Wagon Wheel Road - CR 837

The Wagon Wheel Road, also known as County Road 837, connects Turner River Road at the east end and County Road 29 at the west end in the north part of the Big Cypress National Preserve. The Wagon Wheel Road takes you through open prairies, stands of Bald Cypress, and Slash Pine. The canal next to the trail provides the opportunity for observation of alligators and wading birds along the way. The road conditions are a mixture of packed sand, loose sand, and some deep holes that can turn into 2 feet deep mud holes after rainy days. The road is always wide enough for two vehicles to pass. 4WD and high clearance are recommended. All vehicles must be street-legal. The freshwaters of the Big Cypress Swamp, essential to the health of the neighboring Everglades, support the rich marine estuaries along Florida's southwest coast. Conserving over 729,000 acres of this vast swamp, Big Cypress National Preserve contains a mixture of tropical and temperate plant communities that are home to diverse wildlife, including the Endangered Florida panther.