Camping Trips 2000: Everglades National Park - Page 2© Thomas Stephens Sr.
Page 2
Sep 4, 2000
Park Recreation and Activities There are many exciting things to do and see in Everglades. Allowing the wet environs, many activities are centered on the waters. Both fresh and saltwater fishing are outstanding in Southern Florida. Houseboats are available for rent at Flamingo Lodge, and canoes at Flamingo and Gulf Coast Visitors Centers. Canoe Trails offer fantastic wildlife watching opportunities. For the more adventurous, the 99-mile Wilderness Waterway is a good 5-7 day trip through the everglades. There are also tour boats and charter fishing trips available.Although in some areas park roads are under water during the rainy season, excellent roads, trails and boardwalks provide some wonderful sightseeing and wildlife viewing. An 80-mile scenic drive, from Royal Palm Visitors to Flamingo, on Florida Bay, and return, gives visitors a great example of Everglades’s wonders. Many well-maintained trails lead from Flamingo, Shark Valley and Long Pine Key and give hikers and walkers unique Everglades adventures. The Park Service also has a number of excellent programs and activities available to park visitors. Park Campgrounds and FacilitiesCamping facilities in Everglades National Park are limited. There are three park campgrounds--none provide RV hookups. Open all year, reservations (1-800-365-CAMP) are recommended during the winter period (November-April) and will be accepted up to five months in advance. Long Pine Campground has 108 sites for tents and RVs, and is located near the main entrance. It offers restrooms, water and a dump station. Flamingo Campground is located near Flamingo, at the end of the Main Park Road. It has 234 sites, cold showers and two dump stations. There are group camps at all three campgrounds. Chekika Campground is a small 20-site facility located north of the main entrance, on SW 168 Street, which is off State Road 997. (As of this writing, Chekika is closed due to hurricane damage.) It has water, hot showers and a dump station. Backcountry camping in Everglades is an unforgettable experience. The park provides 47 designated wilderness campsites, near rivers and bays. All overnight camping requires a wilderness permit from the major park visitor centers. Wooden platforms with roofs, called chickees, keep campers out of the water and off the ground. Elevated ground sites and beach sites are also available. Area Private RV ParksThere are excellent private full-service campgrounds in or near the towns that surround the park. On Chokoloskee Island and at Everglades City, Florida, the Gulf Coast Area, some RV parks have boat rentals, fishing and guided tours. In Southeastern Florida, at Homestead and Florida City, full-service RV parks offer numerous amenities. The Florida Keys area also has its share of RV parks, as well as many planned outdoor activities for visitors.
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