When you think of the Everglades, the word probably conjures an image of a swamp, teeming with toothy wildlife. Carl Hiaasen’s books, and movies like Adaptation, depict the slow moving river as a force to be reckoned with.
The Everglades National Park is made of 1.5 million acres. Leaving more than enough room for visitors to enjoy fishing, hiking, and boating.
The National Park Service also warns visitors about the dangers of the wilderness. It provides a trip planner to help prepare for a stay in the back country.
The page explains campers should:
- Be dressed properly
- Bring enough supplies like water, bug spray and sunscreen
- Be able to navigate
- Be prepared for inclement weather, like sudden rain.
The best time to camp is in the dry season, from October to April. It is considerably cooler, less humid and less likely to rain. The park is divided into two areas, the front country and the back country.
The front country is made up of campgrounds and RV parking, both accessible by car. The admission is 16 dollars per night. If you want to camp reasonably close to bathrooms, the front country is for you.
The back country is wilderness. Navigation skills and planning are especially important for people who plan to stay here. Ground sites, beach sites, and camping platforms, called Chickees, all 47 of these sites are accessible only by foot or boat.
To camp in the back country, campers need a permit. The permits are available, for 10 dollars, the day of the trip at the Falmingo Visitor Center. Back country camping trips are allowed for a maximum of 14 days.
The park offers an annual park admission pass for 25 dollars, and daily admission is 10 dollars. To make reservations call 1-877-444-6777.
