Trip Overview
The Big Cypress section of the Florida National Scenic Trail is the most unusual long-distance backpacking route in the United States. For 49 miles the trail passes through Big Cypress National Preserve — a vast, flat wilderness of dwarf cypress trees, open prairies, and flooded hardwood hammocks where water is present underfoot for much of the year. The trail is marked by orange blazes on cypress trees; there is no raised tread, no switchbacks, and no avoiding the water. You wade through it. That's not a bug — it's the entire point.
- Duration: 7 days
- Distance: 49 miles (I-75 / Alligator Alley northern trailhead to US-41 Tamiami Trail southern exit)
- Daily average: 7 miles (water slows everything down)
- Elevation change: Negligible (Florida is flat)
- Best months: December–February (dry season, water levels low, insects manageable)
- Permits: Free backcountry camping permit from Big Cypress NPS. Contact Big Cypress Visitor Center: (239) 695-2000.
- Base/Shuttle: Naples, FL (45 min from southern trailhead)
Understanding the Water
During dry season (November–April), water depths on the trail typically range from ankle-deep in open prairies to knee-deep in cypress domes and sloughs. Some sections may be hip-deep after heavy rain even in winter. By late February, much of the southern section may be walkable on dry ground. By April, most of the trail is dry. The June–October wet season puts the trail under 1–3 feet of water throughout — this section is strictly a dry-season trip.
You will share the water with alligators. This is not a hypothetical — gators are present everywhere in Big Cypress and are an expected part of the experience. They are almost universally uninterested in hikers wading through their territory. Give them space (15+ feet), never approach, and make noise when entering hammocks with low visibility.
Day 1 — I-75 Trailhead to Panther Camp (7 mi)
Park at the I-75 / Alligator Alley rest stop (24-hour security, free, the standard northern trailhead). The trail begins in open sawgrass prairie and transitions within 2 miles to the first cypress domes — circular stands of cypress trees rising from the flat landscape, their roots in water year-round. Wading begins here. Panther Camp (a designated camping area with a fire ring) sits on a slightly elevated cypress island — your tent footprint will be above the waterline on dry ground. The Florida panther roams this preserve (fewer than 200 remain in existence) and has been recorded on trail cameras near this camp, though sightings are extremely rare.
Days 2–3 — Central Prairie and Cypress Dome Complex (14 mi total)
These two days pass through the heart of the Big Cypress landscape: alternating stretches of open wet prairie (ankle-deep, wide visibility, beautiful sunrise light) and dense cypress domes (knee-deep, enclosed canopy, enormous bromeliads in the trees). The orange blazes on cypress knees become your navigation reference — on overcast days carry a compass and track your heading. Camp at the midpoint hammock on a elevated island, well above water level. Wood storks — a federally threatened species — commonly feed in the prairies during this section.
Days 4–5 — Hardwood Hammock Transition (14 mi total)
Moving south, the vegetation transitions from cypress to subtropical hardwood hammock: live oak, strangler fig, gumbo limbo, and enormous bromeliads in the canopy. The hammocks are elevated (still only by 2–3 feet) and often dry underfoot even in wet years. Camp in the hammock each night — the hammocks are also where Florida's most extraordinary bird, the barred owl, calls at night in a call that sounds remarkably like it's saying "Who cooks for you."
Days 6–7 — Southern Slough and US-41 Exit (14 mi total)
The final two days bring the wettest terrain on the route: the sloughs of the southern preserve where water is deepest and widest. Depths can reach 3 feet after any recent rain — hiking poles are essential for balance and for probing depth before stepping. The reward is the most remote, least-visited terrain on the route. Exit at the US-41 / Tamiami Trail — the historic road that bisects the Everglades. A shuttle vehicle here, or a ride-share app to Naples, completes the traverse.
Gear for Swamp Backpacking
- Footwear: Trail runners you don't mind destroying. Gaiters help. Waterproof boots trap water and become dead weight once flooded. Sandals-over-socks work for some hikers in shallower sections.
- Trekking poles: Non-negotiable. Essential for balance in moving water and for probing depth.
- Pack: Dry bags inside your pack for everything — sleeping bag and electronics especially. Assume your pack will go partially underwater at some point.
- Water treatment: Sawyer Squeeze or similar filter. The swamp water is biologically active but filterable. Carry 2L capacity.
- Bug protection: Even in dry season, mosquitoes are active at dawn/dusk. Head net + DEET spray mandatory.
Wildlife to Expect
American alligator (abundant), Florida softshell turtle, snowy egret, great blue heron, roseate spoonbill, wood stork, anhinga, osprey, barred owl, sandhill crane. Occasional: Florida panther tracks, black bear. Rare: American crocodile (in southern sections near tidal influence).
