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Everglades National Park is about to enter the season people actually visit it in. Six areas will not be open when they arrive.
The park’s conditions page, updated September 9, 2026, states that all entrances and areas are open except for the ones it then lists. Those exceptions run from a road closure on the northeastern boundary to three backcountry campsites shut for maintenance.
- Closed to all public use: the East Everglades Day Use Area, for construction.
- Partly closed: the middle of Hog Key and the interior of Pavilion Key.
- Closed for maintenance: Johnson Key Chickee, Shark Point Chickee, Little Rabbit Key Ground Site.
- Not fully passable: Halfway Creek, which now needs a detour.
The Six Closures, Listed
They are not equivalent, and lumping them together is how a trip gets planned around the wrong one. One is a road, two are partial closures on Gulf Coast keys, and three are backcountry campsites.
The road closure is the one that affects a car. The other five only matter if you are paddling or camping in the wilderness, which in the Everglades is most of the park by area.
What the East Everglades Closure Blocks
The park closes the East Everglades Day Use Area on the northeastern boundary to all public use. The closure covers SW 168 Street westbound to SW 237 Avenue, and the entire roadway of SW 237 Avenue.
The stated reason is public safety during construction operations with heavy machinery. There is no reopening date attached to it, which means checking the conditions page rather than assuming it has lifted.
Two Backcountry Keys Are Partly Shut
Hog Key on the Gulf Coast is open for camping, but the middle of the key is closed. Pavilion Key is the reverse shape: its interior is closed to protect vulnerable resources, while the small campsite on the north end stays open for use by wilderness permit.
Read those two carefully before booking. A permit for a site on a key does not mean the whole key is available, and the difference is a long paddle to discover on arrival.
Halfway Creek Needs a Detour
Halfway Creek is not completely passable. The park gives the workaround in marker numbers: the trail is accessible from Sea Grape Drive in Big Cypress heading south towards the HC 1 marker, and to complete the through trip paddlers head west at the HC3 and L 15 marker.
From there the L markers descend, past L 14 and down to L 5 or L 6, then west to come out by Everglades City. The section from the L 3 marker up to L 1 is impassable, so that is the stretch to plan out of the route entirely.
Permits, Fees and the 90 Day Window
Wilderness camping runs on permits, and the booking rules matter more than the closures for anyone planning a winter trip. The Everglades backcountry wilderness permit carries a 21 dollar non refundable reservation fee plus 2 dollars per person per night, with the park entrance fee charged separately.
Reservations open daily at 10:00 a.m. Eastern, 90 days before the trip start date, on a rolling basis year round. For a February trip that means a booking window in November, and the sites left closed for maintenance will not appear in it. The wider Everglades National Park guide covers what the park offers by season, and neighbouring Big Cypress National Preserve is where the Halfway Creek detour begins.
| If you are… | What to do |
|---|---|
| Driving to the northeastern boundary | The East Everglades Day Use Area is closed to all public use. Plan another access point. |
| Camping on Hog Key or Pavilion Key | Both are partly closed. Check which part your permit covers. |
| Booking a chickee | Johnson Key, Shark Point and Little Rabbit Key are out for maintenance. |
| Paddling Halfway Creek | Use the marker detour. L 3 up to L 1 is impassable. |
| Planning a February trip | The 90 day window opens in November, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern. |
One closure affects cars. The other five affect paddlers and campers.
No reopening dates are published. Check the conditions page the week you travel.
The permit window is the real deadline. Ninety days ahead, daily at 10:00 a.m. Eastern.
What is closed in Everglades National Park right now?
The East Everglades Day Use Area, the middle of Hog Key, the interior of Pavilion Key, and the Johnson Key Chickee, Shark Point Chickee and Little Rabbit Key Ground Site.
Why is the East Everglades Day Use Area closed?
For public safety during construction operations with heavy machinery. No reopening date has been published.
Can I still camp on Hog Key and Pavilion Key?
Hog Key is open for camping with the middle of the key closed. Pavilion Key’s small north end campsite stays open by wilderness permit while the interior is closed.
Is Halfway Creek passable?
Not completely. The stretch from the L 3 marker up to the L 1 marker is impassable and the park publishes a marker by marker detour.
How much is an Everglades wilderness permit?
A 21 dollar non refundable reservation fee plus 2 dollars per person per night. The park entrance fee is charged separately.
When do wilderness reservations open?
Daily at 10:00 a.m. Eastern, 90 days before the trip start date, on a rolling basis all year.
