Join us Saturday, March 21st at 6:30 am for a scenic drive through one of Big Cypress National Preserves most popular drives, the Loop Road Scenic Drive. Loop Road is a 27-mile drive that travels through a dwarf cypress forest, pine forests and deep strands. It spans three counties: Collier to the West, Monroe in the Center, and Miami-Dade to the East.

Prior to entering this scenic drive we will be meeting at the Oasis Visitor Center located in Big Cypress. We will be meeting at the visitor center to minimize the amount of cars that will  be on the scenic drive. The road on the drive is really narrow at times and we would suggest carpooling. From the Oasis Visitor Center we will be driving to the Monroe Station which is the West entrance to Loop Road Scenic Drive.  Once we enter Loop Road our first stop will be at Gator Hook Trail were will do a two mile round trip trail (dependent on the water levels ). After Gator Hook our next stop will be the Sweet Water Strand; this will be a great opportunity to photograph birds, wildlife, the cypress strand, etc. After we are done taking photos at the Sweet Water Strand we will continue driving the 26 mile scenic Loop Road, making frequent stops until we reach the end.  

Additionally, there are several private home sites along both drives. Please respect private property rights of the residents.

Click here for a detailed guide.

After the scenic drive we will all go to Kirby Storter Roadside Park . Attendees of this field trip can go check out the popular Kirby Storter Boardwalk which is also located here. This one-mile, round-trip stroll offers an excellent opportunity to explore a mature cypress strand without getting your feet wet. The boardwalk ends at an overlook, where you will often find a variety of wildlife enjoying the oasis.

Please RSVP for this field trip by sending an email to us at:  info@sfnpcc.org.  

 There is $10 fee for non-members to attend field trips.