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Welcome to the audio-described version of Everglades National Park's official print brochure. Through text and audio descriptions of photos, illustrations, and maps, this version interprets the two-sided color brochure that Everglades National Park visitors receive. The brochure explores the history of the park, some of its highlights, and information for planning your visit. This audio version lasts about one hour, which we have divided into 31 sections, as a way to improve the listening experience. Sections 1-13 cover the front of the brochure and include information regarding Everglades history, wildlife and ecosystems. Sections 14-31 cover the back of the brochure which consists of a detailed park map highlighting the different ecosystems in relation to roadways, amenities, and accommodations, in addition to information on available activities in each of the park's four districts.
Everglades National Park, located in Florida, is part of the National Park Service, within the Department of the Interior. This 1.5-million-acre park is situated at the southern tip of the Florida mainland between Miami on the Atlantic coast, and Naples on the Gulf coast, and also includes most of Florida Bay between the mainland and the Florida Keys. Established in 1947, this was the first national park in the United States to be preserved for its biodiversity, rather than scenic views or geological significance. Each year, over one million visitors come to experience the Everglades’ subtropical environments and array of wildlife that are unique to southern Florida. We invite you to explore the park’s sawgrass prairies, cypress strands, mangrove tunnels, and shallow bays, all within an hour’s drive of the southernmost metropolitan area in the continental United States. Listen to the sounds of colonial nesting birds or alligators bellowing in the marshes, climb a giant observation tower with panoramic scenery of the landscape, or visit one of our four distinct visitor centers to learn more about the park. To find out more about what resources might be available or to contact the park directly, visit the “Accessibility” and “More Information” sections at the end of this audio-described brochure.
This is the front of the park brochure. A black bar spans the top of the brochure with Everglades in large white type and the arrowhead logo. Overlaying a photo of a marsh at sunset near the top of the brochure is an introduction to the Everglades with a famous quote by one of its most famous conservationists. The rest of the brochure front is broken up into three sections: “Past Mistakes, Present Challenges, Future Hopes,” with two diagrams of historic and current water flow through the park, “Major Influences,” discussing environmental factors affecting the health of the Everglades, with photos of native birds, and a collage with a blended side by side view of six major habitats found in the Everglades and small maps showing the extent of each inside the park.
DESCRIBING: A black rectangle with text at the top of the brochure.
SYNOPSIS: A horizontal black rectangle identifying the brochure as an Everglades National Park publication.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: At the top of the brochure, a solid black rectangle spans the entire width from left to right, measuring approximately one inch in height. On the left side, the word “Everglades” appears prominently in large, bold, white text. On the right side of the rectangle, two sections of smaller, bold, white text are aligned. The first section, positioned slightly to the left, reads “Everglades National Park” on the top line, with “Florida” directly beneath it. Adjacent to this, the second section displays “National Park Service” on the top line, followed by “U.S. Department of the Interior” underneath. In the far-right corner of the black rectangle, the National Park Service logo is the shape of an arrowhead with a brown background. Inside, “National Park Service” is written in bold, white text and the emblem features a green sequoia tree, grass, a white bison, and a white lake.
RELATED TEXT: Everglades National Park, Florida
National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
DESCRIBING: A photo of a marshland.
SYNOPSIS: A horizontal photo of marshland across the upper portion of the brochure. Tall green and brown grasses emerge from still, shallow water. A raised wooden boardwalk stretches from the left out and across the marshland. Three people stand on the boardwalk to the left, looking over the grasses to the right. Overlaid on the photo is bold white text.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A horizontal photo of marshland. In the foreground, tall grasses of greens and browns emerge from still water. From the left, a raised wooden boardwalk stretches out into the marshland and across to the right, where it is hidden behind the tall grass. Three people stand on the boardwalk to the left, looking over the grasses to the right. A woman in a purple shirt stands alongside two men wearing navy and orange. Their profiles are silhouettes against the pale orange sky behind them. In the background, a thin cloud covers the low hanging sun. A distant treeline marks the horizon. Overlaid on the photo is bold white text.
CAPTION: Sunrise on the Pa-hay-okee Trail
CREDIT: Glenn Gardner
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"There are no other Everglades in the world."
Marjory Stoneman Douglas
This landscape is unlike any other—beautiful, mysterious, and wild. Tropical and temperate species flourish side-by-side in this environment, a mix found nowhere else in the United States.
The essence of the Everglades is found in the sharp, ragged edges of sawgrass blades; an alligator’s deep bellow; the high-stepping dance of wading birds; the waterway labyrinth of the Ten Thousand Islands; and the sparkling, aquamarine waters of Florida Bay.
Water is the lifeblood of the Everglades. In summer thunder clouds carry the sweet smell of rain, signaling a time of renewal. This slow-moving "River of Grass" is dependent on the seasonal rise and fall of fresh water.
It is also dependent on people. For over 100 years people dredged, dammed, and drained the landscape. In controlling the ebb and flow of this life-giving force, we endangered the Everglades and the life dependent on it.
Today, there is hope. To revitalize altered habitats, critical restoration projects attempt to emulate the natural flow of clean water. Everglades is one of few US national parks established to protect unparalleled biological diversity. It is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, an International Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site, and a Wetland of International Importance.
The future of the Everglades is in our hands.
DESCRIBING: Two maps of Florida with descriptive paragraphs.
SYNOPSIS: Two maps of South Florida comparing the historic and current water flows south toward Everglades National Park. These will be described in the next section.
RELATED TEXT: Past Mistakes, Present Challenges, Future Hopes
DESCRIBING: A map of historic water flow in South Florida.
SYNOPSIS: A map showing the historical water flow in South Florida using blue arrows to demonstrate water flowing southward into the Everglades and Florida Bay.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A map of South Florida on a light blue background with land in white. Arrows are used to denote historic water flow, compared to the current water flow map on the right. Down the middle of the Florida peninsula, a large blue arrow points south to demonstrate the historic flow of water from the Kissimmee River into Lake Okeechobee. From the lake, the arrow splits into ten separate arrows. These point to the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne National Park to the east, Big Cypress National Preserve to the west, and Everglades National Park and Florida Bay to the south. The labels for the national parks and national preserve are written in bold green letters, labels for water bodies are in blue italic letters, and names of major cities and the Ten Thousand Islands are in black letters.
CAPTION: Historic Water Flow
RELATED TEXT: For hundreds of years the Everglades was considered a mysterious place. To most outsiders it was an unknown, uncharted wilderness from the Kissimmee River to Lake Okeechobee, extending over low-lying land to Biscayne Bay, the Ten Thousand Islands, and Florida Bay.
An abundance of birds, mammals, fish, and reptiles make this place their home. This mosaic of marshes, sawgrass prairies, and forests was a prolific ecosystem that replenished the aquifer-- the source of clean water for south Florida.
The early Calusa and Tequesta, and later the Seminole and Miccosukee, perhaps best understood the Everglades. Many non-Native Americans who moved here in the 1800s and early 1900s considered this sensitive wetland a worthless swamp.
DESCRIBING: A map of water flow in South Florida.
SYNOPSIS: A map of South Florida with blue and black arrows to demonstrate current water flow.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A map of South Florida on a light blue background with land in white. Arrows are used to denote current water flow, compared to the historic water flow map on the left. Down the middle of the Florida peninsula, the Kissimmee River flows into Lake Okeechobee. To the left of the lake, a label in bold black font says Black arrows show water diverted by canals. From Lake Okeechobee, one black arrow points east to canals just north of West Palm Beach and the other points west to Ft. Myers. Thirteen smaller black arrows point southeast toward Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Biscayne National Park. Each arrow aligns with small canals that flow from Lake Okeechobee. A blue arrow points from Big Cypress National Preserve in the west toward the Ten Thousand Islands. Three other blue arrows point south from a canal on the northern border of Everglades National Park and into Florida Bay on the southern tip of Florida, between the mainland and a curved string of islands. The labels for the national parks and national preserve are written in bold green letters.
CAPTION: Current Water Flow
RELATED TEXT: People built dams, floodgates, canals, levees, and roads to divert precious water from natural wetlands. This reduced the freshwater flow to productive estuaries, created land for agriculture, grew communities—and set the stage for ecological problems. Soon, the Everglades was drying up. To complicate matters, invasive plants and animals began to compete with native species. Outside the borders of Everglades National Park, created in 1947, people waged war on this wetland.
Projected global changes in temperature and precipitation may continue to alter the Everglades. Sea-level rise erodes cultural sites, changes habitats, and increases salinity in estuaries and urban water supplies. Today’s Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan works to mimic the historic natural flow of water. Early results are encouraging: Birds are returning to nest, and nonnative plants have been removed in the wetlands restoration west of Royal Palm.
These efforts help the park address regional challenges and global climate change issues. How can you help?
DESCRIBING: A color photograph of a white bird.
SYNOPSIS: A wood stork is perched on a branch with more branches to the right of it.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A tall, white bird with a gray, bald head; long, light-yellow beak; long, gray legs; and black-edged, folded wings perches on the dead snag of a tree. To the right of the bird are more tree branches.
CAPTION: Wood stork
CREDIT: Bob Peterson
DESCRIBING: A color photograph of a black and white bird.
SYNOPSIS: A black skimmer in flight.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A side-view of a black and white bird holding its wings upward while in flight. The bird has a long black beak, a black head, white belly, long black and gray wings, and short, black legs.
CAPTION: Black skimmer
CREDIT: Philip Sidran
DESCRIBING: A color photograph of a pink bird.
SYNOPSIS: A roseate spoonbill in flight with outstretched wings and a spoon-shaped beak.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A front-facing view of a pink bird in flight with wide, outstretched wings; long, white neck; long, black legs; and a long, gray beak that is rounded at the tip.
CAPTION: Roseate spoonbill
CREDIT: Philip Sidran
Everglades National Park’s collage of habitats (below) is dynamic. Water, elevation, fire, and hurricanes are major influences on the health of the Everglades.
Water flow is essential to all habitats in the Everglades. The two main seasons here are wet and dry. The wet season (May–November) is a time of abundance and renewal when wildlife disperses, following the flood of rainwater across the landscape. In the dry season wildlife congregates in and around ever-shrinking water sources like ponds and gator holes.
Although measured in inches instead of feet, elevation defines each habitat, from the lowest freshwater marsh to higher tropical hardwood hammocks.
Natural and prescribed fires help create the mosaic of habitats found in the Everglades and maintain the open, sun-lit environments typical of freshwater marshes and pine rocklands.
Powerful winds and storm surges can destroy vegetation and reshape shorelines. These storms contribute to the park’s biodiversity by opening coastal landscapes that favor certain plants and animals.
DESCRIBING: Six maps showing different habitats of the Florida Everglades with related text.
SYNOPSIS: Six maps of the park borders showing Everglades habitats in different colors with associated text. The habitats from left to right are: Marine and Estuarine (light blue), Mangroves (green), Freshwater Marsh (yellow), Cypress (pink), Pine Rockland (light green), and Tropical Hardwood Hammocks (dark green).
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Six color-coded maps demonstrating where major Everglades ecosystems exist in the park. Each map denotes land in white, water in pale blue, and each habitat in a unique color identified by a box to the right of each habitat’s title.
From left to right, Marine and Estuarine habitats are represented by sky blue, which covers the water areas to the south and west of the park. Mangroves are represented with green, covering the southwest half of land in the park. Freshwater Marsh is represented by yellow, covering the northeast half of land in the park, except for a small area in this region’s south. Cypress is represented by pink, covering two regions in the park: one in the northwest of the park, and one in the southeast, in the middle of the Freshwater Marsh. Pine Rockland is represented by light green, covering a small section on the central eastern side of the park, also in the middle of the Freshwater Marsh. Tropical Hardwood Hammocks are represented by dark green, covering dotting from the northeast and going down the eastern area of the park until reaching the southern coast.
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Marine and Estuarine (represented on the map in light blue)
Marine and estuarine waters extend from the Ten Thousand Islands to Florida Bay. Seagrass beds beneath the water provide critical food and shelter for marine life. This environment’s health depends on management of freshwater flows and is key to sustaining productive fisheries outside the park.
Mangroves (represented on the map in green)
Mangroves are in coastal channels and winding rivers where fresh and salt water intermingle. These forests stabilize coastal land, sustain nurseries for marine life, and provide nesting habitat for wading birds. These forests are the first line of defense against storm winds and surges.
Freshwater Marsh (represented on the map in yellow)
The freshwater marsh is a wide, shallow, slow-moving “river of grass”—the iconic ecosystem of the park. Two major drainages—the broad Shark River Slough (“sloo”) and the narrow Taylor Slough—are the main avenues for freshwater flow.
Cypress (represented on the map in pink)
Cypress trees thrive in flooded conditions. Cypress forests often grow in the shape of a dome, with taller trees in the center of the dome or in a linear strand where tree growth follows the water’s flow. A long-lived, deciduous wetland species, cypress can live as long as 600 years.
Pine Rockland (represented on the map in light green)
Pine rockland, the Everglades’ rarest and most diverse habitat, is on the highest elevations along a limestone ridge on south Florida’s east coast. It includes a slash pine forest, an understory of saw palmetto, and over 200 varieties of tropical plants.
Tropical Hardwood Hammocks (represented on the map in dark green)
These dense island forests grow on slightly elevated land and rarely flood. Tropical mahogany, gumbo-limbo, mastic, and others outnumber temperate trees like live oak. Ferns and air plants thrive here. Natural moats around hammocks help protect them from fire.
DESCRIBING: A panoramic collage depicting different habitats in the Everglades and the wildlife associated with each.
SYNOPSIS: An illustrated collage shows different Everglades habitats and their associated plant-life and various animals labeled. The view is split horizontally between above-water and underwater views in the top and bottom halves of the collage. From left to right, habitats are Marine/Estuarine, Mangroves, Freshwater Marsh, Cypress, Pine Rockland, and Tropical Hardwood Hammocks.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:
Starting from the left and moving right, a Marine/Estuarine habitat with purple cloudy skies and deep blue water. An osprey flies right in the sky. This brown and white bird has its wings outstretched and legs with sharp talons stretched downward. Below the osprey is a brown pelican diving head-first toward the surface of the water. The bird is mostly brown except for its yellow head and beak, which is barely touching the water. A pink shrimp and a green sea turtle are underwater. The shrimp swims left above a tree root to the left of the turtle. The turtle swims right above a field of green seagrass with its fins outstretched and its white belly visible.
The next habitat is Mangroves, which includes dark purple clouds in the sky. A flock of four White pelicans fly right together. They are white with black-tipped wings, orange beaks, and orange webbed feet. Below the pelicans are shrub-like mangrove trees with green leaves and brown arching roots that curve from the tree into the water below. A great egret perches on the roots of the front mangrove. A white bird with a yellow beak and black legs looks down toward the water. Its white, wispy feathers hang from its sides. Directly below the mangroves, a Mangrove snapper and a Manatee swim underwater. The mangrove snapper is a brown and tan fish with one long dorsal fin along its back and one fin on the back of its belly. A front-facing, teal-blue, plump manatee floats swims to the mangrove snapper and above green and brown seagrasses. It has a large, flat paddle-like tail, two long flippers on each side of its front, and an elongated, rounded snout.
To the right is the Freshwater Marsh habitat. A great blue heron (white morph) flies in front of white clouds with its long neck bent in a curved z-shape, its long legs trailing behind, and its large white wings outstretched. Unlike most great blue herons, this unique coloration makes the bird entirely white with a yellow beak and yellow legs. Below the heron, two roseate spoonbills feed in short green-yellow grass and shallow water. Both birds are bright pink with gray heads and beaks. The bird on the left has its beak in the water and faces the bird to the right. The bird on the right faces the bird to the left and stands straight up with outstretched wings and its distinctive spoon-shaped beak clearly visible. Underwater, below the spoonbills lurks an American crocodile. The gray-green crocodile swims left above mostly barren, sandy ground with four scattered clumps of green grass. It has a white belly and its long tail curves underneath its long body.
Next is the Cypress habitat, a forest of tall cypress trees with thin trunks and green leaves below a cloud-less blue sky. Two white ibis sit in the frontmost tree. One ibis, perched on a higher branch in the tree, is all white with an orange, curved beak. The other ibis, brown and white in color, sits a few branches below. The unique roots of cypress trees protrude up and out of the water like small, jagged mountains. On the water surface in front of the cypress roots, a small brown river otter rests on a log floating on the water, with its long tail curved around its long body. Three thin brown and yellow Mosquito fish swim underwater to the left of one green Softshell turtle just below the surface. The turtle facing left stretches its long neck upward so that only its pointed nose pierces the waterline, directly below the river otter. The frontmost tree with the ibis starts a line of tall cypress trees on the left side of a small canal filled with water and scattered with floating plants. Another line of trees borders the right side of the canal, separating this habitat from the next.
The Pine Rockland habitat continues to the ride side of the small canal with a small forest of tall pine trees under a clear blue sky. An American alligator rests facing forward in the canal with the majority of its wide, dark green body above the water. A wood stork stands behind the alligator on the canal ridge edge. Facing the water, the tall white bird widely stretches its black-tipped wings above its brown head. Two white-tailed deer stand looking left in a field of tall, yellow grass to the right of the wood stork. The left deer stands tall with a blade of green grass hanging from its mouth. The right deer holds its head slightly lower and stands in front of a plant with sharp, pointed, green blades pointing in all directions. A tricolored heron wades left through the water in front of the field with two deer. This mostly blue bird with a white chest, yellow legs, and a gray beak points its head and beak down toward the water. A Walking catfish swims underneath the American alligator, and a cooter swims underneath the heron. The small, orange walking catfish swims right underwater in a graceful c-shape. The cooter, a small turtle with a gray shell, swims left with outstretched flippers and its head pointed toward the surface.
The last habitat is the Tropical Hardwood Hammock with a blue, cloudless sky and a forest continues further right. A Snail kite flies left above the deer in the freshwater marsh. Its brown wings stretch wide above its brown body with its white and brown striped tail behind its short brown legs. The forest includes several types of trees, all with green leaves and brown bark. Some have skinny trunks growing straight from the ground toward the sky while others have curved trunks. On the frontmost curved tree is a frog, a tree snail, a small lizard, and a rat snake with its yellow and orange body wrapped around the trunk. It looks down toward a green plant growing from the trunk without roots. Its green blades arc upward before drooping down. Underneath the plant, a Florida panther, with a brown and tan body, crouches at the water edge. Yellow and green grasses hide its paws. Its head leans toward the water with its pink tongue out, licking its white and black nose and snout. Left of the panther, a purple gallinule walks left across a group of floating green lily pads with long legs. This bird is mostly blue and purple, except for its bright red beak and yellow legs. A Florida gar, a long, thin fish with a yellow body and brown spots, swims left underneath the purple gallinule. It has a short, round dorsal fin on the back of its body, very close to its tail; a round fin on its stomach, also very close to its tail; and a smaller fin in the center of its belly. To the right of Florida gar, a largemouth bass, a green fish, swims up toward the surface.
CREDIT: Illustration – NPS/Robert Hynes
RELATED TEXT:
Marine / Estuarine
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The back of this brochure includes four sections of information on visitor services and experiences in each of the four districts inside of Everglades National Park: Gulf Coast, Shark Valley, Ernest F. Coe Scenic Drive, and Flamingo. A fifth section, More Information, provides information on safety, emergency contacts, camping, accessibility, rules on pets, fishing, prohibited activities and firearms, the park address, phone number, and website. Below the information sections is a detailed map illustrating the nine different ecosystems present in the Everglades, with the color codes indicated above the map in a key. The map also includes major roadways in red, and the locations of different amenities around the park including visitor centers, campsites, walking trails, and tour services. On the left side of the map is an informational section on the park’s wilderness area, with a miniature version of the map showing the extent of wilderness inside the park. At the bottom of the map are a chart of distances from Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center to different locations, a message to boaters, a legend showing different color codes, lines and icons, and a scale bar for distance in the lower right corner.
DESCRIBING: Five photos from Everglades National Park and descriptions of four areas of the park plus a section with more information.
SYNOPSIS: Five photos at the top of the page showcasing different places in Everglades National Park. Below each photo is a description of one area of the park, including, from left to right, Gulf Coast, Shark Valley, Ernest F. Coe, and Flamingo. Below the far right picture is a section called More Information.
RELATED TEXT: Explore the Everglades
DESCRIBING: A color photograph of tents.
SYNOPSIS: Two tents, one orange and one brown, on a grassy sand beach. The orange tent has a white kayak to its left, and the brown tent has a white kayak to its right, partially hidden by the tent. The water in front of the tents reflects a light peach color.
CAPTION: Camp at a primitive site on the Gulf Coast.
CREDIT: NPS
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Gulf Coast Visitor Center, staffed daily, is located 4.75 miles south of US 41 (Tamiami Trail) on FL 29 in Everglades City. It has information, exhibits, wilderness permits, sales items, ranger-led activities in winter, picnicking, and restrooms.
Marinas and boat launch facilities are nearby. Experience dolphins, birds, manatees, and other wildlife during motorboat and paddling trips. Phone: 239-695-3311.
Boat tours, offered daily, provide a glimpse into the mangrove estuary and the Ten Thousand Islands. Information and tickets are available in the visitor center. Call 855-793-5542 or visit evergladesfloridaadventures.com.
Canoeing and kayaking provide a special way to experience wildlife in the Ten Thousand Islands. Canoe and kayak rentals are in the lower level of the visitor center. Check with rangers for weather conditions and safety information.
Sandfly Island Trail (0.9-mile walk after a 2.4-mile paddle to the trailhead) features mangrove and tropical hardwood hammock habitats and cultural sites.
DESCRIBING: Great Blue Heron photograph
SYNOPSIS: Against a black background, a photo of a Great Blue Heron in flight.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Photo of a Great Blue Heron in flight. This large bird has gray body, a gray and yellow pointed beak, yellow eyes, blue and white wings outstretched, and gray and pink legs feet extended behind it.
CAPTION: Great blue heron
CREDIT: Philip SidranDESCRIBING: A color photograph an observation tower viewed from below.
SYNOPSIS: A photo of a large observation tower above a large area of tall green and brown grass.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A large, elevated, concrete observation tower in an outdoor setting. The tower has a circular platform with a roof supported by tall pillars. A spiraling staircase leads to the top of the tower. On the left of the tower is a long, elevated walkway that extends out over the surrounding area, which is covered in lush greenery and trees, before ending at the circular platform. The sky above is bright blue with scattered clouds. A few people can be seen standing on the platform, enjoying the view.
CAPTION: View the Everglades from the Observation Tower.
CREDIT: Glenn Gardner
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Shark Valley Visitor Center, staffed daily, is on US 41 (Tamiami Trail), 30 miles west of the Florida Turnpike exit for SW 8th Street. It has information, exhibits, sales items, ranger-led activities in winter, and restrooms. Phone: 305-221-8776.
Bobcat Boardwalk is a 0.5-mile walk from the visitor center through sawgrass marsh.
Otter Cave Hammock Trail is a 0.3-mile walk from the visitor center through a tropical hardwood hammock. Closed summer and fall.
Tram Trail (15 miles; paved) Bike or walk to experience birds, turtles, alligators, fish, and the Everglades wilderness.
Bicycling Rent a bicycle or bring your own. Permits are required for groups of 20 or more. Helmets are required for ages 16 and under.
Airboat tours are offered daily by concessioners: Coopertown, 305-226-6048; Gator Park, 305-559-2255; Everglades Safari Park, 305-226-6923.
The Tram Tour (two-hour, guided) runs daily. Learn about local wildlife and this freshwater ecosystem. Reserve at 305-221-8455.
Motorized Access No private motorized access, cars, or driving access are allowed past the parking lot. Motorized access (parking) is allowed only 8:30 am to 6 pm. No parking outside of that time is allowed.
DESCRIBING: A color photograph of the Ernest F. Coe area.
SYNOPSIS: A photo of visitors walking a trail with a bird on a railing.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: In the foreground, a sleek black waterbird is perched on a wooden railing alongside a paved path through green grass. The bird faces sideways, showing its streamlined body, slender hooked beak, orange face, long tail, and velvet-like feathers. The path is bordered by green grass and lush vegetation, with tall green and brown reeds visible on the left. In the background, a group of people is walking along the path, casually dressed in t-shirts, shorts, and sneakers.
CAPTION: Walk along the Anhinga Trail.
CREDIT: Glenn Gardner
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Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, staffed daily, is at 40001 State Road 9336, 11 miles from Homestead. It has information, a film, exhibits, sales items, and restrooms.
The main park road is a scenic, 38-mile drive from the visitor center to Flamingo. Try these stops:
Royal Palm (4 miles past the visitor center), staffed daily, has information, sales items, ranger-led activities in winter, and restrooms.
Trails and More
Anhinga Trail (0.8 mile) is a must-do with great opportunities to view birds, alligators, turtles, and fish, especially in winter.
Gumbo Limbo Trail (0.4 mile) lets you explore a dense tropical hardwood hammock.
Pinelands Trail (0.4 mile) is through a subtropical pine forest, the most diverse habitat in south Florida.
Pa-hay-okee Overlook (0.2 mile) has views of the vast Everglades wilderness.
Mahogany Hammock Trail (0.4 mile) is through a jungle-like island forest.
Paurotis Pond is a nesting site for anhinga, wood stork, great egret, white ibis, roseate spoonbill, and other species.
West Lake Trail (0.4 mile) goes through a mangrove forest whose trees grow in salt water.
DESCRIBING: A color photograph of two kayakers recreating in the Flamingo area.
SYNOPSIS: A photo of two kayakers in a small canal.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Two people kayaking through a narrow waterway surrounded by dense green trees. The person in the foreground is seated in a bright yellow kayak, wearing a white wide-brimmed hat, a red life jacket, black sunglasses, and a white long-sleeve shirt. They are holding a paddle as they navigate the calm water. Behind them, another person in a similar outfit is also in a yellow kayak, following closely. The tree roots arch over the water, creating a tunnel-like atmosphere with dappled sunlight filtering through the green leaves. The scene captures a serene and adventurous moment in nature.
CAPTION: Paddle through the mangroves
CREDIT: Patrick Nichols
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Guy Bradley Visitor Center, open year-round, is 38 miles past the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center on the main park road. It has information, exhibits, sales items, ranger-led activities, wilderness permits, and restrooms. Phone: 239-695-2945.
Concession services include a marina, store, gasoline, narrated boat tours, and boat and bike rentals. Lodging and dining options include the Flamingo Lodge and Restaurant, Flamingo Campground, and houseboat rentals. Call 855-708-2207 or visit flamingoeverglades.com.
Wildlife Viewing American crocodiles and manatees may be around the Flamingo Marina. At certain times bird viewing can be excellent at nearby Mrazek and Eco ponds. At low tide birds congregate on the mudflats in front of the visitor center.
Canoeing and Kayaking Information and trail maps are available at the visitor center. Ask park rangers for safety information and current conditions. Suggested paddling routes include Nine Mile Pond and trips on Florida Bay. Guided paddling trips are available in winter. Call 239-695-2945.
DESCRIBING: A color photograph of a wetland at sunset.
SYNOPSIS: A sunset over a wetland, with the sky colored in brilliant shades of orange, red and purple, reflecting on still water.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A wetland at sunset. The sky is filled with rich hues of deep oranges, fiery reds, and purples, blending together to create a breathtaking backdrop. The sun's reflection on the still water enhances the warm tones, giving the scene a glowing, mirror-like effect. Tall, thin trees with sparse, delicate branches stand in the water, their dark silhouettes contrasting beautifully against the vibrant sky. The foreground is filled with reeds and grasses emerging from the shallow water, adding texture and depth to the scene. The overall atmosphere is peaceful and serene, evoking a sense of natural beauty and tranquility.
CAPTION: Watch a beautiful sunset.
CREDIT: Paul Marcellini
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Safety Bring sunscreen, water, and insect repellent. Always supervise small children. This is a wilderness area; wildlife moves about freely. Do not feed or approach wildlife. Be alert for poisonous plants, alligators, and snakes.
Emergencies call 844-677-0911
Explore More The park offers wilderness camping, greater solitude on longer trails, outstanding night skies, and more. Ask a ranger, visit the website, or use the official NPS App to guide your visit.
Drive-in camping is available at Long Pine Key and Flamingo. Call 855-708-2207 or check flamingoeverglades.com.
Pets are allowed on public roads, campgrounds, picnic areas, maintained grounds, and boats. Control pets on a 6-foot leash. Temperatures are extreme; do not leave pets in a parked car.
Fishing Ask at a visitor center or check the park website for regulations.
Prohibited in the Park Unpiloted aircraft, Jet Skis, water-skiing, and off-road vehicles.
Firearms Florida state law applies to firearms in the park. Hunting is prohibited.
We strive to make facilities, services, and programs accessible to all.
Films and short videos shown at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, Shark Valley Visitor Center, and Guy Bradley Visitor Center (Flamingo) include captioning.
The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center located at the park entrance near Homestead presents audio recordings of the Everglades environment. There are also various tactile opportunities to experience the wildlife displays. The restroom and theater signs are available in braille. This visitor center also offers an accessible route from the parking lot to the building via a curb ramp. The parking lot contains van accessible parking spaces clearly identified by signage. The center offers ease of access to the interior of the building through automatic swinging doors operated by an easily accessed manual switch. This is a good place to begin your visit and orient yourself on what the park has to offer.
The Royal Palm Visitor Center is accessible to wheelchairs. The trailheads and store can be accessed via a curb ramp from the parking lot through a barrier-free path. The parking lot contains van accessible parking spaces identified by clear signage. This area allows for ideal wildlife viewing along the Anhinga Trail, which is also wheelchair friendly.
The Guy Bradley Visitor Center in Flamingo contains brand new museum exhibits with print, audio, and tactile displays. Audio description devices are available upon request. We are also featured in the NPS Audio Description Tours app. This visitor center is accessible by a steep ramp or elevator. The parking lot contains van accessible parking spaces identified by clear signage. All doors can swing open automatically by manually pressing easily accessed buttons. The Guy Bradley Trail is a paved, 1-mile path that is wheelchair-friendly. Check with park rangers for current conditions as the trail can flood in inclement weather.
The Shark Valley Visitor Center offers a touch table for tactile opportunities. The restroom signage is available in braille. This visitor center is accessible to wheelchairs from the parking lot via a curb ramp. The parking lot contains van accessible parking spaces identified by clear signage.
The Gulf Coast Visitor Center contains a touch table for tactile opportunities. Large print and clear signs are displayed.
Throughout the park are many short trails that are under one mile in length and are either paved surface or boardwalk. The accessible trails within the park display interpretive signage which is in clear and large print.
Interpretive programs as well as visitor center displays, whenever possible, have been made accessible to visitors with limited visual capacities.
Accessible frontcountry campgrounds are available at Long Pine Key and Flamingo. Reserve campsites at flamingoeverglades.com
For more information go to a visitor center, ask a ranger, call, or check the website at https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm
Everglades National Park
40001 State Rd. 9336
Homestead, FL 33034-6733
305-242-7700
www.nps.gov/ever
Everglades National Park is one of over 425 parks in the National Park System. Visit www.nps.gov.
National Park Foundation (with logo).
Join the park community.
www.nationalparks.org
DESCRIBING: A map of South Florida which includes different ecosystems, tourist features, roads, and camp sites in Everglades National Park.
SYNOPSIS: A map of Everglades National Park in South Florida, highlighting different ecosystems, points of interest, and visitor centers. It includes wilderness and non-wilderness areas, submerged areas, and key locations with visitor services. The map features labeled roads, trails, water features, and islands. It provides safety guidelines, regulations for boaters, camping information, and an overview of park ecosystems. Map legends are described here. Key locations on the map are described in the next 2 sections.
CAPTION: Everglades Ecosystems
Ecosystems Legend (9 items list the ecosystem and its color on the map):
1. Marine and estuarine: Light blue
2. Coastal marsh: Dark gray
3. Mangrove: Green
4. Cypress: Light brown
5. Coastal prairie: Gold
6. Freshwater slough: Light green
7. Pineland: Pale green
8. Freshwater marl prairie: Tan
9. Hardwood hammock: Dark green
Map Measurements (lists 2 items):
1. North is up on the map, indicated by an arrow in a circle pointing up.
2. The map scale includes measurements for:
0, 1, 5, and 10 kilometers
0, 1, 5, and 10 miles
General Map Legend (Lists 23 items and its symbol or color on the map):
1. Water Depths (lists 3 depths with its color on the map):
a. 0 to 3 feet (0 to 1 meter): White
b. 3 to 6 feet (1 to 2 meters): Light blue
c. Over 6 feet (Over 2 meters): Blue
2. Hiking trail: Dashed black line
3. Unpaved road: Two parallel dashed black lines
4. Wilderness Waterway and canoe trail: Dashed blue line
5. Wildlife protection area (limited access): Light red
6. Lighted marker: Thin red pin
7. Canal and gate: Two brackets facing opposite directions with a line in the middle
8. Pumping station: Blue dot
9. Water detention area: Pale blue
10. National Park Service campground: Black square with white triangular tent
11. National Park Service primitive campsite: Black triangle tent
12. Private campground: White square with black triangle tent
13. Self-guiding trail: Red square with white figure of person with backpack looking at a sign
14. Lodging: Black square with white bed
15. Picnic area: Black square with white picnic table
16. Marina: Black square with white anchor
17. Gas station: Black square with white gas pump
18. Boat launch: Black square with white boat and trailer on a slanted ramp
19. Food service: Black square with white fork and knife
20. Airboat tour: Black square with white airboat
21. Boat tour: Black square with white boat
22. Tram tour: Black square with white tram
23. Bike trail: Black square with white bicycle rider
Text: Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness
South Florida is one of the nation’s fastest growing urban areas with six million residents. It is also home to a remarkable wilderness. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness Area preserves nearly 1.3 million acres of marine estuary, mangrove and cypress forests, hardwood hammock, and sawgrass prairie and is the largest wilderness east of the Mississippi River.
Wilderness once encircled humans. Now we encircle it. Wilderness gives us a glimpse of what America once was.
Message to Boaters
Do not use this map for navigation. Navigational Ocean Survey charts are essential for safe boating. Charts are available in most communities around the park and throughout the Keys. Knowing the draft (depth) and limits of your boat is critical, as is the ability to read and utilize nautical charts.
Keys and beaches in Florida Bay are closed to landings unless otherwise designated. • Commercial fishing is prohibited in the park.
To protect important sea grass beds, Pole/Troll Zones have been established and are subject to special regulation.
Recreational fishing requires a license in both fresh water and salt water.
A permit is required for backcountry camping.
At the top of a map of Everglades National Park, eight ecosystems are listed with colored squares to the right of each title. Each color in the square represents a different ecosystem in the park map below.
From left to right, the ecosystems listed are marine and estuarine (with a light blue square), coastal marsh (with a dark gray square), mangrove (with a green square), cypress (with a light brown square), coastal prairie (with a gold square), freshwater slough (with a pale green square), pineland (with a light green square), freshwater and marl prairie (with a tan square), and hardwood hammock (with a dark green square).
Marine and estuarine ecosystems are located along the Florida coastlines. It almost completely surrounds the curved tip of the Florida Peninsula from the northwest of the map in Everglades City and all the way around to the northeast corner in Miami. Additional marine and estuarine areas are located in Whitewater Bay in the southwest corner of the park. Whitewater Bay is shaped similarly to a crab with a large oval in the middle connected via thin canals to two smaller ovals on either side.
Coastal marsh ecosystems are found entirely on Florida’s southwest and southern coasts, completely surrounded by mangrove habitat. Splashes of coastal marsh vary in size on the map from thin lines to two inches long and one inch wide. While the northwest sections are sprinkled with coastal marsh, most of this habitat is found in large areas of the middle-west and southwest with one section in the middle-south near West Lake.
The mangrove ecosystem covers about 35% of the land in Everglades National Park. It is found almost entirely along the western coastline in large swaths. Continuing along the southern coast toward the eastern coastline, these areas become much smaller and thinner, often emerging from the water like long, thin fingers stretching from south to north.
Cypress ecosystems are primarily found in the southeastern part of Everglades National Park near the Royal Palm area and along the north side of Highway 9336 between Pa-Hay-Okee and Mahogany Hammock. Most of the cypress ecosystem on this map is actually found north of Everglades National Park in Big Cypress National Preserve, encompassing about 90% of the roughly triangular shape of that preserve.
Coastal prairie is one of the rarest habitats on the map, shown only on the southern coastline. There are long, thin stretches along Cape Sable in the southwestern corner which leads to the longest stretch of this ecosystem along the Florida Bay coastline from Clubhouse Beach primitive campsite east to Madeira Point, about 30 miles.
The two freshwater slough ecosystems look like rivers flowing from one ecosystem into another, sprinkled with the dark green droplet-looking hardwood hammock ecosystems. The largest slough, Shark River Slough, runs from the northern border of the park at Shark Valley and continues southwest into mangroves and coastal marshes. Further south is a smaller slough, Taylor Slough, also running southwest between the cypress habitat south of Royal Palm to the mangroves north of Madeira Bay.
The pineland ecosystem is the rarest on the map. It only appears once in Everglades National Park, stretching about 10 miles from west to east long the main park road, mostly in the Long Pine Key area. It is surrounded entirely by freshwater marl prairie ecosystems and interspersed with small areas of hardwood hammocks.
The surrounding freshwater marl prairie is one of the larger ecosystems in the park, split into three distinct groups thanks to the two freshwater sloughs flowing through it. It stretches all the way from the northwestern border of Big Cypress National Preserve southeast to Royal Palm and beyond into the nearby cities to the east until it reaches the mangrove coastline.
Finally, the hardwood hammock ecosystem shows up across the map, from long thin stretches in the southwestern corner and throughout South Florida. It occurs throughout the park within various other ecosystems, appearing like rain drops within the larger surroundings.
SYNOPSIS: There are four visitor centers found on the roads in Everglades National Park. Starting on the west coast and moving east are Gulf Coast Visitor Center and Shark Valley Visitor Center. To the south is Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, and southwest of that is Guy Bradley Visitor Center.
Additionally, between the Gulf Coast Visitor and Shark Valley Visitor Centers, are two visitor centers in Big Cypress National Preserve: Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center in the west and Oasis Visitor Center to its east.
East of the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, Dante Fascell Visitor Center is located on the coast of Biscayne Bay in Biscayne National Park.
There are approximately 45 primitive campsites, 4 NPS campgrounds, and 3 private campgrounds across the national park, primarily found near the coasts, waterways, and roads.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Moving from east to west, from the southeast entrance of the park on Highway 9336 to the end of Highway 9336, these are the labeled features for visitors.
Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, 0.5 miles from park entrance: Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center is near the park entrance, about 11 miles east of the city Homestead on Highway 9336, displayed on the map as a thin red line. Below its green label is a smaller, black label for Park Headquarters. Just east of the visitor center is the Park Entrance Station.
Royal Palm, 4.5 miles from park entrance: Royal Palm is the next area labeled on the map in black, about three miles east of Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center on an unlabeled road that leads south from Highway 9336. It endings at Royal Palm, about three miles from the highway. Below the label is smaller bold black font, first Anhinga Trail and Gumbo Limbo Trail below that. Below the words is the symbol from the legend nothing these as self-guiding trails.
Halfway down from the road to Royal Palm, beginning about halfway down the road, a thinner red line heads west for about three miles in a perfectly straight line then turns before taking a 90-degree turn south for about one mile. Along the straight line before the sharp turn are two small labels in gray font, Robertson Building on the north side and Daniel Beard Center on the south side. At the end of the road, after its 90-degree turn, is a black label for the Nike Missile Base Historic Area. East of that and directly south of the Daniel Beard Center is another gray label for the Hole in the Donut wetlands restoration area.
Where the road to Royal Palm and the road to the Nike Missile Base intersect, a dashed line heads directly south for about one mile before taking a 45-degree turn toward the southwest for about five miles, then turning another 45-degrees to the west. This line is labeled in gray as the Old Ingraham Highway and its dashes signify it is a hiking trail, per the legend. At the end of its first 45-degree turn is a primitive campsite labeled in black as Ernest Coe below the symbol for a National Park Service primitive campsite from the legend. At the end of the trail is another primitive campsite symbol and Old Ingraham labeled in black below it.
Long Pine Key, 5 miles from park entrance: About two miles west of the road to Royal Palm is another unnamed road marked in red. It curves often and snakes its way in the southwest direction for about one mile. Above it is a black label for Long Pine Key, which is above two symbols. On the left is the symbol for a picnic area next to a symbol for National Park Service campground on the right. From the end of this road is a dashed black line that curves several times to the northwest for about seven miles, ending at Highway 9336, labeled in black as Long Pine Key Trail.
About two miles west of the road to Long Pine Key and 7.5 miles from the park entrance is a smaller label for Pinelands along with the self-guiding trail symbol from the legend.
Pa-hay-okee Overlook, 16 miles from park entrance: About nine miles west of Pinelands, the road begins to curve slightly south. At this bend is an unnamed road about one mile long. The end of the road is labeled Pa-hay-okee Overlook with the symbol for self-guiding trail from the legend below the black label.
Mahogany Hammock, 20 miles from park entrance: The main highway continues southwest. About four miles south of Pa-hay-okee, an unnamed road points southwest where the road begins to curve east. The end of this one-mile road is labeled Mahogany Hammock in black with the symbol for self-guiding trail below the label.
Nine Mile Pond, 27 miles from park entrance: After a slight curve to the east, the highway continues directly south in a straight line for about seven miles. Before the highway turns to the southwest, there is a black label for Paurotis Pond on the west side of the road and Nine Mile Pond just south of that on the east side of the road. It is accompanied by a picnic area symbol from the legend. Below that label is a blue label for the Nine Mile Pond Canoe Trail along with a blue dashed line shaped like an infinity sign with one loop on the left and one on the right that are connected in the center.
About one mile after the highway curves to the southwest are two more canoe trails marked with blue dashed lines. On the north side is Hells Bay Canoe Trail, labeled in blue, curving northwest for about five miles and ending at Hells Bay Chickee, marked as a primitive campsite. Along the way the trail also curves past Pearl Bay Chickee and Lard Can, two other primitive campsites. On the south side of the road is Noble Hammock Canoe Trail, a looped canoe trail with the same beginning and ending point.
West Lake, 31 miles from park entrance: Continuing southwest, about two miles from Noble Hammock and Hells Bay canoe trails, the next feature labeled in black is West Lake on the south side of the highway. Restrooms is beneath the West Lake label in smaller font. Below that are three symbols, from left to right: picnic area, boat launch, and self-guiding trail. Along the coast of West Lake and continuing southeast is a blue dashed line labeled as the West Lake Canoe Trail.
Southwest of West Lake, one hiking trail and two ponds are labeled. The hiking trail is labeled as Snake Bight Trail with a straight black dashed line leading from Highway 9336 south to Snake Bight, labeled in blue. The trail begins about one mile before the ponds, while the ponds are about two miles from West Lake. One, Coot Bay Pond, is on the north side of the road. On the south side is Mrazek Pond. One mile southwest of the ponds is another hiking trail marked with a black dashed line and a black label, Rowdy Bend Trail. One mile southwest of that is the final hiking trail, another black dashed line labeled Christian Point Trail.
Guy Bradley Visitor Center, 38 miles from park entrance: About one mile from the end of the highway is the Guy Bradley Visitor Center, labeled in green. Symbols below the label showcase services in the area, from left to right: marina, boat launch, food service, boat tour, and lodging. About 0.5 miles west of the visitor center, Eco Pond is labeled in black with a self-guiding trail symbol. Finally, at the end of the road just west of Eco Pond is Flamingo, labeled in black with picnic area and campground symbols. Beginning at Flamingo is the Coastal Prairie Trail, a dashed black line that curves west and up like a hump before returning back to the coast at Clubhouse Beach, a primitive campsite.
Beginning from the visitor center, heading north and snaking toward the Gulf Coast Visitor Center in the northwest corner of the map, is a blue dashed line labeled Wilderness Waterway. This canoe trail has several primitive campsites and other water features that it passes through. Several of these features are near the visitor center, and all are connected to the Wilderness Waterway. About three miles north of the visitor center, the Homestead Canal, labeled in blue, begins in a straight line headed west. About one mile north of that, beginning in Coot Bay, is the Mud Lake Canoe Trail, passing west through Mud Lake and ending at Bear Lake. From Bear Lake, the Bear Lake Canoe Trail (marked in gray as impassable) continues west along the Homestead Canal, heading directly west for about five miles until it dips south for about one mile, then continues west another three miles before turning south once more and ending at the East Cape Canal, about one mile west of the end of the Coastal Prairie Trail.
On the northern boundary of Everglades National Park, Highway 41, also known as Tamiami Trail, runs east to west across the entire map from Big Cypress Bend, about 25 miles southeast of Naples on the western coastline, to Miami on the eastern coastline.
Gulf Coast Visitor Center: In the far west, Highway 29 runs north and south. The Gulf Coast Visitor Center, labeled in green, is located on the southern spur of Highway 29, about one mile south of Everglades City, which offers a boat launch, lodging, gas station, and food services. Highway 29 continues and ends in the town of Chokoloskee, which offers a boat launch, lodging, gas station, and food services.
Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center: On the south side of Highway 41, about three miles east of the junction of Highway 29 junction, is the Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center, labeled in green, which has a boat launch. A blue dashed line labeled Halfway Creek Canoe Trail connects this visitor center to the Gulf Coast Visitor Center and Chokoloskee Bay to the southwest.
Continuing east about one mile is the town of Ochopee. No services are listed. Two miles southeast of Ochopee is an unnamed private campground. One mile southeast of there is H.P. Williams Roadside Park, which has a picnic area on the north side of the highway. The Turner River Canoe Trail, labeled in blue, angling southwest, also begins here. Dashed blue lines connect this trail with the Halfway Creek Canoe Trail, Chokoloskee Bay, Sandfly Island, and the Wilderness Waterway.
About two miles from the roadside park is the unpaved Burns Lake Road. A primitive campsite, Burns Lake, is located here, about one mile north of the highway.
Continuing east, Kirby Storter Roadside Park is about five miles from Burns Lake Road on the south side of the highway. The park offerings a self-guiding trail and picnic area.
Loop Road Scenic Drive: Three miles east of Kirby Storter is Monument Lake, a National Park Service campground. One mile east of the campground is Monroe Station, with no services. An unpaved road, Loop Road (scenic drive), begins here. This road is unpaved for 17 miles (the northwestern end) and paved for 7 miles (the southeastern end). About two miles from the entrance at Monroe Station is Gator Hook Trail, a hiking trail. Ten miles from the entrance is one end of the Florida Scenic Trail, another hiking trail. Where the pavement begins is a self-guiding trail, Tree Snail Hammock. Two primitive campsites, Mitchell Landing to the southwest and Pinecrest to the northeast, are only one and two miles from the hammock, respectively.
Oasis Visitor Center: As Highway 41 nears the center of Big Cypress National Preserve, the Oasis Visitor Center is located about 4 miles east of Monroe Station. Highway 41 leaves the Big Cypress National Preserve and veers slightly south before continuing east. Midway, a National Park Service campground, is about three miles east of Oasis Visitor Center.
Shark Valley Visitor Center: Where the paved section of Loop Road meets with Highway 41, about 13 miles southeast of Midway, the boundary for Everglades National Park appears in green just north of the gray Miccosukee Reserve Area. About 4 miles east of this junction is the Miccosukee Cultural Center.
One mile east, on the north side of the road is a gas station and food services. On the south side of the road, a thin red line heads straight south from Highway 41. Shark Valley Visitor Center is located at the end of this red line. Below its green label, the Bobcat Boardwalk and Otter Cave Hammock Trail are listed as self-guiding trails. The visitor center also features a bike trail and tram tour. It is noted that bicycles are allowed on the tram trail. A thinner black line, labeled Tram Trail, begins there and winds 8 miles south before looping north 7 miles in a perfectly straight line to the visitor center. The Observation Tower is located at the midway point at the bottom of this loop.
Airboat Tours: About 10 to 15 miles east of the visitor center, from west to east, three airboat tour companies are located on the south side of Highway 41: Everglades Safari Park, Gator Park, and Coopertown, each about one mile from each other. A note below the tour companies states that recent construction of elevated bridges along this portion of the Tamiami Trail is designed to deliver more sheet flow of water into Everglades National Park.
About 5 miles east of Coopertown, Highway 41 and Highway 997 (Krome Avenue) meet. Highway 997 runs north to south. Going south, you can take Highway 997 all the way to Homestead, about 20 miles south of the junction. From Homestead, it is 11 miles west to the southern entrance of Everglades National Park.
Highway 1 runs north and south throughout the entire east side of the map from Miami to Anne’s Beach. From Miami to Florida City the highway travels through urban areas, before turning sharply south to Key Largo along the coast. Highway 1 then travels the coastline southwest to the edge of the map. Highway 977 meets with Highway 1 in Florida City.
DESCRIBING: A simplified map of the Everglades National Park borders.
SYNOPSIS: A map of the southwestern tip of Florida which shows the range of wilderness (green), non-wilderness (beige), and submerged wilderness (blue). The shape of the map outline is comparable to a gas pump nozzle, with a short, curved spout sticking out in the northwest, a handguard-like shape in the southwest, a blocky hump making the shape of the northeast, and a scattering of islands underneath the overall nuzzle with the submerged wilderness.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The northwestern portion of the map border includes an evenly scattered mixture of wilderness (in green) and non-wilderness (in beige). The vast majority of the center of the map is wilderness, with the northeastern portion including a rectangular non-wilderness block that covers about 1/8th of the map area. Just south of the non-wilderness block is another fist-like block of non-wilderness that is about 1/3rd the size of the northern non-wilderness. A thin line, representing a road, grows out of the northeastern part of this small non-wilderness block, as if from the thin wrist of the fist. The line delicately curves northwest until it hits about 1/3 of the map and then turns back southwest at about a 150-degree angle. By halfway into the middle of the map, the line curves straight south for a short portion, then turns southwest again at about another 150-degree angle. The line continues in this direction before ending at the southeast end of the handguard shape on the western coast of the submerged wilderness (in blue).
Moving down from the northwestern border of the spout, the land bulges outward into a large semicircular hump. When the hump curves back up as if to complete the circle, it instead curves back down slightly and then continues east. At the eastern edge of the map, the border turns north for a very short distance before turning west at a 90-degree angle and north again after a slightly longer distance at another 90-degree angle. This border moves north and shifts east on the eastern edge of the northern non-wilderness block. The border takes a sharp 90-degree angle west until hitting about halfway on the map. At that point, the border shifts 90-degrees south for about half of the northern non-wilderness, and then shifts another 90-degrees west to reconnect with the bottom of the spout shape.
In the southwest, an egg-shaped water feature with the narrow end of the egg facing southeast helps shape the crescent-like handguard shape. Another group of islands in a wide C shape are in the center of the egg-like water feature.
CAPTION: The map presents the remaining vast amount of wilderness that still exists in South Florida in comparison to the non-wilderness that also finds itself neighboring smaller areas of non-wilderness.
RELATED TEXT: South Florida is one of the nation’s fastest growing urban areas with over nine million residents. It is also home to a remarkable wilderness. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness area preserves nearly 1.3 million acres of marine estuary, mangrove and cypress forests, hardwood hammock, and sawgrass prairie. It is the largest wilderness east of the Mississippi River.
Wilderness once encircled humans; now we encircle it. Wilderness gives us a glimpse of what America once was.
A table titled Distances From Coe Visitor Center with three columns, one with locations, one with distance in miles, and one with distance in kilometers.
Do not use this map for navigation. Navigational Ocean Survey charts are essential for safe boating. Charts are available in most communities around the park and throughout the Keys. Knowing the draft (depth) and limits of your boat is critical, as is the ability to read and use nautical charts. A boater education certificate is required to operate a vessel within Everglades National Park; visit www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/boating.htm. To protect important seagrass beds, pole / troll zones have been established and are subject to special regulation. • Recreational fishing requires a license in both fresh and salt water. • A permit is required for backcountry camping.