Everglades National Park - Accessibility

The park"s visitor centers, most interpretive trails, some of the Flamingo boat tours, and the Shark Valley tram tours are wheelchair accessible (Call ahead to make arrangements for the tram and boat tours.). Wheelchairs are available for loan on a first come, first served basis at the Royal Palm, Flamingo, and Shark Valley visitor centers.

Audio programs and captioned movies are available at Ernest Coe and Gulf Coast visitor centers.

Many wonders may be seen from a car window, but the Everglades reveals its greatest treasures to those who get out into it. Many of the park"s trails are paved or wooden boardwalks.

Anhinga Trail - At Royal Palm Visitor Center. This is possibly the best place in the park to look for alligators, birds, and other wildlife. A narrated audio tape is available for loan. Paved with a wooden boardwalk.

Gumbo-Limbo Trail - Also at Royal Palm. This is a hardwood hammock trail illustrating the tropical forest trees reminiscent of Central America. Paved.

Pinelands Trail - An often missed but truly fascinating trail through the original "fire forests" of Florida. Watch for holes along the sides! Paved, though often narrow and uneven.

Pahayokee Overlook - This is a good place to see the vast stretches of sawgrass sweeping to the horizon and islands of cypress trees. A short observation tower is accessible by ramp. Boardwalk.

Mahogany Hammock Trail - This trail leads through a tropical mahogany jungle, including the largest mahogany in the U.S. Boardwalk.

West Lake Trail - Leads through the fascinating mangrove forest to West Lake. Boardwalk.

Eco Pond Overlook - This is a good place for bird watching. Boardwalk.

Bobcat Hammock - Located at Shark Valley, this trail goes through both hammock and open sawgrass environments. Boardwalk.

Others - There are other trails at Long Pine Key and Flamingo that used to be dirt roads. Depending on the season, these may be muddy or passable. Check with rangers for the latest trail conditions and maps.

Camping - There are accessible campsites and wheelchair accessible restrooms at both park campgrounds. One primitive wilderness campsite, at Pearl Bay, is accessible via boat to people with mobility impairments. It features handrails, a canoe dock, and an accessible chemical toilet.

Golden Access Passport is a free pass available to all permanent U.S. residents who are eligible to receive federal benefits based on disability, whether or not you are actually receiving them or not. This pass entitles the bearer, and immediate family or accompanying passengers in a private vehicle, to free admission to all U.S. National Parks, Monuments, Forests, and Historic Sites, as well as half price camping. Apply in person at any National Park Service or U.S. Forest Service area.