Before humans intervened, a huge river - some 80 miles wide - slowly flowed from around Lake Okeechobee south and southwest to Florida Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic Ocean. Enter humans with the bright idea to drain this "swamp" and over the years, much of the northern part of the river was diverted to channels with dry land built up around it. The northern part of what remained is today Big Cypress National Preserve.

The preserve has many of the same features as the Everglades but has more dry areas (i.e. higher ground). It remains less developed than its National Park neighbor to the south, providing hiking, camping, and boating opportunities along with opportunities for photography, bird and nature watching, and simple relaxation.

There are two visitor centers for the Preserve, both along its southern edge on US 41. A video is available at the Nathaniel Reed Visitor Center that describes the ecosystem the Preserve and surrounding areas. The Florida National Scenic Trail starts at the Oasis Visitor Center, where you can also get up close with alligators (and other wildlife) on a boardwalk over a small channel of water.