With drier loops for day hikes and backpacking, the northern portion of Large Cypress Nationwide Protect presents a distinction to the often-soggy southernmost 30 miles of the Florida Path.
Accessed through a distant freeway relaxation space, this well-marked path system leads into iconic South Florida landscapes teeming with wildlife.
Florida PathAfter the Florida Path passes northbound underneath Interstate 75, it was traditionally blazed alongside Nobles Grade, a limerock highway north into the Large Cypress Reservation.
A blue-blazed loop off it was constructed over time, that includes a trio of backcountry campsites that made for a wonderful in a single day backpacking vacation spot.
Nobles GradeIn November of 2025, this facet path was blazed orange, turning into an official part of the Florida Path, whereas the previous route was blazed white.
The North Loop is intersected by two cross trails, offering choices for quite a lot of routes for day hikes and overnighters.
Alongside the loop, 4 designated campsites present locations for in a single day and long-distance hikers, freed from cost.
Carpenter CampSources
Overview
Location: Large Cypress Nationwide PreserveLength: 14.9 milesTrailhead: 26.169639, -81.072583Fees: FreeRestrooms: at I-75 North Relaxation AreaLand supervisor: Large Cypress Nationwide PreservePhone: 239-695-4111
Canines will not be permitted. Solar and bug safety is really useful.
Sections of the path are seasonally underwater. Give the massive alligators within the canal alongside Nobles Rd a large berth.
Looking happens all through the protect. Verify prematurely concerning scheduled hunts and put on brilliant orange if selecting to hike throughout hunts.
Instructions
Hike
Exit the northeast nook of the remaining space parking space to start the hike at a tall fence meant to maintain wildlife contained in the protect.
Move by a sequence hyperlink gate, following orange blazes northward alongside a rocky entry highway.
Trailhead gateIn lower than 1 / 4 mile, the path passes a map kiosk the place hikers are prompted to check in on the path register.
A forest of bald cypress borders the trail because it climbs onto Nobles Grade, an elevated highway paralleling a canal stuffed with tannic water.
The canal first marks the sting of a cypress strandRegardless of its swampy environment, this doubletrack path usually stays dry, other than mud puddles that may be slippery after current rains.
Flip proper at 0.8 mile, the place an indication signifies the route of the Florida Path because it heads eastward right into a lush pineland neighborhood.
Flip off Nobles GradeThe path follows a raised berm for the primary mile earlier than descending onto the pure forest ground the place the potential for water on the trail will increase.
Cypress domes rise within the distance. A mowed hall weaves by clusters of noticed palmettos and throughout grassy clearings, reaching the primary backpacking campsite at 2.6 miles.
Grassy savannaCarpenter Camp sits close to the sting of a moist prairie, furnished with a steel picnic desk and fireplace ring.
From this level, the path bends eastward, chopping although upland islands dotted with slash pine and cabbage palms, passing a junction with the Pink Path close to the three mile mark.
Flip left right here for the shortest loop hike, following crimson blazes to Nobles Grade and again to the trailhead for a complete journey of seven.4 miles.
Pine flatwoodsAt 3.9 miles, the Yellow Path supplies one other cross path to Nobles Grade for an 8.5 mile hike.
Proceed alongside the orange blazed Florida Path for an additional 1.5 miles to Panther Camp, a comfy website nestled underneath a stand of pines.
The path takes a pointy flip to the left in a tenth of a mile, climbing onto one other berm because it begins to curve westward.
Panther CampTouring atop the berm presents a barely elevated view of the encircling panorama and a chance for footwear to dry out for the rest of the hike.
At 8.2 miles, the path passes CCC Camp and a handy bench for a relaxation cease close to the midway level.
On the bermPersevering with west, the trail winds throughout cypress strands the place gaps in trailside vegetation present home windows right into a swampy world of ferns, bromeliads, and orchids.
Reaching Nobles Grade at 9.5 miles, flip left to depart the Florida Path, following white blazes southward.
Cypress strand crossingIn 0.8 mile, cross Nobles Camp, a spacious campsite on the finish of an outdated air strip.
Along with a big tenting space, this website has a picnic desk and fireplace ring set underneath a shady oak hammock.
Past the campsite, white blazes point out a pointy flip to the left, the place the path joins the raised limestone highway.
Nobles CampParalleling the highway, an extended canal supplies a house to massive alligators which might typically be seen sunning alongside the perimeters.
This stretch of path presents picturesque views of prairies edged by primordial wetlands lined in dense stands of cypress.
Canal alongside Nobles GradeObserve white blazes south, passing the Yellow and Pink cross trails earlier than returning to the orange blazes close to the 14 mile mark.
Proceed south on the Florida Path one other 0.8 mile to the trailhead, being certain to signal out on the path register earlier than leaving.
Signage on the Yellow PathPath Map
Discover Extra!
Be taught extra about Large Cypress Nationwide Protect
Large Cypress Nationwide Protect Defending practically three quarters of the million-acre Large Cypress Swamp, Large Cypress Nationwide Protect is Florida’s second largest and most distant wilderness. 
Florida Path, Large Cypress A wild, watery wilderness for Florida backpackers, the 42.2-mile Florida Path in Large Cypress Nationwide Protect is each lovely and terribly difficult.Video
Climbing the North Loop at Large Cypress Nationwide Protect
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Path Map (PDF) Hunt Dates Official Web site
