Florida has more than 1.5 million alligators, many in the Everglades region. Yet the alligator remains a threatened species because of its similarity to the American salt water crocodile, which are estimated to number about 2,000. Female alligators grow to 10 feet in length. Male alligators are considerably larger, reaching 13 to 15 feet. Normally an alligator’s snout is broad,...

Compared to the alligator, the American crocodile is more lizard-shaped with a long and powerful tail and a narrow, triangular snout. A tooth on either side of the bottom jaw is visible when the jaw is closed. South Florida has an estimated population of 2,000 American crocodiles including the Everglades and Keys. A large 12-foot crocodile can run up to...

Also called water turkey, snake bird and snake darter, the anhinga is one of the Everglades most common and unusual birds. When swimming, only its snaky-looking long neck and head show above water. The rest of the body stays submerged. To feed, an anhinga dives underwater for considerable periods to spear fish with its long sharp beak. If successful, back...

This is a short slide show of what you can see along the Anhinga Trail. Advance the photos at the top of the page for just a few of the animals you might see. Be sure it go to the special Royal Palm Itinerary which features a detailed description of the Anhinga Trail. It is not an area to be...

An alligator sunning itself beside a walkway may seem so sluggish and lazy that you should be able to reach out, touch it and the animal wouldn’t notice. The animal is probably more alert than you can imagine.  Breach an alligator’s territorial boundaries and you could find yourself in a real predicament. Historically, alligator attacks are uncommon but the occasional...

The 1.3-mile Bayshore Loop Trail makes up the first segment of the Coastal Prairie Trail, which is a 7-mile linear trail. (See Flamingo trails map) The short Bayshore Loop Trail begins in the Flamingo Campground at the back of Loop C.  Much of your waterside walk will be in the vicinity of mangroves, so come prepared, repellant-wise. Be aware the...

The Bear Lake Trail has 2 possible trailheads. Where you start depends on whether the Bear Lake access road is open. (See Flamingo trails map) Your access is via Bear Lake Road. Coming from the park’s main entrance, Bear Lake Road located on the right about 2 miles north of the Flamingo Visitor Center. If the road is closed due...

The Burmese python, able to grow as long as 20 feet and weigh up to 200 pounds, has invaded the Everglades. The snakes apparently were introduced into the Glades by owners who could no longer deal with their pets. Several thousand Burmese pythons have been removed from the park and surrounding areas since 2002. However, considering a female can lay...

The longest trail in the Homestead or the Flamingo sections of Everglades National Park is the one-way Coastal Prairie Trail, which runs for 7 miles before ending at Clubhouse Beach. The path is an old one, made by cotton pickers in the 1930s when the federal government decided to eradicate Florida’s native wild cotton plants that grew to tree height....

On the Main Park Road, drive past the Flamingo Visitor Center and head toward the Flamingo Campground. Before reaching the campground, you’ll find Eco Pond located on the right. Park in the designated area. The half-mile (800 meter) loop goes around a fresh water pond that once was an exceptional spot for birding and photography. Unfortunately, many of the nesting...

The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, 9 miles southwest of Homestead on State Road 9336, is located within Everglades National Park, on the right, just before the admission gate. The visitor center is open 365 days a year, including Christmas.  The center has a small bookstore that is a one-stop shop for Everglades books, postcards and DVDs. Most importantly, it...

See the Everglades online and prepare your photo itinerary with the help of these webcams, podcasts and videos. Unfortunately, the Everglades NP and the National Park Service in general have a tendency to remove what should be evergreen links for videos, webcams and audio tours.  If a better version is made it should use the the same link for continuity...

Flamingo Campground is located at the end of the Main Park Road, 38 miles from the park’s main entrance. Fronting Florida Bay and close to the Flamingo Marina, Flamingo Campground is Homestead’s most requested camping site. Reservations are a must during the cooler winter season. Overall, there are 234 drive-in sites and 64 walk-up sites, with 55 campsites near Florida...

Flamingo Marina is the only place inside ENP to buy soft drinks and snacks once you leave Florida City. Fuel is available here for boats but not for cars, so depart with a full tank. The marina can accommodate more than 50 boats with a maximum draft of 4 feet. Electric and water hookups available. To explore the mangrove canals...

The Flamingo Visitor Center is located on a second story landing that once connected to the Flamingo Lodge Restaurant. Both the restaurant and lodge were heavily damaged by 2005 hurricanes and replacements have yet to reopen. The modest visitor center remains open most of the year but is staffed for only limited periods. Regular hours are held from mid-November through mid-April. No regular hours...

Although the Ten Thousand Islands are separate from the mainland, they are part of Everglades National Park, itself a designated Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site and a Wetland of International Importance. The Gulf Coast Visitor Center of Everglades National Park offers 2 boat tours that explore different segments of one of the world’s largest mangrove forests. With just 6...

The Gulf Coast Visitor Center serves as the gateway for exploring the Ten Thousand Islands, the mangrove maze that extends from Lostman’s River to Cape Romano. The region is accessible only by boat. Located 5 miles south of Highway 41 (Tamiami Trail) on State Road 29 in Everglades City, the Gulf Coast Visitor Center includes educational displays, orientation films, brochures, and...

The Gumbo Limbo Trail also leaves from the Royal Palm Visitor Center. This short .04-mile walk is a land-based loop through a dense moist forest that is truly jungle-like. The trail is named for the tropical gumbo limbo tree that grows only in South Florida, Cuba and Hispaniola. The tree has a distinctive red bark that looks like it is...

Flamingo once was a quiet fishing village that could only be reached by boat coming across Florida Bay or, later, through the Homestead-Flamingo Canal. Today, you follow the 38 mile Main Park Road from the Coe Visitor Center to the Flamingo Visitor Center and the nearby Flamingo Marina, both located at the end of the Homestead road. The town of...

The liguus snail, which probably should be called a tree snail, is notable for its large size and colored shells often with complex patterns. They seem to prefer trees with smooth bark, such as the false tamarind. Unfortunately, because of their visual appeal, these shells were a favorite of collectors who were willing to burn down hammocks in order to...