Gator Hook Hike

 

This week's adventure was to do some exploring at Big Cypress Preserve, specifically to drive the Loop Road and hike the Gator Hook Trail. We started at the east end of the road, so stopped to take the little Tree Snail Hammock Trail as well. That took less than ten minutes (and can be found opposite the education center near the end of the paved section).

I also tried snapping a picture of the beginning of the Florida Trail; it didn't turn out very well. I also didn't see any sign (just the double blue blaze on a tree). Maybe it disappeared during a storm sometime in the past 19 years. It's a good thing we took a picture when I dropped the boys off for their adventure all those years ago.

I should have done more research before we left home. We knew the trail existed, but not until this morning did I realize the likelihood of having to trudge through water was quite high! It is the rainy season, after all. And, yes, a good portion of the trail was underwater, most of it about knee deep, but there were deeper places. When we weren't trudging through water, we were fighting mosquitos! Maybe it wasn't a totally miserable experience, but I have no desire to take this hike in the future, even in the dry season.

At the 2.3 mile mark there was a rickety bench which is the quite abrupt, but welcome, end. Surprisingly, on our return, we actually passed another person on the trail. He was smart and remembered his mosquito netting. At least we remembered mosquito repellent and our walking sticks.

We do live in a beautiful world!

We did it! And then we stopped for some gator bites (and regular sandwiches) at Everglades Safari Park on the way home. Maybe another time we'll spend more time there and take an airboat ride. It's been years since we've done that.