You have just found the Best Everglades National Park Photography Spots. I have been shooting the Everglades National Park just about every week ever since I moved to Florida years ago. From the first time I came to the Everglades National Park, I fell in love with the place.
The wildlife is so incredible and unlike anything else, you would see anywhere else in the world. Unlike contrary belief, The Everglades is not a swamp, but a river. The Everglades It is the slowest moving river in the world. The word Everglades means “Grassy River” in the native language.
In this post, I break down the best Everglades National Park Photography Spots. From places, I visit weekly to a few hidden gems. If you need something fully mapped out, download my Everglades Photography Guide.
Best Everglades National Park Photography Spots
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The Gear
The gear I used for all my photos: Nikon D800 with a Nikon 14-24mm a Nikon 24-85mm a Nikon 70-200 and a Tamron 150-600mm. A MeFOTO tripod is a must. I edit all my images with my Lightroom Presets download them and give them a try.
Are you are looking for amazing skies for your images? Check out my vast library of EPIC sky overlays you can use to create award-winning photos.
Everglades Photography Location Maps
1. Robert is Here. Before you officially enter the Everglades National Park, you will come upon a farm with a massive sign on the room that says Robert is here. This farm is amazing, they have all kinds of cool things including this awesome sunflower farm. You must come during sunflower season which is typical during the summer, and get all your sunflower shots.
2. Anhinga trail. This place is incredible, it is at the beginning of the Everglades and it is full of wildlife. Anytime is great for photos here, make sure you bring a zoom lens.
3. Long Pine Key. This is a really cool spot and campground with water and all kinds of natural beauty surrounding it. Bring your wide angle lens and tripod. Best time to shoot is sunrise.
4. The Z tree. This tree is awesome, the story has it that Indians used to bend trees back in the day to know their location. There are currently 3 trees that we know about at the Everglades. Click here for the exact location. Best time to shoot is anytime.
5. Sisal Pond. This is a really cool place, however, to find a good spot to shoot and create a good composition, you need to hike a bit. I recommend a wide angle lens. The best time to shoot is sunset.
6. Pahayokee Trail. This place is awesome, the best time to shoot here is an hour before the sunset. If you want birds you must wait, sometimes for a long time. I shot this with my Nikon 70-200.
7. Main Road. When you are driving south towards Flamingo, look out your window for views like this. You can get some epic shots right from the road.
8. Rock Reef Pass. This is a great spot to photograph the beautiful American white ibis. I recommend a Tamron 150-600mm. Best time to shoot is during the daytime.
9. Mahogany Hammock. Have you ever seen an Owl? You can find them here. This place is packed with Barred Owls and they are very photogenic. I recommend a zoom. Best time to come is before sunset. You can also find other cool wildlife there.
10. Paurotis Pond. This is a really cool place if you are into bird watching. During the bird season, you can catch a lot of different birds here. Below is a stork traveling back and forth to build her nest. I recommend a 150-600mm.
11. Dirt Roads. There are many dirt roads throughout the Everglades, you just have to drive around and find them. Once you do, pull over and get creative. I shot this during sunset on a dirt road.
12. West Lake Trail. This is an awesome trail that leads to an epic view. I won’t spoil it, just be ready to shoot. Best time to shoot is anytime.
13. Flamingo. This is the last stop at the Everglades, I usually stop here and have a soda before I head back. This is a really nice park, walk around and explore.
And that wraps it up for this list of the best Everglades National Park photography spots. Remember to take your time, pull over often, get out of the car and take in the scenery. This is a very beautiful place.
Thank you for dropping in. If you fond this post useful and enjoyable, please leave me a comment below and share it with your friends. That is the best way to say thank you. Check out my Photography Guide to Miami.
How to travel to the Everglades is a really good question. Let’s break it down. What do you think about when you see this image? Every time I am out at the Everglades National Park, and I watch sunsets like this one, I immediately think I am in Africa, I know right? It looks just like you would imagine Africa to look like.
The first thing that comes to my head is the Lion King song, followed by the thought that I am not in Africa, and I am actually at the Everglades National Park in South Florida. What can I say? This place never disappoints, it just feels good to be out here, one with nature, and to catch an African Lion King sunset is just a bonus.
How to Travel to the Everglades
The Everglades is a massive river full of interesting wildlife. What most would consider creepy, I find beautiful. From the time you enter the park, you start to see alligators laying out warming up their bodies through their thick alligator skin. Once you watch the Gators for a while and get deeper into the swamp, you start to find so many different species of birds, such as owls and vultures.
It is a common site to see vultures eating a rotting corpse, usually a deer or a dead alligator. It is just nature taking its course and you can’t help but watch. Once you get into the waters you can see all sorts of cool fish, from baby fish to the awesome Florida Gar.
The Everglades is home to some of the coolest species in the world. What some people would see in nightmares (only because scary movies paint alligators and vultures as evil), you will find here. Once you are in their element you understand this animal, and you see that there is nothing to fear. They just look a bit intimidating that’s all.
If you are ever on this side of the world, I urge you to go experience the Everglades and catch yourself an incredible sunset. Check out the video below, that’s how my trip to the glades goes.
I am happy to tell you that the Everglades National Park is back open. When hurricane Irma hit South Florida, it left a lot of destruction in its path, especially at the Everglades. From what I was told by the rangers the roads were covered with trees and that the entire place was just in bad shape. The good news is that as of last week, they reopened it and we are good to go.
That brings me to October, this month is the official start of my Capture the Everglades Photography Workshop and Tour. That makes me really happy, as the Everglades is one of my favorite places to visit and photograph. It is so incredibly beautiful out there, I can’t really explain it. Just picture your self-sitting in pure silence hearing birds catching the most beautiful sunset you have ever seen. That’s what happens at the Everglades every single time, and it never disappoints…
If you get a chance to go out there, do it. If you need some guided assistance you can reach me directly through my contact page or simply sign up to one of my workshops. I promise you will not be disappointed and you will come back with a new respect for mother nature.
We all want the best possible light to take great photos, however, sometimes it’s hard to find the right light.
It does not have to be that way. Good light is everywhere, you just have to figure out what you are looking for. If you are new to photography know that the best times to shoot are at sunrise or sunset. During this times you will get the best light there is out there.
You have the nice soft golden light that makes everything look dreamy.
If you are out shooting in the middle of the day, you want to find shadows and cloud formations. At the same time, you want to find nice rays of light coming from the sun. Another thing to remember is that after a storm or rain comes really nice colors. The reflections throughout look beautiful and the light is nice and soft while the moist is in the air.
This photo is a great example. I shot this in the middle of the day at the Everglades. The light was a bit harsh but I saw a storm coming in the distance. I decided to wait for it, it never quite hit me but when it passed, it left this incredible cloud, full of color with a nice rainbow at the other end of it. It was perfect, waiting around searching for a bit paid off. If you are patient and look around you can find the right light during any time of day anywhere you are.
There is nothing cooler than spending the day in the outdoors, especially surrounded by friends. The Everglades is one of my favorite places to photograph, it is so challenging, not only the conditions but it’s a swamp full of snakes and gators. Just think about that for a second, sometimes in order to get the shot, you have to go in the water and pretend there is nothing down there. Imagine being in a swimming pool. This is when 30 seconds seems like an eternity. I edited these with my Ultimate Lightroom Preset Collection.
The first image is my favorite, even though I was getting eaten alive by mosquitos, I think it was worth the pain.
I love the Everglades, I mean I really, really like going out there. However it is summer, and that means wet season, and unfortunately the mosquitos are insane out there, almost unbearable.
People always ask me when the best time to go to the Everglades is, and my answer is always the same. If you want to get really good photos go there in the summer time. If you want to enjoy the Everglades, go there in the winter time.
No mater what time of the year you go, one thing is for sure, you will be glad you did. The swamp will change you, it is a beautiful place, something you only read in good books…
If you are interested in going to one of my workshops out in the Everglades, click here.
7. Main Road. When you are driving south towards Flamingo, look out your window for views like this. You can get some epic shots right from the road. 
