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Everglades & Francis S. Taylor WMA

Visitor Information

Fees

No Daily-Use Permit currently required. To hunt or fish you must possess the appropriate license and permit.

Facilities

Eight interpretive kiosks along I-75 provide information on endangered species, fire management, sport fishing and the Everglades ecosystems. Public use boat ramps and picnic tables are also available at these sites.  An Everglades wildlife exhibit is located within the rest area located at mile marker 36 on I-75.  This exhibit characterizes each community type within the Everglades ecosystem from the prairies of Central Florida to the mangroves of Florida Bay.

Several recreation areas are located along the boundary of the wildlife management area: Loxahatchee Recreation Area, Sawgrass Recreation Area, Everglades Holiday Park, Thompson Park, and Mac’s Fish Camp. These facilities, along with several on Tamiami Trail, provide boat ramps, camping facilities, boat rentals, airboat tours, fishing guides, bait and tackle supplies, and food.

Map of Everglades and Francis S. Taylor WMA

Public Access

Open year-round except when designated closed due to conditions deemed necessary to protect the area's resources or the safety of the area users.

Outside of Water Management District canals all vessels, including airboats, must be equipped with an orange flag at least 10 inches wide and 12 inches long and displayed at least 10 feet above the bottom of the vessel.

Airboat trails are established in strategic locations throughout the management area to increase access for anglers, duck hunters and other recreational users.

ATVs are only permitted for hunting purposes in the management area during archery, muzzleloading and general gun-walk seasons.  While an ATV is in motion, no person shall occupy any platform or structure attached to it.  No ATV may be equipped with a steering mechanism that would enable the ATV to be operated from a platform or structure attached to it.  No person shall operate any ATV, motorized two-wheeled vehicle, or motorized three-wheeled vehicle unless it is equipped with an orange flag at least 10 inches wide and 12 inches long and displayed at a minimum height of 6 feet above the top of the seat.

Vehicle use regulations:

• Motorized vehicles are prohibited on all the levees except the L-4 and L-5 levees.
• Vehicles and airboats are prohibited on wildlife islands, tree islands, tree strands, and within the area located between the old Miami Canal and the new Miami Canal.
• Vehicles are prohibited on the L-28 levee.
• No motor vehicle shall be operated on any part of any wildlife and environmental area designated and posted as "CLOSED" because of inclement weather, poor road conditions, construction, management activities, or wildlife surveys.
• No person shall park any vehicle in a manner that obstructs a road, gate, or firelane.
• During archery, muzzleloading, and general gun-walk seasons, only ATVs are permitted for hunting.  While an ATV is in motion, no person shall occupy any platform or structure attached to it.  No ATV may be equipped with a steering mechanism that would enable the ATV to be operated from a platform or structure attached to it.  No person shall operate any ATV, motorized two-wheeled vehicle, or motorized three-wheeled vehicle unless it is equipped with an orange flag at least 10 inches wide and 12 inches long and displayed at a minimum height of 6 feet above the top of the seat.

Location

Southwestern Palm Beach, western Broward, and northwestern Miami-Dade counties.

From Naples - Take I-75 south (Alligator Alley) to mile marker 41.

From Ft. Lauderdale - Take I-595 west to I-75 north (Alligator Alley). Take I-75 north to mile marker 31.

View a location map

Nearby

Additional wildlife viewing sites in the vicinity.

Nearest Cities/Towns

Miami (15 miles east), Ft. Lauderdale (10 miles east), and Boca Raton (10 miles northeast).