Big Cypress National Preserve Self Guided Driving Audio Tour

Overview

Itinerary

1. 1
   10 min

   Continue straight. The Miccosukee were far from the only tribe to call this region home. Over the centuries, South Florida was home to numerous distinct tribes, including the formidable Calusa. One of the last tribes to form in the region were the Seminole, descendants of the Creek tribe in Georgia.nnNew, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.nnThe tour is over 42+ miles long, with more than 27+ audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours to complete.

2. 2
   10 min

   Coming up shortly will be a chance to visit Miccosukee Indian Village. This village, run by members of the Miccosukee tribe, sells Native arts and crafts and features a museum about their history. The tribe has a long history in southern Florida. During the Indian Wars in the 1800s, 100 of them fled into the Everglades and hid to avoid being captured.

3. 3
   10 min

   Coming up soon is a short trail with a very special attraction. Itu2019s the Tree Snail Hammock Trail, a quarter-mile loop through hardwood forest which takes only five minutes to complete if you only want to stretch your legs. But most folks will want to linger a little longer. Thatu2019s because this is a great place to spot the elusive tree snail.

4. 4
   10 min

   Just ahead is H.P. Williams Roadside Park. If youu2019ve been hoping to see plenty of wildlife, this is the spot for you. A boardwalk runs along a waterway which is a favorite among alligators, turtles, and the occasional snake. Itu2019s also a great place to see herons and egrets wading in the water, as well as hawks perching in the trees above.

5. 5
   10 min

   Continue straight. Youu2019re cruising along whatu2019s called the Loop Road. It might be easy to drive, but it certainly wasnu2019t easy to build. Back in 1915, Miami businessman James Jaudon had an idea. He envisioned a highway which cut across the South Florida swamp, allowing for easy transport of goods.

6. 6
   10 min

   So how did this place end up becoming a national preserve anyway? Well, it actually started with plans to build an airport. See, when the Everglades became a national park in the 1940s, the federal government wasnu2019t able to purchase this land from private owners, so it wasnu2019t included. That left it vulnerable to development. In the 1960s, the government unveiled a plan to build the Big Cypress Jetport within the area. At the time, it would have been the largest airport in the world.

7. 7
   10 min

   Up ahead is Gator Hook Trail, an experience like no other. This moderately challenging, 5-mile round trip hike starts on dry land but doesnu2019t stay there for very long. Hikers will soon find themselves stepping into ankle-deep water, then wading in deeper until it reaches their knees or, on shorter travelers, their hips!

8. 8
   10 min

   Coming up shortly is Kirby Storter Roadside Park, one of the most iconic attractions in Big Cypress. The main draw of this park is the mile-long boardwalk which winds through lush hardwood and cypress trees. The trail is strikingly green and pleasantly shaded. If you want to be surrounded by some of the most striking natural scenery Big Cypress Swamp has to offer, this is a must-see trail.

9. 9
   15 min

   Welcome to your tour of Big Cypress National Preserve! Your tour begins at 29701 Southwest 8th Street in Miami. You should see Buffalo Tigeru2019s boat shop on your right. If you arenu2019t already there, head there now.nnNote: This 48+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Big Cypress in 3-5 hours.

10. 10
    10 min

    Keep an eye out up ahead for a little white shack. Thatu2019s the Ochopee Post Office, the smallest post office in North America! If youu2019d like to stop in and get something postmarked, theyu2019re usually happy to do so. Itu2019s the kind of souvenir you just canu2019t get anywhere else!

11. 11
    10 min

    Coming up in a minute is the Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center and the end of our tour. At this visitor center, you can find all the usual amenities, as well as some of the paintings by famous Everglades artist Sam Vinikoff. But itu2019s also an interesting facility in its own right, as the whole thing was carefully designed with energy conservation in mind.

12. 12
    10 min

    Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk, located about ten miles from the Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center, features some truly iconic Big Cypress scenery. This half-mile boardwalk weaves through an old-growth cypress grove, which is every bit as lush and green as it sounds.

Good to know

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• How To Access: After booking, youu2019ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search u201caudio touru201d in emails and texts). u2022 Download the separate tour app by Action u2022 Enter the password sent by email and text. u2022 MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. u2022 Works offline after download.
• How to start touring: Open Actionu2019s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. u2022 If there is just one tour, launch it. u2022 If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
• Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first storyu2019s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
• Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you donu2019t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
• Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
• New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
• Audio Setup: Connect your phone to your car's stereo system using Bluetooth, USB, or AUX. For the best experience, consider using headphones for walking tours. Audio playback is compatible with Apple CarPlay, with navigation features coming soon. Support for Android Auto is also on the way.
• The tour requires a supported mobile device for navigation. Please use an iPhone with iOS 15 or later, an Android device with Android 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular service.
• Roadwork Delays: US Highway 41 (Tamiami Trail) remains open, but travelers should expect up to 15-minute delays due to ongoing construction.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

• ✓ 100% refund24 hours or more before the start time
• ✕ 0% refundLess than 24 hours before the start time

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