Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park — Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk
The Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk off Tamiami Trail is a short, easy walk into old-growth swamp where gators are a regular sight in the open water below. Dry season, roughly December through April, concentrates gators as the swamp's water level drops. It's a quick stop, well shaded, and doable in twenty minutes. Stay on the boardwalk the whole way and skip the urge to feed anything for a better photo.
Know before you go
| Fee | Check operator site |
|---|---|
| Parking | Small lot off Tamiami Trail (US-41) |
| Water | — |
| Toilets | — |
| Access | Short boardwalk into old-growth swamp |
| Surface | — |
| Hours | — |
| Operator | Florida Department of Environmental Protection |
| Website | floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/fakahatchee-strand-preserve-state-park |
Map
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Hand-curated by Gator Atlas from public park and refuge operator information, not pulled from a database.
Last verified: July 21, 2026. See our methodology for how we check listings.