Big Cypress Chapter

The Big Cypress Chapter of the Florida Trail Association serves Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties and strives to help the local residents discover the beauty and wonder of natural Florida. The chapter is based in Miami and is involved in community events throughout the year.  Come hiking and trail building with us!

The Big Cypress chapter maintains the southernmost portion of the Florida National Scenic Trail (Florida Trail) in Big Cypress National Preserve, with assistance from the Alligator Amblers chapter, based in the Fort Myers-Naples area.  We maintain the FNST (Orange Blaze) from Oasis visitor center to I-75. Big Cypress chapter also maintains the non-FNST (Blue Blaze) in the BigCypress preserve North of Loop Road and South of  Rt. 41.   as well as connector blue trail between Oasis Visitor center north and Woodpecker Camp (formerly 7 Mile Camp)

The Florida Trail in Big Cypress National Preserve is one of the state’s most rugged places to hike. Winding through a haunting landscape of dwarf cypress rising from sawgrass, rare rocky islands topped with pine rocklands, colorful cypress sloughs festooned with dense bromeliads and orchids, and dense jungles of tall ferns. Slipping and sliding on wet marl and wading through ankle-to-knee deep dark water is a norm, and both day hikes and extended backpacking trips must be carefully planned. But the rewards are great: immersing yourself in one of Florida’s most diverse preserves, you truly get in touch with the wilderness.