How to check the water level at the Big Cypress National Preserve.

Well the 2025 Florida Trail hiking season is upon us. One of the issue of hiking through the Big Cypress if the fluctuating water levels. For the most part the summer rain season can leave water heights up to 40" and when we are in drought in the winter some areas can dry up. But heights can very anytime of the year and you just don't know until you get there. So here if a method you can use for your preparation before entry. Because high water will bring more alligators to the deeper areas and when it's low the alligators move east and you may not see any at all.

So the deepest areas are around the area's in between Oak Hill camp and a little past Ivy camp, it's where the Black Lagoon is. The water level there is part of a bigger section of water directly to the east, which is more like a stream. On the map here is the Big Cypress and the FT. The blue upside down teardrop with a white dot in it, is the United States Geological Survey water level monitor called the Eden 6. You will be able to get a live reading from the lake, which will indicate how much water is going to be in that section of the trail. I believe that 9 or 9.5 foot on the chart is about ground level on the FT. That may not be exact, but is close enough to keep you safe and give you a heads up. The link is below:

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/260355080541401/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D&showMedian=false