Overview: At more than 32,000 acres, Southern Glades Wildlife and Environmental Area is vast, but it pales in comparison with its neighbor to the west: Everglades National Park. So why not just cruise past this place on your way to the most iconic park in Florida? Two words: Lucky Hammock, one of the best birding spots in all of Florida.
The South Florida Water Management District owns the land and manages it with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Hiking, horseback riding, wildlife viewing and fishing are allowed on the property. Discharging firearms is not. The fishing is considered good, especially along the banks of the C110 and C111 canals. The hunting is considered poor.
Southern Glades sits wedged in roughly between U.S. 1 to the east and Everglades National Park to its west. Though it extends for thousands of acres, the area that makes up Lucky Hammock is small, about an acre in total. The hammock itself is even smaller, impressively unimpressive until you start hearing and seeing its numerous residents. Best times to visit: October through April. But by no means is Lucky Hammock the only attraction here; there are miles of trails to explore.
History: Aerojet Road is named after Aerojet General Corp., which once operated a rocket testing facility nearby. Aerojet was to build and test a solid-fuel rocket that was to be used by NASA to take astronauts to the moon. Aerojet tested the rocket only three times between 1965 and 1967, before NASA shut down the project in 1969. Aerojet held onto the land until 1986 when it lost a bid to build engines for the space shuttle to Morton Thiokol. In the aftermath, it sold its holdings to the South Dade Land Co., which unsuccessfully attempted to farm the land. South Dade then sold the land to the state.
The South Florida Water Management District bought the surrounding acreage as part of the federal Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Project, which Congress passed in 2000. SFWMD received funding through the state's Save Our Rivers fund.
What You'll See: Birds. If you're lucky (apologies for the pun), lots of birds. More than 200 species have been recorded in Lucky Hammock. Southern Glades is home to a remnant population of Cape Sable seaside sparrow and the rare white pigeon. More commonly seen birds include wood storks, spoonbills and herons. Swallow-tailed kites also visit the area. Beyond Lucky Hammock, Southern Glades is mainly sawgrass marsh, marl prairie (where, if you're lucky (that word again) you might spot a Cape Sable seaside sparrow) and tree islands.
Lucky Hammock sits a short walk, about a quarter mile, down Aerojet Road from SR 9336, which makes it a convenient stop. Your first time there might result in a reaction like, "this is it?" But give it time. Also check the surrounding area, particularly the utility wires that parallel Aerojet Road for perched birds. At the very minimum hike down Aerojet Road and check out the nearby canals.
Amenities: There is a small parking area just off the highway, plus a few interpretive signs. There are two hiking trails, both off U.S. 1.
Nearby: The Aerojet Road entrance to Southern Glades Wildlife and Environmental Area sits only a mile or to from Everglades National Park. If your destination is the national park, we suggest leaving enough time to visit Lucky Hammock especially during the cooler months.
Links: The Institute for Regional Conservation's inventory of plants is here. The Great Florida Birding Trail's page on Lucky Hammock is here.
Of Note: Southern Glades Wildlife and Environmental Area is open sunrise to sunset everyday of the year. Admission is free.
Cover Photo: A red-shouldered hawk. His mate was inside Lucky Hammock just to the left.
Second Photo: Lucky Hammock taken during our first visit to Southern Glades in 2015. It shows both how relatively small it is but also how dense it is. It's impressively unimpressive until you get an idea what's inside.
The South Florida Water Management District owns the land and manages it with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Hiking, horseback riding, wildlife viewing and fishing are allowed on the property. Discharging firearms is not. The fishing is considered good, especially along the banks of the C110 and C111 canals. The hunting is considered poor.
Southern Glades sits wedged in roughly between U.S. 1 to the east and Everglades National Park to its west. Though it extends for thousands of acres, the area that makes up Lucky Hammock is small, about an acre in total. The hammock itself is even smaller, impressively unimpressive until you start hearing and seeing its numerous residents. Best times to visit: October through April. But by no means is Lucky Hammock the only attraction here; there are miles of trails to explore.
History: Aerojet Road is named after Aerojet General Corp., which once operated a rocket testing facility nearby. Aerojet was to build and test a solid-fuel rocket that was to be used by NASA to take astronauts to the moon. Aerojet tested the rocket only three times between 1965 and 1967, before NASA shut down the project in 1969. Aerojet held onto the land until 1986 when it lost a bid to build engines for the space shuttle to Morton Thiokol. In the aftermath, it sold its holdings to the South Dade Land Co., which unsuccessfully attempted to farm the land. South Dade then sold the land to the state.
The South Florida Water Management District bought the surrounding acreage as part of the federal Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Project, which Congress passed in 2000. SFWMD received funding through the state's Save Our Rivers fund.
What You'll See: Birds. If you're lucky (apologies for the pun), lots of birds. More than 200 species have been recorded in Lucky Hammock. Southern Glades is home to a remnant population of Cape Sable seaside sparrow and the rare white pigeon. More commonly seen birds include wood storks, spoonbills and herons. Swallow-tailed kites also visit the area. Beyond Lucky Hammock, Southern Glades is mainly sawgrass marsh, marl prairie (where, if you're lucky (that word again) you might spot a Cape Sable seaside sparrow) and tree islands.
Lucky Hammock sits a short walk, about a quarter mile, down Aerojet Road from SR 9336, which makes it a convenient stop. Your first time there might result in a reaction like, "this is it?" But give it time. Also check the surrounding area, particularly the utility wires that parallel Aerojet Road for perched birds. At the very minimum hike down Aerojet Road and check out the nearby canals.
Amenities: There is a small parking area just off the highway, plus a few interpretive signs. There are two hiking trails, both off U.S. 1.
Nearby: The Aerojet Road entrance to Southern Glades Wildlife and Environmental Area sits only a mile or to from Everglades National Park. If your destination is the national park, we suggest leaving enough time to visit Lucky Hammock especially during the cooler months.
Links: The Institute for Regional Conservation's inventory of plants is here. The Great Florida Birding Trail's page on Lucky Hammock is here.
Of Note: Southern Glades Wildlife and Environmental Area is open sunrise to sunset everyday of the year. Admission is free.
Cover Photo: A red-shouldered hawk. His mate was inside Lucky Hammock just to the left.
Second Photo: Lucky Hammock taken during our first visit to Southern Glades in 2015. It shows both how relatively small it is but also how dense it is. It's impressively unimpressive until you get an idea what's inside.
