Though the Gulf Coast district and the Ten Thousand Islands were hard hit by Hurricane Irma, this Florida Box Turtle weathered the storm nicely. Found by saw crews working to clear the Sandfly Island Loop trail, this unusual island population of Florida Box Turtles was the focus of a decade worth of research. #Irma #Turtletuesday

The calm flow of the Everglades is normally imperceptible, but with higher than normal water levels, it rushes musically through this Pa-hay-okee culvert.

Hurricane clean-up crews and saw teams are hard at work clearing roads and trails, as seen in these before and after photos of Mahogany Hammock Trail. The Mahogany Hammock Trail and the next section of the road to Paurotis Pond is now open from 6 am to 6 pm. Pa-hay-okee Overlook and Gumbo Limbo trail remain closed. #irma

Want to explore the Everglades with a guide? Our permitted guides are offering tours and fishing trips in the open areas of the park. https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/permittedtours.htm

The next section of the main park road is open. Visitors are now able to drive to Long Pine Key from 6 am to 6 pm. The Gumbo Limbo trail remains closed and there are limited water and restroom options

This Saturday, September 30th, is National Public Lands Day. If you have been thinking about visiting a public land near you, entrance fees will be waived at many locations across the country. If you are in the Miami-Dade area, check out what our neighbor park, Biscayne has planned. Volunteers must pre-register and spots are filling up fast.

In case you are wondering what the park looks like after Hurricane Irma, here are some images from the last two weeks.

Come take a stroll in the park! The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center and the Anhinga Trail will open at 10 am tomorrow. Ranger-led programs will resume at Royal Palm at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm, daily. Restrooms are only available at the Coe Visitor Center. Please bring your own water.

Everglades and Dry Tortugas staff are on their way to support relief efforts in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Thanks to Hurricane Irma, the Everglades are full of water. Compare this photo of the popular zigzag cypress tree in the late dry season with one from this week. We have seen fish and alligators swimming across flooded roads, egrets feasting, and osprey eyeing the downed trees for new nesting material. All are a good reminder that hurricanes are a vital part of the Everglades.

Thank you to everyone that has expressed an interest in volunteering. We are not quite ready yet as current recovery efforts are utilizing heavy equipment and employees with specific technical skills. Our partner, the South Florida National Parks Trust is accepting donations and gathering a list of interested volunteers for us to call upon as soon as we are ready and able to receive outside help. For more information please visit: http://www.southfloridaparks.org/recovery/

Ready for a ride in the Everglades to see the high water from Hurricane Irma? Coopertown Airboat Tours, Everglades Safari Park, and Gator Park are all open for airboat tours along the Tamiami Trail (US 41). Links to each operator's websites can be found at: https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/guidedtours.htm