren’t about to do as a result of we’re fairly certain it entails tromping round within the water the place, we’ve got discovered, THERE ARE GATORS. We’re completely cool with viewing them from afar.

13. Pet an alligator

Interested in petting an alligator? Alligator Farm may be very a lot the closest you will get to those reptiles, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park.

The Everglades Alligator Farm comprises greater than 2,000 of those creatures and provides guests an alligator feeding demonstration.

On the “Alligator Encounter,” guests can maintain a child alligator, and feed alligators from a breeding pond for $69.50.

14. Birdwatching & wildlife viewing

The Everglades is dwelling to manatees, deer, black bears, the Florida Panther, and an array of hen species, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park.

Panthers could also be tougher to identify as they’re nocturnal animals, however, guests can catch glimpses of many animals throughout any go to the park.

For birdwatching, the 9 Mile Pond and the Mrazek Pond is a nesting spot for wooden storks, roseate spoonbills, snail kite, and geese.

15. Stay the night

There are numerous areas for tenting in the park. Guests could carry their RVs and park on the Flamingo Campground or Lengthy Pine Key Campground, and there are quite a few campsites to pitch a tent and keep the evening. Guests should pay a small charge on the charge station on the important park entrance in Homestead.

16. Go to the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation

Be taught in regard to the tribe’s indigenous tradition with a go-to to their reservation, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park.

Deep within the Everglades, the reservation is dwelling to the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum the place guests can discover 30,000 historic artifacts belonging to the tribe, and even see an actual village the place artisans work on basket-weaving and bead-working.

17. Take a tram tour via Shark Valley

The narrated tram tour takes guests via a 15-minute loop via the grasslands for an academic tour of the world’s various animals and crops, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park.

The open-air tram simply accommodates households, however, it is usually absolutely booked throughout the excessive season of November via April so reservations are beneficial.

Guests may even have entry to the Shark Valley Commentary Tower for panoramic views of the park.

18. Airboat Tours in The Everglades

The most well-liked option to sightsee within the park is little doubt a visit on an airboat, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park.

The boat with fan propeller rushes previous the swamps for an exhilarating journey via the park’s murky waters dwelling to the American alligator. An airboat captain offers riders a lesson within the neighborhood’s wildlife.

Few actions can beat an Everglades airboat tour. These flat-bottomed boats powered by a large propeller zip via the sawgrass at speeds of as much as 25mph.

Though noisy (protecting ear headsets are offered to riders), they skim over the floor of the Everglades, minimizing disruption to the native wildlife.

They will spin via 180 levels and cease abruptly, permitting vacationers to get a more in-depth have look at a nest or {photograph} a gator basking within the solar.

Head out alongside the Tamiami Path (U.S. 41) and also you’ll discover loads of promoting for airboat excursions and the genuine Miccosukee Indian village.

Skilled native guides are sometimes of Native American descent with a superb native data of the world. Purchase handmade beads and crafts and be taught extra about life within the Everglades.

Everglades Metropolis is the launching publish for a lot of airboat rides, swamp buggy excursions, daring alligator reveals, and Everglades Animal Sanctuaries. You may even maintain a child gator at Everglades points of interest similar to Wooten’s in Ochopee, Florida!

19. Go hiking

Hikers can meander via brief interpretive trails that linger all through the park for an opportunity to discover the world at their very own tempo, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park.

Just a few trails embody the Anhinga Path, Gumbo Limbo Path, Mahogany Hammock Path, and Pinelands Path which loops via a forest of pines and wildflowers.

Issues to do within the Everglades don’t all contain water. The Oasis Customer Heart on Tamiami Path is the beginning of greater than 40 miles of climbing trails all through the Massive Cypress National Protect.

Shark Valley Customer Heart on U.S. 41 (Tamiami Path) is positioned 70 miles east of Naples and close to Miami and gives a 15-mile loop highway resulting in a 65-foot commentary tower above the Everglades.

Hire bicycles or guided Everglades bicycle tour to take pleasure in an early morning hike to see wild deer, otters, turtles, and gators of their native atmosphere.

There’s additionally a Shark Valley Tram Tour for individuals who don’t like climbing or biking within the warmth. Reservations are beneficial for this prime Everglades exercise.

20. Kayaking

Paddle via the marshes and open waters of the park both on a canoe or kayak, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park.

Guests can carry their very own or hire one from the Flamingo Marina or Gulf Coast Customer Center.

Just a few prime areas to kayak or canoe via are the 9 Mile Pond or Hell’s Bay, the latter barely more difficult.

For a quieter Everglades expertise, hire a canoe or kayak on the Everglades and paddle the peaceable waterways, listening to the sound of birds and wildlife.

The very best birdwatching might be discovered off Snake Bight and Frank Cay. Flamingo Marina gives entry into Coot Bay or closes by Bear Lake Canoe Path.

Everglades Metropolis offers easy accessibility to the mangrove-covered cays and waterways generally known as the Ten Thousand Islands. Alternatively, discover the 100-mile lengthy Wilderness Waterway from Flamingo by kayak, canoe, or motor-powered boat. In addition to wildlife recognizing, the world gives wonderful fishing.

21. Bicycling

The very best bicycling areas are at Shark Valley, the Snake Bight Path close to Flamingo, and alongside the Lengthy Pine Key Nature Path, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park.

That is only a good excuse to see the Everglades from a thrilling pure perspective and can typically take you a lot additional amongst the mangroves than your common trekking tour would ever dream of.

Even in the event, you’ve by no means donned a spray-deck or gripped a paddle earlier than, canoeing within the Everglades National Park is a very easy exercise to try to water trails, similar to 9 Mile Pond, Noble Hammock, and Hells Bay, are all supreme for getting began.

22. Bird Watching

Whether or not you see a single nice blue heron or a complete flock of roseate spoonbills, birdwatching is among the most rewarding actions within the Everglades, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park.

23. Flamingo

Observe the indicators and about 38 miles from the park entrance in Homestead, you’ll attain Flamingo, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park.

Which seems like the sting of the world in the absolute best method. It’s anti-Miami. It’s so unMiami you possibly can camp there.

It’s also possible to hire kayaks, canoes, houseboats, pontoon boats or bikes. There’s a public boat ramp. Should you don’t have your individual boat, you possibly can take a trip on one for half a day or a few hours.

Manatees love to hang around within the waters of the little marina, and in the event, you’re fortunate you’ll spot a crocodile.

24. Boating

Many of the parks are barely accessible by water making boating a preferred option to expertise the Everglades, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park.

Whether or not you personal a ship, are renting one, or are taking one of many excursions that depart from Flamingo and the Gulf Coast, boating brings you nearer to the park’s wild wonders.

Because of the Everglades National Park’s water ranges, getting around by boat is among the finest technique of transport, and from the Gulf Coast to White Water Bay, you’ll discover a great opportunity to watch the wildlife and the wetlands just about as nature meant.

Most excursions embody a ranger or educated captain on-board and as such you’ll get to be taught all there may be to know in regards to space in addition to profiting from the sunshine as you cruise alongside the coast and thru the inland waterways of southern Florida.

25. Camping

The Everglades gives each entrance nation tenting and backcountry tenting. Lengthy Pine Key and Flamingo campgrounds supply consuming water, picnic tables, grills, restrooms, and tent and trailer websites, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park.

Showers and electrical hookups can be found at Flamingo. Primitive campsites and seaside websites can be found via the watery Everglades backcountry.

26. Canoeing

Gliding silently in a canoe or kayak offers you a beautiful vantage level on the wildlife and vegetation of the Glades. You would possibly even get an up-shut view of a ‘gator, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park!

The Wilderness Waterway is 99 miles lengthy takes roughly 7-10 days by canoe or kayak, however many well-marked shorter trails exist.

27. Geocaching

Geocaching is a real-world out of doors treasure hunt. Gamers find hidden containers, known as geocaches, utilizing GPS-enabled units and share their experiences on-line, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park.

28. Educational ranger tours

Happening a ranger-led tour provides you with the possibility to ask questions or simply uncover areas that you just most undoubtedly would have missed if exploring below your individual steam, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park.

Shark Valley, Flamingo, and Royal Palm all have wonderful customer centers from the place to seek out out extra about guided treks and canoe trails so in the event you’re trying to be taught as you discover then try the schedule and sign-up for the subsequent tour.

29. Biscayne National Park

Anybody who’s wishing to get underwater and swim amongst the coral reefs simply offshore from the Everglades simply has to take a look at Biscayne Bay as this ranks as one of many prime dive and snorkel spots in the entire of the USA.

Though not falling throughout the realms of Everglades National Park, Biscayne NP remains to be well-worth a go-to in the event you’re within the south of Florida and from shipwrecks to tropical fish, diving offshore is a chic option to spend the day.

30. Slough Slogging

Should you’re prepared to get your toes moist, off-trail climbing, known as slogging, will carry you into nearer contact with the park’s extra elusive species, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park.

Should you’re a fan of a little bit of a squelch otherwise you simply wish to put a pair of recent waders via their paces then slough slogging within the Everglades is certainly the way in which ahead.

It is a nice technique of actually getting up near the wetlands of southern Florida and in the event, you’re passing the Ernest Coe customer center then you should definitely pop your head around the door and discover out when the subsequent slog via the River of Grass takes place.

That is a superior exercise and undoubtedly must be tried in the event you don’t thoughts standing as much as your knees in water whereas the solar shines.

31. Tours

Along with ranger-led actions, there are different methods to take pleasure in a guided tour via the park, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park.

Concession boat captains narrate boat excursions alongside the mangrove coast at each Flamingo and the Gulf Coast, and Tram Tour naturalists information your explorations of the Shark River Slough.

32. Wildlife Viewing

There isn’t any scarcity of wildlife within the park, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park!

From the mighty alligator to the tiny mosquito fish, Everglades National Park boasts freshwater, brackish, and saltwater wildlife species all through the park.

Make sure you ask a park ranger for the latest sightings and produce a digital camera together with you!

Indubitably the wildlife that you just find inside Everglades National Park is amongst essentially the most thrilling and plentiful in America with the whole lot from turtles and manatees to storks and spoonbills to be discovered amongst the waterways.

Trekking, kayaking, and boat journeys will all take you nearer to a variety of habitats that present safety to all methods of species and areas, similar to Shark Valley, Flamingo, and Chokoloskee Bay are all well-known for his or her viewing potential and pure magnificence.

33. Shark Valley

Shark Valley is what most individuals in Miami consider while you point out the Everglades, which is one of the things to do in the Everglades National Park.

It’s a straight shot west on Eighth Road, previous Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, and quite a few spots to cease and take an airboat trip. (Observe: the park doesn’t supply airboat rides – cease outdoors if that’s what you wish to do.)

Right here’s what you are able to do in the park: Take a look at nature. SERIOUS nature. There are gators all over the place, plus tons of wading birds – herons, wooden storks, even the odd spoonbill. (We noticed two, although they normally don’t present up till later within the winter.) Should you’re into birds, carry binoculars.

There are 3 ways to see the wildlife: Stroll, hire, and trip a motorcycle, or take a tram seven miles out to the commentary tower.

You don’t just stroll the entire loop – it’s a 14-mile spherical-journey – however, know there are TONS of alligators alongside the aspect of the highway. Select correctly.

The tram trip takes two hours and biking takes so long as you need it to. If you get to the commentary tower, stroll to the highest for a view that may remind you Florida was lots nicer earlier than all of us received right here.

More things to do in the Everglades National Park

Shark Valley Visitor Center
Period: 3h 30 min

Anhinga Trail
Period: 2 hours

Gumbo Limbo Trail
Period: 2 hours

Mahogany Hammock
Period: 2 hours

Pa-hay-okee Trail
Period: 2 hours

Slough Slog
Period: 2 hours

Mrazek Pond
Period: 2 hours

Long Pine Key
Period: 2 hours

Eco Pond
Period: 2 hours

Snake Bight
Period: 2 hours

Buttonwood Canal
Period: 2 hours

Big Cypress National Preserve, Ochopee
Period: 5 hours

Fishing Charters & Tours, Chokoloskee
Period: Four hours

Miccosukee Indian Village, Tamiami
Period: 2h 30 min

99 Mile Wilderness Waterway
Period: 2 hours

Old Ingraham Highway
Period: 2 hours

Pineland Path
Period: 30 minutes

Nine Mile Pond Canoe Trail
Period: 2 hours

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33 Things to Do in Everglades National Park