Big Cypress National Preserve is a National Preserve in Florida. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 1 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Big Cypress
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Big Cypress. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Ghost Towns (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Big Cypress the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 63° (ENE) at the June solstice and 116° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 297° (WNW) in June to 244° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 87° in summer but only 41° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:14 AM | 7:47 AM | 5:21 PM | 5:55 PM | 247° | 10h 41m |
| February | 7:01 AM | 7:32 AM | 5:47 PM | 6:18 PM | 257° | 11h 17m |
| March | 7:35 AM | 8:05 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:34 PM | 268° | 11h 59m |
| April | 7:02 AM | 7:33 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:48 PM | 281° | 12h 46m |
| May | 6:39 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:04 PM | 292° | 13h 25m |
| June | 6:33 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:45 PM | 8:18 PM | 297° | 13h 45m |
| July | 6:43 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:19 PM | 295° | 13h 37m |
| August | 6:58 AM | 7:29 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:02 PM | 286° | 13h 04m |
| September | 7:11 AM | 7:41 AM | 7:00 PM | 7:30 PM | 274° | 12h 19m |
| October | 7:24 AM | 7:55 AM | 6:27 PM | 6:58 PM | 261° | 11h 34m |
| November | 6:43 AM | 7:16 AM | 5:03 PM | 5:36 PM | 250° | 10h 53m |
| December | 7:05 AM | 7:39 AM | 5:02 PM | 5:36 PM | 244° | 10h 32m |
Computed for the park's reference point (25.9708, -81.0812); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Big Cypress, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 7.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 35° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:25 AM – 5:35 AM | 1.2 | 22° |
| March | 3:40 AM – 6:10 AM | 2.5 | 31° |
| April | 1:37 AM – 5:37 AM | 4.0 | 35° |
| May | 11:39 PM – 5:09 AM | 5.5 | 35° |
| June | 9:48 PM – 4:58 AM | 7.2 | 35° |
| July | 9:47 PM – 3:27 AM | 5.7 | 35° |
| August | 9:23 PM – 1:33 AM | 4.2 | 35° |
| September | 8:47 PM – 11:27 PM | 2.7 | 32° |
| October | 8:14 PM – 9:34 PM | 1.3 | 23° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
3 Estimated Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead.
Weather & best time to visit
Big Cypress National Preserve experiences two predominant seasons- wet and dry. RAINY SEASON (May through October) While visiting during this season you may find daily afternoon thunderstorms, high humidity, temperatures in the mid-to-high 80s and a multitude of mosquitoes. DRY SEASON (November through April) Falling water levels within Big Cypress make this a pleasant time to hike, camp, and watch wildlife.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show April as the clearest month (about 42% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (66%). August is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Big Cypress National Preserve is located along Tamiami Trail East (US 41) and I-75 in southern Florida. The preserve can be accessed by driving from the cities of Miami and Naples. The preserve's two visitor centers are located along Tamiami Trail East.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Auto and ATV
- ATV Off-Roading
- Scenic Driving
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Boating
- Boat Tour
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Boat Tour
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Hunting and Gathering
- Hunting
