Everglades National Park Self Guided Driving Audio Tour

Welcome to your tour of the Everglades! This unique, delicate ecosystem is unlike anywhere else on earth. Get ready to explore this remarkable place, learn about its history, and find out what the future may hold for the Everglades.

The Everglades is, of course, known for its diverse wildlife. But it was also home to humans as far back as 15,000 years ago! The most prominent tribe, the Calusa, formed around 1,000 BCE. They were hunter-gatherers, but these were no isolated, roving bands. The Calusa lived within a highly organized, politically complex society.

In 1517, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León made contact with the Calusa. He told them he wanted to trade, but the tribe knew something he didn’t. In the preceding years, the Calusa had taken in refugees from Cuba. And who were those refugees fleeing?

Just ahead is the Everglades entrance station. Here’s a quick run-down of the prices: If you only plan on visiting the Everglades this year, I recommend the $30 pass. It’s valid for 7 days. But if you’re planning on visiting at least three parks in the next year—any three parks at all—get the $80 “America the Beautiful” pass. This is valid for 12 months and allows you access into any national park across the country.

Coming up is a short detour to the Gumbo Limbo Trail. Gumbo Limbo is only a half-mile long. It’s paved, shaded, and winds through a thick grove of hardwood trees and lush ferns. It is easy and can be completed in about 15 minutes.

Coming up is a short detour to the Anhinga Trails, the park’s most popular hikes. Anhinga is a mile-long boardwalk that loops through a robust sawgrass marsh. If you’re hoping to see some wetlands wildlife, this is the trail for you.

As more Americans and Europeans settled Florida through the 1800s, they began looking for ways to expand the agricultural potential of the state. Their eyes fell on the Everglades. What if they could convert this seemingly useless marshland into profitable farmland?

Throughout the early 1900s, large swaths of the Everglades were drained, filled in, and turned into agricultural or residential land. Hunting of the local wildlife was rampant and unchecked. It seemed only a matter of time before the entire wetland would be wiped off the face of the earth.

Up ahead is Nine Mile Pond Trail. One crucial thing sets this trail apart from others: It’s not on land! This is a canoe trail. Visitors with boats can paddle the 5-mile loop through shallow, grassy marsh, not just taking in the natural scenery from a distance, but actually passing through it! The water levels are generally high enough in the fall and winter, though conditions can vary in the case of a drought.

Coming up is West Lake Trail. This half-mile boardwalk leads out to West Lake and offers clear views across the water. It takes about 10 minutes to walk, and is a great stop for anyone hoping to see some of the park’s marine wildlife. The water isn’t particularly clear, but see if you can spot the telltale ripples of an alligator or crocodile swimming across the lake! If you were a deer, would you be able to see it approaching in time to escape?

Coming up soon is Christian Point Trail. If you’re looking to get away from the crowds a little, this might be the trail for you, as it’s not one of the more popular ones in the park. It’s slightly more challenging than some other trails in the park, but still ranks only at a moderate difficulty. The whole thing is four miles round trip, and leads to another wide-open view of the shoreline accessible from Snake Bight Trail.

Looking for a glimpse of civilization? You’ll find it just ahead, at the Flamingo Visitor Center. This comprehensive visitor center has all the usual trappings you’d expect, like snacks, restrooms, and an information booth, but it also offers quite a bit more. Want to rent a canoe or kayak? They’ve got them! How about a bicycle? That too!