Big Cypress
Gator filled river near Monroe Station
Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida
on a 4-Star Scale
The Preserve Big Cypress National Preserve, on the northern border of Everglades National Park in Florida, is home to several thousand acres of grasslands, waterways and cypress forests.
Our Visit We visited Big Cypress in May 2006 as we were driving back from a visit to Everglades National Park.
Our Weather Beautiful day. Sunny, breezy and 85 degrees.
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Overall Impression Big Cypress is a great place to see alligators in a natural setting. While few people would make a trek just to see Big Cypress, it's proximity to the Everglades and US41 makes it a nice place to spend an hour and have a picnic.
Visiting Parts of Big Cypress can be visited just by pulling off the highway that runs along its southern parts. There are picnic areas, broad fields of grass, boardwalks for viewing gators and a visitors center. Stop any place that looks interesting to you. Our favorite was the boardwalk alongside the river at Monroe Station. It was a nice mix of peaceful scenery and good gator viewing.
If you're up for more, stop at the visitors center and get information on hiking, fishing and camping. Also, because it's a preserve and not a National Park, more "touristy" things like airboat rides are allowed; just follow the big flashy signs.
Other Nearby Attractions Everglades NP
Official NPS Website Big Cypress National Preserve
Photos Click on thumbnails to view larger image
 Three gators sunning along the river near Monroe Station, May 2006 |
 Do alligators kiss? These two are right outside the visitors center, May 2006 |
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