Southern Glades Wildlife Area

Southern Glades Wildlife and Environmental Area (SGWEA) consists of over 30,000 acres at the southern end of the Kissimmee-Okeechobee-Everglades basin.  The SGWEA is located in Miami-Dade County adjacent to the canal between Everglades National Park and US-1. The area was acquired to protect wildlife habitat and as part of Everglades restoration. Bird watching is popular on Southern Glades, especially along the northwest corner of Aerojet Road. Wading birds are common and include the endangered Wood Stork and the Roseate Spoonbill. This area is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail. On the area are two hiking trails totaling 16 miles. One begins on CR 424, 1.8 miles west of U.S. 1. The second trail is about two miles west of the first trail. Unfortunately camping and the use of ATVs are prohibited.

You can find the Southern Glades Wildlife and Environmental Area at two different points as you head down on US-1 South towards Key West. First by turning right at Mile Marker 122.3 and following the curve of the road about 1/3 mile on the left seeing the northernmost end of the refuge. The second and southernmost end of the park (pictured above) can only be accessed by boat at Mile Marker 116.4 by turning left off of US-1 South and following the road underneath the overpass that you’ve just driven over.

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