Stairsteps Backcountry Map (click to enlarge)

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See the Backcountry web page for information on the other six backcountry units at Big Cypress National Preserve.

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The Stairsteps Backcountry Unit of Big Cypress National Preserve is comprised of the land south of Highway 41 (Tamiami Trail) and Loop Road (Hwy 92). The southern border is Everglades National Park. This is the swampiest area of Big Cypress and much of it remains wet, or at least very muddy, even during the dry season (November-April). As a result, outdoor activities involving boats, canoes, kayaks, and even airboats are possible. The unit is divided into four zones, each with its own set of access rules.

Big Cypress Backcountry Zone Map (click to enlarge)

Off-Road Vehicle permits are required for any vehicle entering the backcountry, including airboats. Zones 2 and 3 have two short Primary Trails (dirt roads) that are open to swamp buggies, UTVs, and ATVs only—no 4-Wheel Drives. Airboats are allowed in Zone 3 and 4, and motorboats are allowed in Zone 1. (Airboats require an Off-Road Vehicle permit, whereas motorboats only need to be properly registered per state laws). No off-road driving is allowed between 10 PM and 5 AM. See the Off-Road Driving web page for details.

There are no traditional hiking trails in the Stairsteps Unit, but hikers can use the two aforementioned Primary Trails (they are likely to be underwater). Hikers do not have to stick to established trails and are free to venture anywhere that terrain permits. 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.

Bikers are only allowed on off-road vehicle trails, which, as mentioned, do not amount to much in the Stairsteps Backcountry Unit and are likely to be muddy or underwater.

Permits are no longer required to hike, bike, or paddle in the backcountry of Big Cypress National Preserve. However, be sure to let somebody know of your plans and who to notify (a Park Ranger) should you not return as scheduled.

Backcountry camping is allowed anywhere in Zone 2 and 3 as long as you pitch your tent at least a half mile from any developed areas such as roads, private homes, trails, and established campgrounds. If driving, find a suitable site and pull off the trail so that others can pass, then carry your equipment to the campsite. Camping is allowed in Zone 4 as well. However, those with airboats must camp at the established campsites. Everyone else can camp anywhere as long as they remain a half mile from the established campsites and trails. Nothing prohibits camping in Zone 1 other than the fact that the terrain is impenetrable.

No pets other than hunting dogs during the hunting season are allowed in the backcountry.

Zone 1

Zone 1 covers the land from the western border of Big Cypress National Preserve to Barnes Strand, a natural dividing line just west of Burns Lake. A strand is an elongated stretch of tall tress, in this case cypress, that grow along small streams. The streams are cut into the bedrock, and being of lower elevation than the surrounding areas, they stay full of water. The cypress trees like to grow along the banks, and with a year-round supply of water and nutrients, they grow taller than cypress tress in other areas of the park. In between strands is open grasslands.

The main tourist draw in Zone 1 is paddling and fishing on Halfway Creek and Turner River. There are no off-road vehicle trails or hiking trails in this area.

Zone 2

There is one, 6-mile long Primary Trail in Zone 2 that is open to swamp buggies, UTVs, and ATVs, as well as hikers and bikers. Access is from Monroe Station on the Tamiami Trail. There are no other activities that would attract the typical tourist.

Zone 3

There is one, 3-mile long Primary Trail in Zone 3 that is open to swamp buggies, UTVs, and ATVs, as well as hikers and bikers. Airboats are also allowed, but Zone 4 is more popular. Access is from Loop Road at Pace’s Dike. There are no other activities that would attract the typical tourist.

Pace’s Dike backcountry access on Loop Road in Big Cypress National Preserve

Zone 4

Airboats are the only type of vehicle allowed into Zone 4—no swamp buggies, ATVs, or 4-Wheel Drives. There are no airboat concessionaires offering rides, so airboating in Zone 4 requires that you have your own boat. The Mitchell Landing Airboat Launch is located at the very end of the road. A parking area is available for vehicles and trailers.

There are 57 miles of airboat trails and over a dozen backcountry campsites where those with airboats must camp (if camping). Zone 4 is usually closed to airboats from the end of April until early June due to low water levels. Dates may vary each year, so ask a park Ranger about the current plans for the area.

Those in kayaks and canoes are welcome to launch here as well, but you really must be a hard-core adventurer to want to do so. I’ve read some forums about people paddling down to the 10,000 Islands of the Everglades, but it involves bushwhacking through mangrove thickets and dragging your boat through muck and tall grass, not to mention risking getting run over by airboats. Those who have done it recommend sticking to the airboat trails. I paddled in the Everglades through grass in very low water and found nothing really fun about it, especially knowing that if I got stuck on the bottom that I would have to get out and drag my kayak through knee deep mud.

Even hikers can enter Zone 4. However, from what I gather the water levels have to be down really low for hiking to be possible, which is probably during the time when the area is closed to airboats, April through early June. The only problem is that the bugs start showing up in May.

While those in airboats must stick to the designated backcountry campsites, everyone else can camp anywhere in Zone 4 as long as they adhere to the “no closer than a half mile to a developed area” rule, and stay at least a quarter mile from the designated campsites and the airboat trails. However, for those who do not want to hunt around for a suitable site, the designated sites are open to everyone on a first-come, first-serve basis. Regardless of who you are and how you got there, no equipment may be left overnight if you are not actively camping.

Other than airboating or staying at the Mitchell Landing Campground, there are no activities in Zone 4 that would attract the typical tourist (and I suppose the typical tourist won’t have his own airboat either).

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