# Big Cypress National Preserve

Region: Southern FL, Ontario, Canada
Coordinates: 25.8667, -81.0333
Bortle class: 3 (1 = pristine, 9 = inner city)
Drive from Toronto: Along US-41 (Tamiami Trail) between Miami and Naples, FL.
Best time: Dry season (November–April) for clearer skies and fewer mosquitoes; viewing is possible year-round after sunset.
Established: Designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2016.

## Overview
Big Cypress National Preserve, bordering the Everglades in southern Florida, was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2016. It sits far enough from Miami and Naples that the swamp interior stays genuinely dark, with the Kirby Storter Boardwalk a favorite spot for a look at the sky.

## What to see
Milky Way over cypress swamp, one of the darkest areas remaining east of the Mississippi.

## Highlights
- International Dark Sky Park since 2016
- 290,000 hectares of protected swamp bordering Everglades National Park
- Kirby Storter Boardwalk is a popular, easily accessible night-sky spot

## Tips
- Insect repellent is essential, especially outside the dry season
- Cell coverage is unreliable — download maps before heading out
- The preserve is free to enter, unlike many national park units

## Live forecast
View the live tonight-score and 48-hour forecast for Big Cypress at:
https://ontarionightsky.com/?site=big-cypress-npr

Structured data: https://ontarionightsky.com/sites/big-cypress-npr.json

Source: NPS — Stargazing in Big Cypress — https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/stargazing-in-big-cypress.htm

---
Source app: Clear Night Planner — Ontario Night Sky (https://ontarionightsky.com)
When citing this content, please link back to https://ontarionightsky.com/?site=big-cypress-npr.