Exploring Florida's Big Cypress National Preserve

At Big Cypress National Preserve in south-central Florida, Ari camped for a couple of days and logged an awesome hike by doing the full length of the Gator Hook Trail -- an experience that isn't available most of the year.
Check out his review of the trail and the Big Cypress campgrounds in the area, plus hear a history lesson on how three-quarters of a million acres were saved from development and why it matters so much.
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#hikecampgo #florida #bigcypressnationalpreserve #camping #hiking
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[@OverlandFlorida]

Lot's of information. Thanks for the video.

[@Trekers]

Thanks for watching!

[@hikewithmike4673]

awesome trail!...my kinda place!

[@Trekers]

It really was a great hike. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@andrewut7ya511]

Great video, thanks for sharing.

[@Trekers]

Thanks for watching!

[@SadlyKaren]

Oh my gosh!!! I give you tons of credit! Looks amazing, but I would never try it. I think I will live vicariously through you😁

[@Trekers]

Thanks, Karen -- it really was a good way to challenge myself. There were a couple of spots where I almost turned back but decided to at least try to finish and I'm so glad I did! Feel free to live vicariously through me on this one. We often try to shoot our videos in a way that gives some people information in case it's an area they want to visit or for other people who won't make it to an area but want to still see it in some way. -Ari

[@JohnMarucci]

Great information Ari. Thanks again!

[@Trekers]

Thanks for watching and commenting, John, and for the donation -- we appreciate it very much! If you ever get to south-central Florida, don't miss Big Cypress and that whole area. It's so unique and interesting.

[@rickmartin5221]

Great review. We love the Florida swamps and have camped at Collier-Seminole State Park, Monument Lake Campground, and at Flamingo Campground in the National Park. It's always been in tents until now; can't wait to get down there with the Roadtrek (98D190P) sometime soon.

[@Trekers]

Thanks for watching and commenting -- we appreciate it. It sounds like you've had some good experiences in the area. I can't wait to get Jessi down to this national preserve, I think she would really enjoy it. Safe travels to you in your Roadtrek! -Ari

[@oateslaw]

Excellent coverage of the Big Cypress Preserve. So much to love about Big Cypress. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@Trekers]

Thank you for watching and commenting. I really enjoyed my brief time there and look forward to returning with Jessi to check it out even further. -Ari

[@rvboondocker2559]

Terrific overview! Thanks

[@Trekers]

Thank you for watching and commenting!!

[@andrevarona6248]

I live 30 mins away, local off SW 8th Street.. I got to Big Cypress and Everglades National Park, almost every other day.. it really is a wonderful and cool experience every time! Yesterday was great, try old loop road for scenic route.. basically the road you took to get to Gator hook depending on which way you traveled

[@Trekers]

What an amazing place to live. It sounds like you take full advantage of it too, which is awesome. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@Trekers]

That's a good goal to have!

[@willie123811]

@@Trekerscan you camp in Holey Land?

[@AmericanWanderers]

My wife's family came from that area. There is a tiny town of Ochopee on the Trail in that area and it has the world's smallest post office. Her Grandmother was post mistress and ran a tiny general store there too. Her father had a large farm and grew green peppers. Maybe in some of the cleared areas you mention. Her family arrive in the state in the mid 1800's If you are still down there check out 40 mile loop road, it has hundreds and thousands of wading birds and hundreds of gaters too. The state park, Collier-Seminole SP, has a dredge that was used to dig the TaMiami canal on the north side of the road, plus the history of that project. That road was one of the main routes into Miami in the pre-interstate days. Lots of people ran off the road into that canal, which is very deep, and were never seen of heard of again. They used to still find cars at the bottom when someone in a low flying aircraft spots it. And of course there were the feather hunters and their war with the rangers.

[@Trekers]

Thanks for watching and commenting - and for giving us some history on your family and the area. We always find that stuff super interesting! We'll be back in that area as soon as I can find the time to get Jessi down there -- I think she'd have a lot of fun exploring. -Ari

[@retained6602]

Looks great! This summer, my uncle and nephews are going to Big Cypress National Preserve with me to challenge ourselves to survive for three days. I watched this to see if there were any streams with running water, but I can't see any in the video. Could you inform me if there is?

[@Trekers]

That should be a great trip! I can't say for sure if there are streams with running water. I would contact one of the two visitor centers. The rangers there were very knowledgeable and helpful to people planning outings. -Ari

[@David-jo4gt]

Great video I love the real Florida especially before the rain and bugs. Our 2007 Chevy Roadtrek is in for maintenance, major brake job and a mystery problem. When it idles for about 20 min (in line for gas) turn it off and then restart, the battery light comes on and the alternator stops charging then after a hard run down the express way it starts charging and everything is fine. Any thoughts are appreciated.

[@Trekers]

Thanks for watching and for the compliment; both are much appreciated! It sounds to me like you've got a bad alternator, but there could be other things, so it will be interesting to find out what it actually is. We've chased a few ghost electrical issues with intermittent starting (or not starting) before and it wasn't easy, but a bit of narrowing down possible causes finally led to a Chevy dealership figuring out what had been going wrong. Good luck! -Ari

[@Auditor567]

hola soy de venezuela, me encata los paisajes naturales de estados unidos, que bueno tu documental Trekers me gusto mucho pude conocer mas de la historia y preservacion de Big cypress, y el trabajo de todas las personas y nativos por cuidarlo y protegerlo. abrazos y exitos para tus futuros proyectos. pd: me gustaria algun dia poder estar alli por una temporada.

[@Trekers]

Gracias por ver y comentar!

[@BigCypressSwamp]

Big Cypress is a relatively young preserve and it's a work in progress. The showers were recently added to Monument Lake.

[@Trekers]

Good to know. Thanks for the update -- and thanks for watching!

[@KettiexD]

Making Naples the next Miami.. *shudders*

[@Trekers]

Right?! 🫣 Such a terrible idea.

[@SteveMikre44]

Perhaps Ari and Jessi will be able to design a camp ground themselves. I'm sure "Camp Trekers Paridise" it will have all the amenities for RVs and a 24hr Ice Cream Shop!

[@nickhensley9904]

I’ll take that 24 hr ice cream shop!

[@Trekers]

We have some ideas on what would make campgrounds better. And I hadn't thought about a 24-hour ice cream shop, but I'm sure Jessi would be in favor of it! -Ari

[@byronbrasher8118]

bike tires it can really get squirrelie

[@Trekers]

I'd say biking this trail is not recommended -- if it's even allowed. Thanks for watching! -Ari

[@MastiKaHathi]

Looks like a place with low light pollution, if you have a telescope or binoculars you can enjoy the night sky.

[@Trekers]

Absolutely nice and dark out there at night. Those areas are getting harder to find, so it was nice to enjoy that. Thanks for watching!

[@dniemi58]

boots and waders?!

[@Trekers]

I rewatched the video based on your comment, and I did say "boots and waders," which is a bit like wearing a belt and suspenders. LOL I think what I meant was boots OR waders. Thanks for watching! -Ari

[@siinfloridasi]

Great video. The fact that you sound so much like Ben Shapiro was only mildly distracting. 😂

[@Trekers]

Thanks! I hadn't heard the Ben Shapiro comparison before. Now I'll have to look into that. LOL -Ari

[@3o5wasabii]

Anyone wana go python hunting or camping?

[@cjmarquez1252]

Python this dick

[@Trekers]

Not sure how we missed this comment. How about python hunting AND camping? Two of Florida's growing industries right now. 😄 Thanks for watching!

[@3o5wasabii]

@@Trekers I’m down. I just didn’t want to be to the to ask a stranger on an overnight trip. But I’m with it

[@MannyTiburcio]

I don’t know you but yes

[@roaddiablo]

A lot didnt want either there. They lost properties, camps and such. Many are still just abandoned shacks dotter out there decaying away

[@Trekers]

Interesting, and often not part of a history that gets told on national park service information boards! Thanks for watching and commenting.