See the Backcountry web page for information on the other six backcountry units at Big Cypress National Preserve.
The Loop Backcountry Unit is located in the southeast section of Big Cypress National Preserve. It is bordered by Highway 41 to the north and east, and Loop Road to the west and south. Access into the unit is from the Oasis Visitor Center via a former segment of the Florida Trail, at any point along Loop Road where terrain permits, and from the Gator Hook Trail.
The Loop Unit is one of the swampier areas of the park. Even in the dry season (November-April) there is plenty of water, and if not water, mud. When hiking one of only two established trails in the area, the Gator Hook Trail, you’re lucky to come back with your shoes, for the mud is so deep that it can suck them right off of your feet as you try to step forward. If walking in a swamp scares you, try going with a group on one of the Ranger-led Big Cypress Discovery Walks. This tour was my favorite experience of all my Big Cypress adventures. There is also the Tree Snail Hammock Trail, a short nature trail that passes through a hardwood hammock. A hammock is located on the high ground of the swamp and remains dry enough throughout the year for hardwood trees to grow.
Part of Loop Road runs through a Cypress Swamp, which provides plenty of shade for birds. A trip along the road is one of the best ways to see them from the comfort of your car. However, keep in mind that all dirt roads in the park are extremely dusty due to being made of crushed limestone, which is essentially chalk. The interiors of convertibles and other soft top vehicles will be inundated with dust, and though enclosed vehicles will fare much better, they will still need a car wash afterwards. Travel on the park’s dirt roads only for a specific purpose, such as reaching a trail, campground, backcountry unit, or in this case, bird watching. I do not recommend them simply for pleasure cruises.
There are no off-road driving trails within the Loop Unit, and as mentioned, only a few hiking trails—Gator Hook Trail and a segment that used to be part of the Florida Trail, a 1300-mile trail that covers the state from north to south starting here at Big Cypress. The official start is now at the Oasis Visitor Center and the trail runs north from there, but this former segment runs south until it hits Loop Road. I’m guessing the trail organizers wanted to make the official southern terminus an established facility instead of a spot on the side of a dirt road in the middle of nowhere, and thus disassociated itself with this 13-mile southern stretch of trail.
Hikers do not have to stick to established trails and are free to venture anywhere off-trail when the terrain permits. The entire park is flat and there are plenty of open areas. However, hike with caution because there are poisonous snakes and sharp vegetation in the backcountry. I heard a rattlesnake in the tall grass while walking on the Florida Trail, but didn’t stick around long enough to see it.
Entry by any means into the backcountry requires a permit. These are free and can be obtained at kiosks at trailheads, boat ramps, backcountry access roads, hunter check-in stations, and the visitor centers. All you need is a pen or pencil to fill out the multi-copy form on which you provide your entry date and time, your estimated return time, and the purpose of your adventure (i.e. hike, camp, hunt). Keep one copy with you, stick one in the permit collection box at the kiosk, and place one on the dashboard of your car (all backcountry access areas have parking lots or allow roadside parking). Permits help the National Park Service track which areas are used the most, plus if your car is left overnight the park Rangers will know when you were supposed to have returned, and if this time has long since passed, they know to come looking for you.
You can also download the Backcountry-Permit (PDF) and either fill it out by hand or by using Adobe Acrobat (or an Acrobat browser plug-in). The PDF has two permits, and if you use Acrobat, the second permit fills out automatically as you type information into the first permit. You need three permits, so be sure to print two copies of the PDF and then use scissors to separate the copies.
Backcountry camping is allowed anywhere in the Loop unit provided that you pitch your tent at least a half mile from any developed areas such as roads, private homes, and established campgrounds. For those who do not want to hunt around for a suitable site, there are two established campgrounds along the former section of the Florida Trail. There are no modern facilities at these campsites, but at least there is a clearing prepared for tents. I did not personally see them, but I did see a campsite on the Florida Trail above I-75 when doing a nice loop hike there.
The Midway Campground, the only campground with electric hook-ups and thus the most popular in the park, is located in the Loop Backcountry Unit just east of the Oasis Visitor Center. For those interested in group camping, the Pinecrest Group Campgroup can be found along Loop Road near the town of Pinecrest. This is a primitive campground that can host up to four groups. It does not even have a toilet, so other than having an area cleared for pitching tents, it is no different from backcountry camping. Reservations are required.
No pets other than hunting dogs during the hunting season are allowed in the backcountry.
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Last updated on June 6, 2023