I have Christmas and New Years week off from work. I am thinking of doing a hike thru the Big Cypress swamp on the FT during one of those weeks. Wanna get out in my tent for a few nights.
Am thinking of hiking from the Oasis Visitors Center up to Nobles Camp and then back. Or, from I-75 up to Nobles Camp down to Oasis and then back to I-75.
Couple of questions;
1) anyone have any issues leaving a car at Oasis or alligator alley?
2) there is a loop trail north of 75. Anyone know the distance from panther camp to nobles?it's not on the gov map.
3) shoe wear. I usually wear Salomons when hiking on the AT. What to wear thru swamp? Old sneakers?
1-I left my car at the trailhead at Alligator Alley twice with no issues. Hopefully you won't have issues either.
2-According to the FTA map, it's 5.1 miles from Panther camp to Nobles.
3-Anything that drains well and will stay securely on your feet while the muck tries to suck them off.
It's been a couple years since I did the FT part of this section. I did not do the blue blaze to make a loop. I recall it was fairly easy, as in old forest roads. Lot's of gators in the canal and evidence they occasionally venture onto the trail although I didn't see any on the trail.