Everglades National Park continues phased opening; kayak rentals are back
Starting this Thursday, visitors will once again be able to rent canoes and kayaks at Everglades National Park and use some areas for picnics and other recreational activities. Campgrounds remain closed, except for beach campsites in wilderness areas, and entry fees have been waived.
The National Park Service, which has been gradually allowing the public to access the park since early this month, said that the pretty Anhinga Trail and the Long Pine Key picnic areas and trails, as well as the Guy Bradley Trail and day use area at Flamingo, will reopen.
“We recognize that recreating outdoors on our public lands is important to our community,” said Superintendent Pedro Ramos. “Acknowledging that our visitors are following public health guidance, we are expanding recreational access just a little more, while keeping health and safety a priority.”
The park closed to the public on March 20 after Miami-Dade County ordered sweeping closures of public parks and beaches as part of an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. As the county has slowly reopened recreational areas, Everglades National Park began to allow visitors to access the park through its Homestead entrance.
Beginning May 14, Everglades National Park will reopen access to:
▪ Royal Palm, including the Anhinga Trail
▪ Research Road
▪ Long Pine Key picnic area and trails
▪ West Lake
▪ Guy Bradley Trail and Flamingo Day Use Area
▪ Coastal Prairie Trail
▪ Canoe, kayak and skiff rentals at Flamingo
The Service had already opened the main Park Road from the entrance to Flamingo, as well as the Flamingo marina and boat ramps, the marina store, fish cleaning station and marine waters of the park.
The following sites will remain closed:
▪ All visitor centers
▪ Shark Valley
▪ Gulf Coast
▪ Nike Missile Historic Site
▪ Long Pine Key and Flamingo campgrounds
▪ Concession tours and houseboat rentals
▪ Wilderness ground campsites and chickees
The Service said it will continue to monitor the park to ensure that visitors adhere to social distancing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19.
The waters of Biscayne National Park and Dry Tortugas National Parks are open, but visitor centers remain closed.
This story was originally published May 13, 2020 at 6:02 PM.
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