{"id":"nps-bicy","slug":"big-cypress-national-preserve","name":"Big Cypress National Preserve","designation":"National Preserve","category":"national-preserve","categoryLabel":"National Preserve","agency":{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov"},"managedBy":[{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov","unitCode":"BICY","designation":"National Preserve","sourceId":"nps-bicy"}],"states":["FL"],"stateNames":["Florida"],"location":{"lat":25.97079602,"lon":-81.08120629},"bbox":[-81.3835,25.6152,-80.8267,26.2593],"acres":{"value":730921,"kind":"gis-estimate","source":"Computed from the simplified boundary","note":"Approximate. The managing agency publishes official acreage."},"firstProtected":null,"established":null,"administrations":[],"designationHistory":[],"summary":"The freshwaters of the Big Cypress Swamp, essential to the health of the neighboring Everglades, support the rich marine estuaries along Florida's southwest coast. Conserving over 729,000 acres of this vast swamp, Big Cypress National Preserve contains a mixture of tropical and temperate plant communities that are home to diverse wildlife, including the Endangered Florida panther.","summarySource":"National Park Service","guide":{},"trConnection":null,"trConnections":[],"trTypes":[],"links":{"official":"https://www.nps.gov/bicy/index.htm","social":{},"recreationGov":null,"alltrails":null,"alltrailsExplore":"https://www.alltrails.com/explore?b_tl_lat=26.2593&b_tl_lng=-81.3835&b_br_lat=25.6152&b_br_lng=-80.8267","recreationGovSearch":"https://www.recreation.gov/search?q=Big%20Cypress%20National%20Preserve","directions":"http://www.nps.gov/bicy/planyourvisit/directions.htm"},"images":[{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/C224B1D4-CDDA-B563-05F29F0ECFF365A4.jpg","title":"Small Alligator","alt":"A small alligator basking on top of dry vegetation.","caption":"Alligators, big and small, call Big Cypress National Preserve home.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/C251B53C-FE76-6924-BEC14D7FA6DC2A57.jpg","title":"Depths of the Swamp","alt":"A water filled swamp filled with lush green ferns and trees.","caption":"Cypress swamps while appearing mysterious, are peaceful and serene.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/6843BDC6-E004-A96E-E7C87485A363F21B.jpg","title":"Big Cypress Milky Way","alt":"The milky way dominating a starry night sky over palm trees and a visitor center","caption":"As an International Dark Sky Park, Big Cypress protects a beautiful night sky.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C87CDFC-1DD8-B71B-0B810266A3A23068.jpg","title":"Sunrise in Big Cypress","alt":"palm trees emerge out of the fog in an orange sunrise","caption":"palm trees emerge out of the fog as an orange sunrise dots the landscape","credit":"Richard Eskin","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C87CCCC-1DD8-B71B-0B54E8FBA86B93C2.jpg","title":"Prairies and Pine Lands in Big Cypress","alt":"A prairie foreground with tall pine trees in the background. A large blue sky with white cloud","caption":"large open expanses of prairie bordered by pine lands create stunning landscapes","credit":"NPS photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C87C8DD-1DD8-B71B-0B0027F88F090A39.jpg","title":"Alligators of Big Cypress","alt":"Two Alligators rest on a river bank","caption":"Two Alligators rest on a river bank","credit":"Al Sunshine","source":"NPS"}],"activities":["Arts and Culture","Auto and ATV","ATV Off-Roading","Scenic Driving","Astronomy","Stargazing","Biking","Road Biking","Boating","Boat Tour","Camping","Backcountry Camping","Car or Front Country Camping","Group Camping","RV Camping","Food","Picnicking","Guided Tours","Boat Tour","Hiking","Backcountry Hiking","Front-Country Hiking","Hunting and Gathering","Hunting","Paddling","Canoeing","Kayaking","Junior Ranger Program","Wildlife Watching","Birdwatching","Park Film","Museum Exhibits","Shopping","Bookstore and Park Store"],"topics":["Archeology","Arts","Photography","Explorers and Expeditions","Industry","Logging and Timber Cutting","Native American Heritage","Animals","Alligators or Crocodiles","Birds","Cats (wild)","Estuaries and Mangroves","Fire","Forests and Woodlands","Coniferous Forests","Deciduous Forests","Groundwater","Grasslands","Night Sky","River and Riparian","Unique Species","Endangered","Watersheds","Wetlands","Swamps"],"fees":[],"passes":[],"hours":[{"name":"Big Cypress National Preserve","description":"The preserve is open 24 hours a day 365 days a year.  The Oasis Visitor Center and the Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center are closed on December 25th. No fee is charged for access to the preserve.","standardHours":{"wednesday":"All Day","monday":"All Day","thursday":"All Day","sunday":"All Day","tuesday":"All Day","friday":"All Day","saturday":"All Day"},"exceptions":[]}],"directions":"Big Cypress National Preserve is located along Tamiami Trail East (US 41) and I-75 in southern Florida. The preserve can be accessed by driving from the cities of Miami and Naples. The preserve's two visitor centers are located along Tamiami Trail East.","weatherInfo":"Big Cypress National Preserve experiences two predominant seasons- wet and dry. RAINY SEASON (May through October) While visiting during this season you may find daily afternoon thunderstorms, high humidity, temperatures in the mid-to-high 80s and a multitude of mosquitoes. DRY SEASON (November through April) Falling water levels within Big Cypress make this a pleasant time to hike, camp, and watch wildlife.","contacts":{"phone":"2396952000","email":"bicy_information@nps.gov"},"visitorCenters":[{"name":"Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center","description":"Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center is a facility that was designed with energy conservation in mind, making maximum use of renewable resources. The visitor center offers indoor and outdoor exhibits related to the history of the Big Cypress Swamp, as well as printed materials and an introductory film to the Preserve, its resources and recreational opportunities. The auditorium is available to reserve.","url":"https://www.nps.gov/bicy/planyourvisit/npr-vc.htm","lat":25.9008080481,"lon":-81.3259289749},{"name":"Oasis Visitor Center","description":"Built in the 1960s, this building was once a private airport with a hanger and restaurant. It was rather eye-catching from the road due to the passenger plane mounted to its roof as decoration. Later it was a service station. The building was eventually purchased by the National Park Service in the 1980s to be used as a visitor center. Outside, you can find an accessible boardwalk that takes you along a canal that is a perfect place to spot an alligator or two!","url":"","lat":25.857293048500917,"lon":-81.03258097408633}],"campgrounds":[{"name":"Bear Island Campground","description":"Primitive campground with no water. Vault toilets available. Forty designated sites. Access to the Bear Island Campground is at the end of a 20-mile secondary gravel road","url":"","reservationUrl":"https://www.recreation.gov","sites":40},{"name":"Burns Lake","description":"Primitive camping with no water. Vault toilets available. This site provides day use picnic area and backcountry access parking. The campground accommodates 15 designated RV/tent sites.","url":"","reservationUrl":"https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/246890","sites":0},{"name":"Gator Head","description":"This is a primitive campground, which contains nine campsites. No water. Vault toilets are available. This campground is accessible only by permitted off-road vehicles, biking or hiking.","url":"","reservationUrl":null,"sites":9},{"name":"Midway Campground","description":"This campground offers electric hookups for RV sites, dump station, flush toilets, and water. Each RV campsite has its own picnic table and hibachi style grill. Covered picnic areas are located around the lake for day use.","url":"","reservationUrl":"https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/246892","sites":36},{"name":"Mitchell's Landing","description":"Primitive camping with no water. Vault toilets are available. Eleven sites available. Access to the Mitchell Landing Campground is along a secondary gravel road.","url":"","reservationUrl":"https://www.recreation.gov","sites":11},{"name":"Monument Lake","description":"Monument Lake campground offers restrooms, drinking water and designated 26 RV and 10 tent sites. NO HOOKUPS for electricity, sewer or water are available at this campground.","url":"","reservationUrl":"https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/246894","sites":36},{"name":"Pinecrest","description":"This campground is for group camping only. Four sites available to accommodate eight tents at 15 people each.There is no water or restroom facilities. Access to the Pinecrest Campground is along a secondary gravel road.","url":"","reservationUrl":"https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/246895","sites":4},{"name":"Pink Jeep","description":"This is a primitive campground, containing nine campsites. No water. Vault toilets are available. Pink Jeep can be accessed by off-road vehicle, hiking or biking. Backcountry permits are required for all, off-road vehicle permits are required for off-road vehicles.","url":"","reservationUrl":null,"sites":9}],"thingsToDo":[],"nearby":[{"slug":"florida-panther-national-wildlife-refuge","km":41},{"slug":"ten-thousand-islands-national-wildlife-refuge","km":49},{"slug":"everglades-national-park","km":69},{"slug":"arthur-r-marshall-loxahatchee-national-wildlife-refuge","km":95},{"slug":"biscayne-national-park","km":102},{"slug":"matlacha-pass-national-wildlife-refuge","km":106}],"hasBoundary":true,"boundarySource":{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division","url":"https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2224545"},"sources":[{"name":"NPS Data API","url":"https://developer.nps.gov/api/v1/parks?parkCode=bicy"},{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division boundaries","url":"https://services1.arcgis.com/fBc8EJBxQRMcHlei/arcgis/rest/services/NPS_Land_Resources_Division_Boundary_and_Tract_Data_Service/FeatureServer/2"}],"editorialStatus":"draft","synced":"2026-11-09T02:12:45.606Z","alerts":[{"source":"NPS","kind":"Information","title":"ORV Permits Sold Online","text":"Starting May 1st, 2026 ORV permits will only be able to be purchased online. Please visit the link to learn more.","url":"https://www.recreation.gov/vehiclepermits/3332404","updated":"2026-09-30 00:00:00.0","id":"nps-59E4059D-2C2D-434C-86FB-B2E0D041A173"},{"source":"NPS","kind":"Information","title":"Park Passes","text":"Park passes, including: America the Beautiful, Veteran, Lifetime, etc., are UNAVAILABLE for purchase/pickup within Big Cypress. Shark Valley Visitor Center (Everglades) is the closest location to Big Cypress for purchase.","url":null,"updated":"2024-07-08 11:15:58.0","id":"nps-8C346C62-D1E1-43CA-84B9-8673850043B8"}],"url":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/sites/big-cypress-national-preserve/","boundaryUrl":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/boundaries/big-cypress-national-preserve.geojson"}