Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park encompasses a total area of 1,508,538 acres of land in the state of Florida and specifically in the counties of Monroe, Miami-Dade, and Collier. The closest cities to the park are Everglades City and Florida City. Getting to the main entrance to the park will depend on where you travel from and where in the park you specifically want to go. The park encompasses most of the Florida Bay and the southern tip of the Florida Peninsula.

Several distinct features make the Everglades National Park a special place to visit. First, the park is the largest remaining subtropical wilderness in the USA offering several diverse ecosystems including open mangrove forests everglades prairies, saltwater areas, and extensive freshwater areas. The park also includes rich biota including several rare and endangered species like the Florida panther, American crocodile, and West Indian manatee. 

Besides the beauty and rich biota at the park, you can also participate in several recreational activities including hiking, camping, fishing, bicycling, bird-watching, boating, wildlife viewing, tram tours, boat tours, educational programs, and ranger-led walks.

In addition, you are allowed to bring your dog into the Everglades National Park. Even though several restrictions apply for those that bring their dogs to the park, you nevertheless have a lot of freedom to enjoy your time at the park with your dog. For example, you are allowed to bring your pooch into most areas including campground and picnic areas, roadways open to public vehicular traffic, maintained grounds surrounding public facilities, and residential areas. 

That said, some of the places that you must avoid include all park buildings, unpaved roads, and unpaved trails, like the Shark Valley Tram Trail, and Boardwalk trail. Also, you are always expected to ensure that your dog is on a leash that has a maximum length of six feet or ensure that your dog is otherwise in a secure enclosure. Cleaning up after your dog is also good pet maintenance etiquette that is expected of you.