Q: How do people travel in the Everglades?

A: That depends on where you are in the Everglades.

The Everglades (including vast areas outside of the national park) include a variety of habitats. It is known as the "river of grass," but there's more to it than shallow water out of which grasses grow.

In the wet grasslands areas, the only way I know of to get around is on an airboat. Airboats aren't allowed in Everglades National Park.

Around the mangrove islands, a regular boat will do, but where the water is extremely shallow, only canoes, kayaks and other craft made for shallow water can get around.

Most people don't bother with swampy areas like those in Big Cypress National Preserve -- although there are some roads built through these areas. Some people navigate with swamp buggies, which have tall, deep-treaded tires and a carriage that sits high. I believe there are only certain areas where these vehicles are allowed. In fact, there are some swamps where there are so many cypress trees that it would be hard for a vehicle to go through.

In upland areas, of course, you can walk and even drive. The Florida National Scenic Trail winds through the Everglades, and people hike on it, usually in the dry (cool) season. From the Homestead entrance of Everglades National Park, a road allows visitors to drive all the way to Florida Bay. (The fall 2001 issue of EcoFlorida published an in-depth article on the eastern section of Everglades National Park.) Big Cypress has many backroads.

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