Perocchi Grade

Trail Overview

This trail is located within the National Park Services Big Cypress National Preserve. A special off-road vehicle (ORV) permit and vehicle inspection are required before accessing this trail. Vehicles must be equipped with working 4 wheel drive and pass the required inspection before being allowed to purchase the ORV permit. The permit is $100 at the time of this writing. Access to this trail is via Turner River Road and then through the locked access gate located at Bear Island Road. Turner River Road and Bear Island Road are hard-packed limestone roads. They can have ruts, wash boarding, and minor washes. Overall, they are easily traversed in 2-wheel drive. Perocchi Grade, leading to Bear Island Grade, is a narrow, packed grade trail that has steep drop-offs into the adjacent swamp or wetland areas. There are designated pull-off areas to allow for vehicles passing; however, always look ahead as other off-road vehicles, bicycles, or vehicles may be approaching without the intent to yield. Perocchi is one of the main entry trails into the Bear Island Unit of Big Cypress National Preserve. This trail ends at the beginning of Bear Island Grade and Hard Rock Grade. You may encounter many opportunities to observe a variety of Florida wildlife or python hunters along this trail. While 4-wheel drive is required to obtain the access permit, it is not necessary to drive this trail. The trail is hard-packed and graded. However, as mentioned, there are a sufficient number of areas where the trail is only wide enough for one vehicle, with steep slopes and no shoulders. The ORV permit office is open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays from 9:00. am -1:30pm at the Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center (33000 Tamiami Trail East. Ochopee, FL 34141.) Permits will be issued on a first come, first-served basis. Contact the Off-Road Vehicle Permitting Office at 239-631-9988 Fri-Mon during operation hours with questions.

Photos of Perocchi Grade

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Difficulty

This is given a 2 because of the number/length of narrow single vehicle corridors that cross over wetland/swamp areas with steep drops/ledges. Otherwise, it would be rated a 1.

Technical Rating