Everglades
N A T I O N A L PARK . FLORIDA
Everglades Na tionalPark was established in 1947
to protect for this and future generations
a
sprawling subtropical
wilderness—a
complex
of unique plant-and-animal communities
threatened with destruction. Some of the habitats,
such as the everglades themselves, and some
oftheanimals
— crocodile, manatee,
roseate
spoonbill, reddish egret, white ibis Ireally a
stork), and bald eagle—are rare or unseen elsewhere in the United States. Among other inhabitants are the alligator, snook, tarpon, pink
shrimp, royal palm, mahogany, and the mangrove. This great biological exhibit in an aquatic
setting provides a dramatic display of nature
in unspolied surroundings
and gives us the
opportunity to experience authentic
wilderness.
Here man will forever be able to find a precious
solitude in the peaceful magic of nature.
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Boats up t o 100 f e e t long can be a c c o m m o d a t e d
at Flamingo marina. Parking f o r boat trailers is
ample, and a free launching ramp is nearby. Slip
fees f o r boat storage are based on t h e l e n g t h of
the boat. Small p o w e r e d skiffs can be rented at
t h e service s t o r e . A park ranger or one of t h e
concessioner employees can give you f u l l inform a t i o n a b o u t the many o t h e r services o f f e r e d .
Please register on t h e sign-out sheet near the
boat ramp or w i t h the park ranger on duty b e f o r e
you leave, and check in again w h e n y o u r e t u r n .
M a r i n e f a c i l i t i e s are also available at the t o w n of
E v e r g l a d e s . N a v i g a t i o n a l c h a r t s c a n be p u r chased in Homestead, M i a m i , the t o w n of Everglades, and the Flamingo marina s t o r e .
HOW TO ENJOY THE PARK
GOOD PARK M A N N E R S
Your f i r s t stop s h o u l d be the visitor center near
the park e n t r a n c e , on Fla. 27 not far f r o m Homestead. The landscapes of Everglades National
Park w i l l be m o r e m e a n i n g f u l to you after you
have learned h o w the land was f o r m e d , w h y
plants g r o w w h e r e they d o , and s o m e t h i n g of
the w i l d c r e a t u r e s t h a t make t h e i r homes here.
You can learn these t h i n g s and m o r e f r o m park
personnel, e x h i b i t s , i n f o r m a t i o n a l p u b l i c a t i o n s ,
and the film p r o g r a m s . A f t e r y o u r stop at the
visitor center, you w i l l be p r e p a r e d f o r a leisurely drive t h r o u g h the park t o Flamingo.
Please help p r o t e c t the park's n a t u r a l values by
leaving the plants and animals u n d i s t u r b e d so
t h a t o t h e r s w h o c o m e after y o u m a y e n j o y t h e m .
Practicing good o u t d o o r m a n n e r s , such as putt i n g litter in t r a s h receptacles and o b s e r v i n g
the rules of safety and c o u r t e s y , w i l l make y o u r
visit m u c h more e n j o y a b l e — f o r y o u and f o r
others.
CAMPING
Campsites are available at Long Pine Key or
Flamingo C a m p g r o u n d s on a f i r s t - c o m e , firstserved basis. Stay is limited t o 14 days per year.
D r i n k i n g f o u n t a i n s , tables, c h a r c o a l b u r n e r s ,
a n d r e s t r o o m s a r e a v a i l a b l e at b o t h c a m p g r o u n d s . H o u s e t r a i l e r s a r e p e r m i t t e d in t h e
c a m p g r o u n d s ; h o w e v e r , t h e r e are no w a t e r ,
electrical, or sewage " h o o k - u p s " f o r t r a i l e r use
(deposit sewage at Flamingo).
The Long Pine Key Picnic Area and C a m p g r o u n d
is 6 miles f r o m the park e n t r a n c e , and you will
have to b r i n g all supplies except w a t e r . (Supplies can be p u r c h a s e d in Homestead and Florida
City or other nearby towns.) Flamingo Campg r o u n d , in the Flamingo developed a r e a , offers
picnic and c a m p g r o u n d facilities. Limited staple
groceries are available at the Flamingo M a r i n a .
You may also c a m p on the beaches or in t h e back
c o u n t r y at designated l o c a t i o n s , but y o u must
f i r s t o b t a i n a c a m p f i r e p e r m i t at park headquarters or a ranger s t a t i o n .
U. S. Department of the Interior
National Park Service
BOATING
Long Pine Key campers should have their mail
addressed t o General Delivery at either Homestead or Florida City, Fla. 3 3 0 3 0 . Other visitors
may receive mail at the Flamingo post o f f i c e .
Plants and A n i m a l s . Years of p r o t e c t i o n have
made many animals lose their fear of m a n ; t h u s
y o u can view t h e m at close range. They are still
w i l d , however. Do n o t d i s t u r b t h e a n i m a l s , or
damage, r e m o v e , or d i s t u r b t h e plants in any w a y .
Hunting or the use of f i r e a r m s is p r o h i b i t e d .
Fishing is p e r m i t t e d in most areas of t h e park
in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h Florida laws. Fresh-water
f i s h i n g w i t h r o d and reel requires a Florida fishing license, but no license is r e q u i r e d f o r f i s h i n g
in salt w a t e r . Ask a park ranger or w a t c h f o r signs
a b o u t the few areas t h a t are closed t o f i s h i n g .
Fire sweeping across t h e 'glades can be a t e r r i f y i n g and d e s t r u c t i v e f o r c e . S m o k i n g is not perm i t t e d on n a t u r e t r a i l s , and c a m p f i r e s may be
built only in designated c a m p i n g areas.
M a x i m u m speed on t h e park r o a d is 4 5 miles
per hour. Reduced speed limits are p o s t e d . Drive
s l o w l y ; the road is designed f o r enjoying the
scenery leisurely.
Pets must be on a leash or under other restrictive control.
Boating. Visitors w h o explore the park by boat
must k n o w and p r a c t i c e water-safety rules and
must have a keen awareness of p o t e n t i a l dangers.
Every boat m u s t be e q u i p p e d w i t h a U.S. Coast
Guard-approved lifejacket f o r each passenger.
Remember: You are safest w i t h an experienced
guide, and navigational c h a r t s of the area are
indispensible. Before s t a r t i n g out in y o u r private
boat, file a " f l o a t p l a n " of y o u r proposed t r i p then you can be assured t h a t a park ranger w i l l
be l o o k i n g f o r you if you get i n t o d i f f i c u l t y .
Privately operated airboats and 'glades buggies
are n o t p e r m i t t e d in t h e p a r k .
You can help p r o t e c t t h e park by r e p o r t i n g to
park rangers any f i r e s , a c c i d e n t s , violations, or
o t h e r unusual h a p p e n i n g . The rangers are here
t o help you enjoy t h e area. Do not hesitate t o
ask their assistance.
ADMINISTRATION
Everglades National Park is a d m i n i s t e r e d by the
National Park Service, U.S. D e p a r t m e n t o f t h e
Interior.
The National Park S y s t e m , of w h i c h this park is
a unit, is dedicated t o c o n s e r v i n g t h e n a t u r a l ,
h i s t o r i c a l , and recreational places of the United
States f o r the benefit and e n j o y m e n t of all t h e
people.
A s u p e r i n t e n d e n t , w i t h offices adjacent t o the
main visitor center, is in immediate c h a r g e of
the park. For f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n , c o n t a c t the
Superintendent. Everglades National Park,
Box 2 7 9 , Homestead, Fla. 3 3 0 3 0 .
THE D E P A R T M E N T OF THE INTERIOR the Nation's p r i n c i p a l n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e agency—has a
special o b l i g a t i o n to assure t h a t o u r expendable
resources are c o n s e r v e d , t h a t our renewable
resources are managed to p r o d u c e o p t i m u m
b e n e f i t s , and t h a t all resources c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e
progress and p r o s p e r i t y of t h e United States,
n o w and in t h e f u t u r e .
ALONG THE PARK ROAD
the motor lodge. Make reservations well in advance. Rates a re lower from May 1 to December 1.
rookery. Signs give point and times of departure
for the boat trips, or you can get this and other
information at the Gulf Coast Ranger Station.
THE TAMIAMI TRAIL AND
THE WESTERN WATER GATEWAY
Park facilities for visitors at the town of Everglades are not yet completed, but motels are
available; for campers, the nearest sites are at
Collier-Seminole State Park, 19 miles west of
the town of Everglades on the Tamiami Trail.
Remember you're at the fringe of the tropics
where you will see many tropical influences.
It is possible to make this 38 miles trip over the
paved road in less than an hour; but don't do it.
You should allow yourself at least one-half day
to become acquainted with some of the attractions along the way. Take time to explore the
ends of the short spur roads —Royal Palm, Pahay- okee. Mahogany Hammock, and others.
Just 2 miles from the main visitor center, a sign
directsyouto Royal Palm Hammock, on Paradise
Key. This area, famed for its animal life and rich
variety of tropical plants, was the site of Florida's
first State Park. The Royal Palm interpretive
s t a t i o n , manned by ranger-naturalists and
housing exhibits and other i n f o r m a t i o n a l
material, is the starting point for the famous
Anhinga and Gumbo Limbo nature trails. Nearby
Taylor Slough is the home of many easily seen
animals including alligators and birds.
From here to Flamingo you will pass three major
self-guiding trails: the Pineland Trail, through
the fire-maintained pine-palmetto community;
Pa-hay-okee Trail, through dwarf cypress and
bay to an overlook in the sawgrass zone; and the
Mahogany Hammock Trail—a dense hammock
of mahogany with palms, airplants, and orchids.
FLAMINGO
Here you will find a visitor center, restaurant,
motel, large boat marina, c a m p g r o u n d , and
picnic area.
Exhibits at Flamingo Visitor Center summarize
the park story you saw at the stops and on the
trails along the main park road. They tell the
story of man's struggle to prevent the extinction
of Everglades' rare and endangered bird species
prior to the park's establishment.
Flamingo is your base of operations for exploratory trips into the vast wilderness of Whitewater Bay and the hundreds of miles of winding
mangrove-lined rivers and lakes, the channels
and keysof the bay, the gulf area, and the mangrove coast with its tropical beaches. Flamingo
is an excellent base, too, for the sports fisherman,
the wildlife enthusiast, and the photographer.
There's always something to do at Flamingo.
Park rangers and naturalists give talks and
walks; sightseeing boats move in and out of the
marina landings; and a skilled skipper who
knows the intricate waterways can usually find
a berth for you on board his charter fishing
boat. These boats are checked for safety and
are well equipped with the kind of bait, tackle,
and supplies needed to catch game fish.
The Everglades Park Co.,3660 Cora I Way, Miami,
Fla. 33145, whose standards and prices are approved by the National Park Service, operates
the marina, store, restaurant and snackbar, and
Two other centers of interest are the Western
Water Gateway, at the town of Everglades, and
the Shark Valley Trail, midway between Everglades and Miami on the Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41).
The Western Water Gateway is the boater's
entrance to the waters of the Ten Thousand
Islands and the gulf coast—a mecca for sport
fishermen. A park concessioner also operates
sightseeing boats here —one fascinating journey
leads to shell mounds built by the Calusa Indians
some 2,000 years ago, another to a summer bird
In contrast to the waterways through the coastal
mangrove jungles, the Shark Valley Loop Road
provides an altogether different wilderness experience. The road is 14 miles long, cutting
deeply into the sawgrass and hammock country
of the true everglades. Leave your car at one
of the several parking areas, visit the Otter Cave
Trail and, of course, climb the ramp of the 40-foot
tower at mid-station. The unimpaired view of
that seemingly endless "River of Grass" is without equal, and the tower is often a good place
from which to observe alligators, birds, and
other wildlife. Note: This road may be closed to
public traffic during periods of high water. Contact a park ranger for information.
ON THE FLAMINGO ROAD
Miles
2 Royal Palm Area: Royal Palm Visitor
Center— naturalist programs, restrooms;
Anhinga Trail— a wildlifetrailiGumbo Limbo
Trail—a jungle trail through tropical hardwood hammock.
4 Long Pine Key area: Campground; picnic
area.
6.5 Pineland Trail—a pinewoods community
trail.
12.5 Pa-hay-okee — boardwalk and tower for
panoramic view.
1 9.5 Mahogany Hammock—elevated boardwalk
into mahogany forest.
24.5 Paurotis Pond— parking for view of rare
palms.
26.5 Nine Mile Pond— limited picnicking facilities.
30.5 West Lake area: Mangrove Trail -an elev at ed boardwalk into t r o p i c a l mangrove
swamp; West Lake Pond— Cuthbert rookery boattrip (from February to May); waterf o w l . Excellent example of hurricanedamaged tropical vegetation.
38 Flamingo area: Exhibits, naturalist programs, marina, sightseeing boats, restaurant, motel, service station, picnic area,
campground.
GPO : 1967 O - 249-201