Everglades & Big Cypress Self Guided Driving Tour Bundle

Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app, which will function as your personal tour guide, audio tour, and map all in one. Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!

Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

Your expedition starts in Naples, situated just west of Big Cypress National Preserve. As you approach the preserve, you'll encounter a swamp buggy adventure park and a historic Seminole village that paints a vivid picture of the area's past!

As you continue, be captivated by tales of how Big Cypress emerged, its sacred significance to the indigenous Seminole and Miccosukee tribes, and their enduring legacy in the region. Further, you'll be introduced to the myriad ecosystems that define Big Cypress.

Your first notable stop is the Oasis Visitor Center, offering extensive insights into the local wildlife and a perfect spot to view alligators in their natural habitat. Not far away are the Kirby Storter Roadside Park and Boardwalk, celebrated for their natural beauty and wildlife spotting opportunities.

Venturing on, you'll explore the Turner River Canoe Trail, offering visitors an intimate encounter with the cypress swamp. You'll also uncover the 20th-century efforts to log cypress trees and the subsequent conservation movements that have shaped the preserve's destiny.

The scenic Loop Road Adventure awaits you next, promising a 24-mile off-the-beaten-path experience. While meandering, you'll gaze upon the vast prairies, often called the “wetland wonders,” that provide an exceptional backdrop for photos.

Navigating towards the Deep Lake Fire Tower, you'll be enthralled by mysteries of Big Cypress cryptids, such as the spectral Cypress Specter and tales of the Swamp Stalker, said to be a close kin to the Skunk Ape of the Everglades!

Your journey then guides you to the H.P. Williams Roadside Park, perfect for spotting turtles and wading birds. You'll also delve into the current challenges the Big Cypress ecosystem faces, from climate change impacts to foreign species like the lionfish.

Next, the Sweetwater Strand and Mitchel Landing beckon with mesmerizing water views, offering a chance to witness sunbathing alligators and perhaps even a lurking panther!

Your drive towards the Fire Prairie Trail, a slightly rugged pathway, unravels the surprising benefits of natural events like wildfires for the Big Cypress ecosystems. This trail serves as a precursor to the Big Cypress Visitor Center, where canoe rentals invite you to explore the waterways.

Lastly, you'll come upon the Monroe Station, a historic point of interest, before concluding your tour at the vast Concho Billie Trail. Teeming with diverse wildlife like egrets, ospreys, and the occasional black bear, it's a fitting finale to your unforgettable journey through Big Cypress.