Eco Pond at the Everglades

The Everglades Welcome You Back!!!

As marinas, parks and green spaces reopen in our city, the Everglades are a fantastic place to come and get some fresh air while practicing safe social distancing guidelines.

Here's what's happening at the park:

All areas of Everglades National Park are now OPEN. Park waters remain open for access from outside the park.
You are encouraged to pre-pay for your Entrance fee online, you can get a digital pass here.
Visitor Centers at Ernest C. Coe and Shark Valley have reopened.
Campsites are open. Self-registration permits are available outside of the Flamingo and Gulf Coast Visitor Centers.
Several tours and concession services have resumed with enhanced health and safety measures:
- Shark Valley's Tram Tours are running on a limited capacity and Bike rentals can be booked online.
- Flamingo's Back Country Tours are running and kayak and canoe rentals and bicycles can be booked online. Check Groupon Discounts here.
- The Gulf Coast 10,000 Island Tours are running and kayak and canoe rentals can be booked online.
- The following outside concessions are conducting Airboat and Eco Tours now:
  - Gator Park: Everglades National Park Airboat Tour and Wildlife Show
  - Everglades Safari Park: $23.60 Discount tickets at Klook.com,
  - Everglades Holiday Park, from Miami incl. transport: Half-Day Everglades Airboat Ride & Wildlife Show
  - Sawgrass Recreation Park: Everglades Airboat Tour with Exhibit Entrance, Private Tour for your group only, Night Tour (Wednesdays and Saturdays only)
  - Everglades Area Tours: Mangrove Tunnel Kayak Eco-Tour meet at Everglades Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center Hwy 41/Hwy 29 Everglades City

For more info check out Everglades National Park: Alerts and Conditions

Eco Pond, just off the road a bit past the Flamingo outpost, is a salt-water pond that attracts its share of birdlife.

But nature being nature, this is a bit of a hit or miss spot. It can be really really good or the total opposite, completely desolate, and anything in between.

There is a little dirt trail that starts right from the side of the road where you see the sign for Eco Pond...

This unpaved trail loops around the pond, and it takes about 40 - 60 minutes depending on your stops along the way.

From the main loop there are paths that get you close to the shore and where you can get good views of anything around the pond...

You don't have to do the whole loop, go as far as you wish and come back the same way.

You may find wading birds just along the shore or in the shallows looking for prey...

There is a little island in the middle, so be sure to scout for life here...

Roseate Spoonbills like to perch around the island, and sometimes you also see them wading in the shallows.

Eco Pond: A Roseate Spoonbill in the little island

There is a small platform just off the dirt path...

Don't forget to look up! We saw a pair of Osprey nesting in some trees in the middle of the island...

And of course, there is also the beautiful butterflies hovering all around...

This is a great little stop worth checking out if you are in the Flamingo area, but does not really warrant a trip specifically to see it as birdlife may or may not be present.

If you are camping in Flamingo, by all means, early morning or late before sunset are the best times.

If Eco Pond is dead, try nearby Mrazek Pond which may be where the action is that day.

There are no parking facilities at Eco Pond. You have to park by the side of the road so be careful with the traffic when pulling in and out.