Everglades National Park
1/18/2010 – 1/19/2010
Everglades National Park occupies the complete southwest corner of peninsular Florida. Although a huge park, the Everglades protects a complex of ecosystems which is a fraction of its historical size. Much of southern Florida (the area lying south of Lake Okeechobee) was once consumed by this “river of grass.” Although development and progress pushed for the drainage and subsequent channelization of the hydrology of south Florida, beautiful expanses of this complex watershed remain and are protected within the park boundaries, as well as in neighboring Big Cypress National Preserve.
We spent our two days in the Everglades accessing points of interest along the main park road, which connects Homestead to Florida Bay. Beginning with a short stop at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, we were quickly informed of park happenings and campground availability. We settled ourselves at the Flamingo Campground, nestled along the shore of Florida Bay, and promptly became acquainted with the infamous mosquito pressure that often characterizes south Florida wetlands. The Flamingo Campground is a fairly open campground, equipped with cold (very cold) showers and bathrooms but no electricity. It is within short walking distance of several trails as well as the Flamingo Marina. After a short stroll along the Eco-Pond trail we ate a quick dinner and took shelter from the mosquitoes.
Flamingo Campground
Eco-Pond Trail
Mosquitoes!
Numerous ranger led activities are provided by the park on a daily basis. These range from car caravans to bicycle tours. We participated in the inaugural canoe adventure tour, which took us 8.5 miles through mangrove channels and open water bodies over the course of about four and a half hours. The tour was spectacular, not to mention free! (Including equipment usage.) This extensive tour is going to be offered once a week, with a shorter canoe trip around Nine-Mile pond offered on the remaining days. These informative and complementary tours are a tremendous way to access more remote park areas with relative ease and certainly enhance any national park visit.
Coot Bay Pond
Coot Bay
Paddling!
Mangrove Canals
Mangrove Canals
Long Pine Key campground, located in a slash pine prairie closer to the park entrance is where we spent our second night. Having been driven into the van early the night before by mosquitoes, we put our extensive gear collection to use and set up our large tent as a mosquito free living and dining space.
Long Pine Key Campground
A network of hiking and biking trails extend from the campground and provide access to the “highest” (only a few feet in elevation) and driest parts of the park. Just a few miles up the road are the Anhinga and Gumbo Limbo trails which offer some of the easiest wildlife viewing. The Anhinga boardwalk trail winds through sawgrass praire and freshwater marsh systems teeming with birds and alligators. The recent cold spell in Florida resulted in quite a significant fishkill in the Everglades, as the sub-tropical species could not tolerate the record low temperatures. This major die off has attracted huge flocks of vultures, creating a rather eerie, as well as smelly, atmosphere in the marsh areas.
Vultures and Dead Fish
Despite the influx of scavengers, the beautiful flora and fauna that define the Everglades are alive and well and on full display.
Sights along the Anhinga Trail:
Everglades National Park occupies the complete southwest corner of peninsular Florida. Although a huge park, the Everglades protects a complex of ecosystems which is a fraction of its historical size. Much of southern Florida (the area lying south of Lake Okeechobee) was once consumed by this “river of grass.” Although development and progress pushed for the drainage and subsequent channelization of the hydrology of south Florida, beautiful expanses of this complex watershed remain and are protected within the park boundaries, as well as in neighboring Big Cypress National Preserve.
We spent our two days in the Everglades accessing points of interest along the main park road, which connects Homestead to Florida Bay. Beginning with a short stop at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, we were quickly informed of park happenings and campground availability. We settled ourselves at the Flamingo Campground, nestled along the shore of Florida Bay, and promptly became acquainted with the infamous mosquito pressure that often characterizes south Florida wetlands. The Flamingo Campground is a fairly open campground, equipped with cold (very cold) showers and bathrooms but no electricity. It is within short walking distance of several trails as well as the Flamingo Marina. After a short stroll along the Eco-Pond trail we ate a quick dinner and took shelter from the mosquitoes.
Flamingo Campground
Eco-Pond Trail
Mosquitoes!
Numerous ranger led activities are provided by the park on a daily basis. These range from car caravans to bicycle tours. We participated in the inaugural canoe adventure tour, which took us 8.5 miles through mangrove channels and open water bodies over the course of about four and a half hours. The tour was spectacular, not to mention free! (Including equipment usage.) This extensive tour is going to be offered once a week, with a shorter canoe trip around Nine-Mile pond offered on the remaining days. These informative and complementary tours are a tremendous way to access more remote park areas with relative ease and certainly enhance any national park visit.
Coot Bay Pond
Coot Bay
Paddling!
Mangrove Canals
Mangrove Canals
Long Pine Key campground, located in a slash pine prairie closer to the park entrance is where we spent our second night. Having been driven into the van early the night before by mosquitoes, we put our extensive gear collection to use and set up our large tent as a mosquito free living and dining space.
Long Pine Key Campground
A network of hiking and biking trails extend from the campground and provide access to the “highest” (only a few feet in elevation) and driest parts of the park. Just a few miles up the road are the Anhinga and Gumbo Limbo trails which offer some of the easiest wildlife viewing. The Anhinga boardwalk trail winds through sawgrass praire and freshwater marsh systems teeming with birds and alligators. The recent cold spell in Florida resulted in quite a significant fishkill in the Everglades, as the sub-tropical species could not tolerate the record low temperatures. This major die off has attracted huge flocks of vultures, creating a rather eerie, as well as smelly, atmosphere in the marsh areas.
Vultures and Dead Fish
Despite the influx of scavengers, the beautiful flora and fauna that define the Everglades are alive and well and on full display.
Sights along the Anhinga Trail:
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