Tour Everglades National Park along the Loop Road

US Highway 41 is located in the heart of South Florida, also known as the Tower Miami Trail. This engineering marvel traverses the swamp to form the northern boundary of Everglades National Park, home to many natural areas that offer a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, canoeing, boating, fishing, backpacking, and trail running. The Everglades is a verdant natural wonder full of beauty and wildlife, making it one of Florida’s most iconic tourist destinations.

Located in the middle of 40 miles west of Miami (ending at Forty Mile Bend), Loop Road is a 20-mile scenic walk that’s sure to whet the appetite of any outdoor enthusiast. Most of the roads are unpaved and undeveloped, flanked by a green sea and home to a variety of wildlife. This is a great way to experience the Florida Everglades or start seriously trekking into the Everglades.

Explore the Way of the Loop

The loop hosts a variety of events, so almost anyone can explore it in some way, as long as you can get there. The nearest gas station is about 15 miles away in Carnesville and small (the address of Loop Road is in the rural town of Ochopee). Naples is 50 miles to the west and Miami is 40 miles to the east, which means you’ll need a ride to get to Monroe Station, which marks the start of the trail. From there, the adventure began.

Airboat Tour

At the beginning of Loop Road, there are several steamboat tour companies that take passengers through the wetlands, and many more along Route 41. These guided tours will be fun for families and a great way to get to know Everglades National Park in as controlled an environment as possible. For guides, the Florida Everglades is their home, so newbies can learn a lot from knowledge of one of Florida’s most famous tourist attractions.

Motor Vehicle

The ring road is primarily a scenic road, which means you can drive along this road with your own vehicle. The speed limit is only 20 miles per hour, and drivers will often stop to enjoy the natural beauty and wildlife. Driving through the loop is a more independent way to take the whole family around the Florida Everglades, even for those who can’t get outdoors. You can also bring motorcycles and off-road vehicles, as in addition to the ring road, there are many off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails and small landscape lanes of source autonomous lanes.

Cycling

Mountain bikers and long-distance cyclists can enjoy a picturesque workout on the Loop Road. Since the speed limit for motor vehicles is so low, it provides a safe place to ride a bike and enjoy the scenery. Always be careful when riding the Tower Miami Trail as vehicles on the highway are usually driven to enjoy the scenery, so the speed will be slower.

Hiking

There are numerous campsites on almost the entire Loop and near the Tower Miami Trail, perfect for daytime hiking and overnight excursions. Visitors can experience the Florida Everglades firsthand with many short hikes that start by road and lead to the Everglades. The front south terminus of the Florida Trail, still separated from the highway, is 8 miles long to reach the Oasis Visitor Center in Big Cypress Swamp on the Tower Miami Trail. The Florida Trail is one of 11 national trails, along with the famous Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide, and Pacific Northwest Trail. Loop Road gives hikers a glimpse of the southern Florida peninsula.

What You Will See in Everglades National Park

The swamp is a green grass like the sea, and there are many small streams depending on the season. From Monroe Station, the west side of the loop has the best of both worlds, with a stream on the right and a prairie on the left. While they are all part of the same environment, they all have their own unique characteristics. Wildlife can benefit from all of this because they are all interconnected.

Cypress Stocks

Cypress trees are an icon of swamp creatures and thrive in the Florida Everglades, forming a canopy on the loop and along the swamp’s perennial streams. These unique trees evolved to survive in very wet conditions and are known for their “knees” sticking out of the water. Many wildlife in the Florida Everglades rely on these trees for food and shelter, especially from the marsh’s most famous predators.

Saw grass prairies

Swamps are associated with water and flooding, but they do have dry seasons, and sawgrass grasslands thrive in this environment due to their slightly higher altitude. Sawgrass is a tough, sharp sedge, not the grass you see on a lawn or grass, so walk along the trail when walking or driving an OHV to avoid injury. Periodic cypress trees dot the low-lying terrain, retaining still pools that look like green domes.

Crocodile Crocodile Crocodile

Alligators are found throughout Florida and are common in many wetland habitats around the state. They are known for their habitat in Everglades National Park, floating in the water among cypress groves and observing surrounding prey such as insects, birds, lizards, and amphibians. Alligators range in length from 8 to 15 feet, but alligators in the Florida Everglades are smaller than average length. Alligators are an important part of the Everglades ecosystem because the nest where female alligators lay their eggs can become a watering hole for other wildlife once they leave. Sea turtles and birds also use these crocodile holes to spawn.

Great Blue Heron

At about 4 feet tall, the Great Blue Heron is a feared bird. They are so bold that we can see many of them standing on the side of the loop, or gliding down with a 6-foot wingspan. Great blue herons are found everywhere throughout the United States, but they inhabit the Florida Everglades year-round, as the wet habitat of the marsh, as well as the saltwater Rukerry Bay in the west, are the primary habitat for these majestic birds. They may be large birds, but they usually stay away from humans unless harassed.

Lots of Egrets

At least two species of egrets live in Everglades National Park: the Great Egret and the Snow Heron. These elegant wading birds are white all over, and the larger egrets are almost as tall as the great blue heron, with a yellow beak and black wading legs.

At one time, great egrets were hunted for feathers, which led to a decline in the number of egrets until the practice was outlawed. The Great Egret population in the Everglades is also declining due to human encroachment on the marsh, including urbanization and industrial pollution. Smaller snow herons have black beaks and yellow feet and can also wade in the water to fish. Most of the time, these birds are hunted alone, but they can be seen appearing in flocks during mating and hatching seasons, after sunrise and before sunset.

Maybe Some Endangered Panthers

The Florida leopard is a protected species, and its population has increased from a mere 20 in the 70s to about 20 today. Just a few miles off Route 230, the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve includes a park dedicated to panthers, but panthers can occasionally be seen on the Everglades and Loop Road. They are very shy, so if you find them, you’re in luck!

All This and Some History

While the Florida Everglades is known as a natural paradise and national park, there is also some historical context along the Loop. The town of Pinecrest was used as the base for the Tamiami Trail, which began construction in 1921. The trail was originally intended to be a city, with the Loop Road as the main thoroughfare, but lack of funding and remoteness made the trail impossible. At its peak, it would never have more than 400 inhabitants.

It was used as a logging town and possibly as a smuggling base for the famous gangster Al Capone. Gator Hook Lodge, a historic dive bar on Loop Road, receives Orange Blossom Special composer Ervin Rouse whenever he wanders out of his retirement home in the area. The bar was closed in the 20s of the 70th century and subsequently demolished, but some other buildings remain in this swampy town.

How to Stay Safe on Your Florida Everglades Adventure

Although it may seem easy to load your family into a car and drive to the loop, there are still things you can do to prepare for a day trip, especially if you plan to bike or hike on the road. Here are some tips to make your day in the Florida Everglades an unforgettable day.

Make Sure to Stay Hydrated

There’s a reason they call the state “Sunny Florida”—Florida is hot and humid for most of the year, which means the harder you try, the more you sweat. No matter how you choose to explore Everglades National Park, it’s important to make sure you’re protected from dehydration.

You won’t want to leave your windows open all the time, so even if you plan to drive, have plenty of water in hand. If you’re doing more strenuous activity, you may also need to bring electrolyte drinks and plenty of carbohydrates to travel. You can use a water bottle with a sprayer to pour on your body to help you cool down.

Get Ready to Bask in the Sun

Especially if your Florida Everglades adventure is walking, biking, or OHV, sun protection is another great way to beat the heat. It may sound counterintuitive to wear long sleeves and long pants in the hot sun, but this garment made of lightweight materials protects against sunburn. Wide-brimmed hats and scarves or balaclavas protect your face and neck from the sun and soak in water to help you stay cool. However, bring a good sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.

Do Not Feed Crocodiles

This warning is posted everywhere in Florida because it is a very important warning. Crocodiles are usually not dangerous for adults because they are threatened by us, but if humans feed them, they lose their fear of us and in this case they attack. It is important not only not to feed them intentionally, but also to make sure that they are not accidentally fed by stray pets or small children, both of which can be mistaken for prey.

Keep an Eye out for Wildlife

Most of the animals you meet are afraid of humans, and they either watch you pass by or run away when you get too close. However, animals that feel threatened may fight back in some cases. Large wading birds have long beaks and can cause great harm to humans. Everglades snakes can be venomous and should be avoided if encountered. Contact with any juvenile animals should be avoided as their protective mother may be nearby and will not welcome your intrusion.

Locals Live Here

Everglades National Park was established in 1947 and Big Cypress National Preserve was established in 1977. Before they became parks, people lived in tiny dwellings, so-called “Indian villages” and logging and hunting settlements. Some of these dwellings still exist along the ring road, often marked with gates and “no trespassing” or “posting” signs. The last few miles before the Four Mile Bend had houses on the east side. Just as important to remember to protect the ecosystem of the Florida Everglades, it’s also a common courtesy to respect the privacy and possessions of locals, and remember that while it’s your vacation resort, it’s their home.

Choose the Best Time of the Year

Many travel guides recommend that visitors visit Everglades National Park from November to December and April as it is the dry season in the swamps. However, from November to January or February, the swamp drains all the rainwater from the rainy season, and there is still standing water, which may require leggings or other wet gear. April and May are the driest months to explore the Everglades, especially on foot. Summer and early autumn are the wettest periods, and August is the peak rainfall period and the hottest period for temperatures and humidity.

One of Florida’s most famous tourist attractions, the Everglades is a fun experience for the whole family. No matter how you choose to explore this amazing ecosystem, the loop is a great place to start your adventure.