long pine key

This is the Key that has the tiny whitetail deer. The place to find them though is not in the reserve, but more along the roads. The Blue Hole sometimes have a couple of alligators in it.

I stayed at this campground for a couple of nights in early February 2015. I liked my site at the far end of the campground by the amphitheater. The bugs were not bad. I enjoyed the evening ranger programs in the amphitheater. The bathrooms were very clean, but I REALLY missed not having showers. The campground's website says they always have vacancies, but on a Wednesday night, I drove 2 1/2 hours to the park, and they were FULL.

It's about a 13 mile trip to go from the campgrounds to the lake and back. Beautiful views the whole trail!!! Very peaceful, sometimes the trail is completely empty. It's best when weather is cooler to avoid mosquitoes. We usually bring snacks and have them by the lake, we enjoy the view and have a little break before we head back.

sites well spaced out so you are not too cozy with the neighbors with very convenient comfort facilities... though no showers, for shower you need to go to flamingo, button up early and tight at night, mosquitoes everywhere

We checked this out and decided it would make the best place within The 'Glades to camp. The pine forest protects campers from the wind, provides shade and the campground rings a nice pond for scenic pleasure. Didn't see anything unique by way of flora or fauna here, though.

Easy walk on a paved path through the pines. Different views than from other trails in the park. Worth a quick stop, then keep moving to other trails as you work your way down to Flamingo.

this was my second time to go there, enjoyed it as much this time as 3 years ago. It has changed on weekends, the campground is full and really noisy with kids, still don't like having to turn generator off at 8 at night while kids are still screaming and making lots of noise.

When I returned to the Everglades, I wanted to spend more time on the Long Pine Key trails. Per the rangers May is the borderline for the insect outbreak, so I biked instead of hiking. What a great time. While Shark Valley is more popular for biking, Long Pine is a much better venue. I began at 8 and finished the 14 mile round trip before 10, which included time to walk around the lake at the far end. I started and finished at the campground. The 7 mile bike accessible trail takes you through primarily a wonderful Slash pine forest but you also cross sawgrass prairie and Hardwood Hammocks. On the far end there is a pond (did not see any gators in it) where you can get off your bike and take a break for water and food (bring with you). The insects were not a problem at all but may have been if hiking. The trail while in the wild is primarily along the limestone with some mud and plant material. It is really fairly easy. There are plants growing all around the path and stickers are present but I really did not feel them. Saw looks of wildlife, birds, frogs, fish and a box turtle crossing the path. Never saw another soul the entire time. It was incredibly fun and peaceful as well as great exercise. I would highly recommend this activity as one of the better things to do in the Everglades park, especially in the Pinelands.

The Pinelands are one of the many habitats of the Everglades and Long Pine Key is the best place to experience it. There are several trails, camp grounds and picnic tables. As there are few food opportunities in the park, we packed sandwiches from Subway on Highway 1 and ate at Long Pine. It was a great setting for lunch under the pines. There is also a restroom facility right there. We enjoyed seeing several bird species while having lunch. Beware to not leave food on the table unattended, the crows can be aggressive and watch while you eat. Biking and hiking would be fun here but we had limited time and this is the least unique habitat in the park. Still if you have the time enjoy it. Also as a correction to some other post, nearly all the species of pine is Slash. While it can be confused with the Loblolly, Slash is very good in wet soil where loblolly is not.

I camped out there for about 8 days. There are no hookups for RV's, but there is water and a dump station, plus very nice, clean, modern bathrooms for those in tents or who don't have full facilities in whatever they are traveling in.What I liked best about the place was the lack of amenities. There were no lights to spoil the night sky. No electricity for people to run their stereos and TV's all night long.What there was was peace, quiet, a campground where you didn't need to reserve a space months in advance to have a place to stay and a nice, central location to a lot of great scenery and hiking trails.

The unpaved 3-in-1 trail offers relief from the crowded boardwalks and a quiet walk through pines, grassland and mangroves on only 1/2 mile. Beautiful Rat Snake (harmless) on the trail, only one mosquito (Dec 19) and Red-shouldered Hawks screaming overhead.

This was our third trip staying in a tent here. We stayed over Thanksgiving weekend and the park was not full, but full enough. It is so beautiful and most times quiet. The wind blowing through the pines is so relaxing. You'll see plenty of birds and wildlife. There are plenty of very clean and stocked restrooms, however no showers, you'll need to drive 40 minutes down to Flamingo to take your shower. The ranger talks and walks are interesting and fun up at the Welcome Center. We didn't leave the camp this time, just wanted some good R&R and got it. Bring your own camp fire wood, It is expensive to buy nearby the park (even at Walmart and Home Depot) you are allowed and encouraged to walk around and pick up any small branches to start your fire with. Will be going back this weekend with grand children and their bikes! It is a first come first served park they do not take reservations. Most all sites are private and nice.

Hellofound this place by accident when visiting The Everglades. Went to The Royal Palm Center and done the amazing Anhinga trail there and saw tonnes of animals, then was driving down the road and saw sign posts to a picnic area, so followed the signs and we were glad we did so. We found a stunning lake and picnic tables with pine trees and peace and quiet. There were also rest rooms . The place was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. While we were there we only saw 4 other people. We could see a nice camp site on the other side of the lake. We walked right round the lake and then had a picnic lunch next to the lake. We did not see any flies or bugs and were not bitten at all( time of year I guess). After our lunch( late lunch) we found another walk through the forest and palm trees which was 1 mile long and quite interesting as it was starting to get dark. We loved it here as it was so calm and quiet. Another day we decided to come back here as the ticket to The Everglades ( $10 per car lasts 7 days) was still valid and we were only staying in a hotel 10 miles away( Homestead). We bought food for a picnic and drove to the lake. Again it was very peaceful and the weather was perfect and warm and we had a great time. The toilet blocks were spotless and all you could hear were birds flying high up in the sky. We saw a few people biking past and a few people from the camp site walking around the lake. We noticed several walks around this area. There was a 7 mile hike which started at the top of the road near the entrance. All in all we loved it here. It is a place to come and chill out for a while, have lunch etc. We were quite shocked how quiet it was as it was so beautiful here. We did not see much wildlife here but just sitting by the lake and relaxing was enough. This spot is perfect for a picnic after doing The Anhinga Trail at The Royal Palm Center which we luckily did. I think The Everglades are great value too as you pay $10 per car and the ticket lasts 7 days. No other fees in the park, just the one entrance fee and you can do as many hikes and trails as you wish and come back as often as you like over the 7 days.

We took a 2 hour guided bike tour of the area. The park provides bikes, helmets, water bottles and a wonderful guide (Kurt - I think?) We just loved it - as avid cyclists this was nice and leisurely, but it was great to learn so much about the biology and geology of the area from a bike, and meet some nice new people! Oh - and the tour is free! Certainly one of the highlights of our trip!

If you are tenting, as we were, keep in mind that this campsite is the closest inside Everglades National Park to Miami. On the plus side, it is easy to access for most people. On the minus side, it is easy to access for most people. This small campground is nestled in a windless pine forest where sound carries easily and far. Just one group talking at medium to loud volume is all it takes to wreck the sleep of everyone staying nearby in a tent. For many, I would guess it is their first camping experience ever. 10 pm is the designated quiet hour, but it is completely ignored by campers. Park staff do NOTHING to enforce it. Earplugs barely cut through the din unless you are exhausted and a heavy sleeper.In contrast to the tent sites, RV and trailer sites are towards the front. There are no electrical hookups. Generators are allowed to run until 8 pm. If you're staying in a trailer or motor home, you are in luck! Your home on wheels will likely insulate you from the all-night-party commencing outside.So what can you do if you are tenting? A few tent sites are located closer to the front near the RVs. If you can, grab one. If not, avoid this place on weekends or skip it altogether. Flamingo is a better bet. It's windy beside the ocean and is more spread out. These factors make it quieter at night for tenting.