See the Picnic Area web page for an interactive location map.
H. P. Williams Roadside Park at Big Cypress National Preserve is a small picnic area with a wildlife viewing platform that overlooks a canal along Turner River Road. There is parking for a couple dozen cars. The park is named after Homer Williams, one of the engineers in charge of building the Tamiami Trail (Hwy 41) during the 1920s.
The picnic area consists of five tables, but no grills. Four tables are grouped together, and the fifth is off on its own under a nice shade tree. The grounds are well manicured, making this an inviting place to have a bite to eat. There is what I call a fancy outhouse: a pit toilet housed in a building, versus the plastic, portable toilets. There is no running water at the park.
A boardwalk runs along a man-made canal. Information panels about the types of wildlife you might see have been placed along the walkway. I visited H. P. Williams Roadside Park on three occasions and only saw one alligator and a few birds. I had much better luck at both the Nathaniel P. Read Visitor Center (birds and manatees) and the Oasis Visitor Center (alligators). However, every minute is different, and people report having good luck seeing alligators, birds, turtles, snakes, and fish from here.
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Last updated on June 14, 2023