Pinecrest Group Campground

Bring your friends – four-legged friends included! – to Pinecrest Group Campground in Big Cypress National Preserve for a wilderness adventure in the woods. Recreational activities available here include fishing, paddling, hiking, and bird watching. You can also hunt if you have a license.

There are four group-only campsites at Pinecrest Group Campground. This place is a primitive campsite with no water, covered toilets, or hookups, but fire rings and picnic tables are available. For everything else, the nearest facilities are about 15 miles away, so pack all the supplies you'll need. 

Access the campground by the gravel lane off Loop Road. The campground sits in a clearing among pine and oak forest. Once you pitch your tent, you can check out area trails. Take your canoe and head to the Turner River Paddling Trail. This waterway is nearly 10 miles long and passes among intertidal mangrove trees, some cypress strand, and sawgrass prairie. 

During the dry season, there are some hiking trails available here. Check out the Highway 41 to Loop Road Trail. The 6.5-mile out-and-back route will take you through Robert's Lake Strand and some dwarf cypress prairies. Other area paths include the Florida Scenic Trail and the Tram Trail. You're also a short drive from the Miccosukee Indian Village, where you can learn about the culture and history of this indigenous nation. 

The preserve permits leashed dogs to stay in the campground with you. Unfortunately, they cannot join you on any trails, and they must be supervised at all times. Clean up all of their waste and dispose of it properly.

Opportunities for adventure abound when you stay at the Pinecrest Group Campground. This place is an ideal base site for you and your friends when you visit Big Cypress National Preserve. There's limited cellular coverage out here, and some of the animal residents include alligators and panthers -- don't travel alone when you're exploring.