To access official park information call (305) 242-7700 and ask for a Wilderness Trip Planner. Or, go on the web at www.nps.gov/ever.

With the trip planner you can sketch out a trip. But that is all you can do from home. Wilderness permits, required for all overnight camping, are available only in person at Flamingo and Gulf Coast ranger stations and may be obtained in person up to 24 hours in advance of a trip. Head to the permit desk at Flamingo or Gulf Coast ranger stations and make a backcountry trip request with park staff. Have alternate trips planned once at the permit desk; this way, if campsites are already reserved, you have an alternate route ready. Once your permit is issued and park regulations explained to you, you must pay a moderate permit fee.

Heavy Use Periods

The general paddling season in Everglades National Park runs from November through April. Insects, thunderstorms and occasional hurricanes conspire to keep the Everglades backcountry nearly deserted May through October. When the first north breezes cool and clear the air, reducing insects, paddlers turn their eye southward for the Everglades. A few campsites begin to fill on weekends. But the crowds really come around Christmas. The period between Christmas and New Years is the Everglades busiest. Expect full campsites and plan alternative trips.

After this, weekends can be busy, yet you can nearly always get one in the general vicinity of where you want to go. Plan your trip during the week for the most solitude. The next big crowds come around President's Day weekend in February. The last big hits come during mid-March, when college students flock to the Glades for overnight trips. Again, get to the ranger stations early and you can get some campsites. As the weather warms up in April, visitation tapers off, dying by the end of the month.

Books and Maps

NOAA chart #11430, 11432, 11433 (301) 436-6990 Or Waterproof Chart # 39, 41 (800) 423-9026 waterproofcharts.com

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