OCHOPEE — The Alligator Alcatraz detention center is located in territory that Florida and federal officials have described as forbidden and inhospitable. The reality is it is located off a roughly 100-mile stretch of U.S. 41 that, for decades, has been a gateway to South Florida wilderness and outdoor sports.
Among the points of interest dotting the roadway are a handful of airboat operators, the northern visitor center for Everglades National Park, an art gallery dedicated to a famed wilderness photographer, a campground and the southernmost point of The Florida Trail.
Here is a guide, when traveling east from Miami toward Naples, in case you want to visit.
Miccosukee Casino & Resort — 500 SW 177th Ave, 33194
Located at the corner of Krome Avenue and U.S. 41, also known as S.W. 8 Street and the Tamiami Trail, the complex offers slot machines, Bingo, poker and 302 rooms with “breathtaking views of the surrounding ecosystem,” according to website. It’s the last taste of glitzy entertainment until Naples.
Billed as the top airboat tours since 1945, it is on the south side of U.S. 41 around mile marker 22.
Coopertown Airboats — 22700 SW 8th St., 33194
Billed as the top airboat tours since 1945, it is on the south side of U.S. 41 around mile marker 22.
Gator Park — 24050 SW 8th St., 33194
Besides the airboats, Gator Park near mile marker 24 also features wildlife and alligator shows.
Everglades Safari Park’s airboat and boat tours venture into Everglades National Park.
Everglades Safari Park — 26700 SW 8th St., 33194
At about mile marker 27, the eco-tourism airboat and boat tours ventures into Everglades National Park.
Miccosukee Village
The tribal community is located in the vicinity of mile marker 29.
Buffalo Tiger Airboat Tours — 29701 SW 8th St., 33194,
Off mile marker 30, Buffalo Tiger’s website says it educates its guests about “the Everglades and the Miccosukee People through a thrilling airboat excursion within Miccosukee tribal lands.”
A view of the Everglades wetlands from the Tigertail family hammock.
Tigertail Airboat Tours
Just passed mile marker 34, Takes you to a Miccosukee hammock used by the Tigertail family now used to rehabilitate wildlife and raise young turtles and alligators.
This entrance to Everglades National Park is fewer than 10 miles from the entrance to Alligator Alcatraz.
Everglades National Park — 36000 SW 8th St., 33194
Entrance to the Shark River Valley area, including a 15 mile loop, is after mile marker 35.
The Miccosukee government complex includes the administrative office.
Miccosukee government complex
This site at mile market 37.5 features the Miccosukee administrative offices, a health clinic and police and fire departments.
An image of U.S. 41 traveling through the Big Cypress National Preserve region.
Big Cypress National Preserve
The preserve established 50 years ago begins around mile marker 40.
Border of Miami-Dade and Collier counties
The border between the two counties is around mile marker 43.
Alligator Alcatraz sign
Alligator Alcatraz
The entrance to the roadway leading to the controversial immigration detention camp is just after mile market 48.
Midway Campground — 52870 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee, 34141
Just past mile marker 52, the campsite is surrounded by the preserve and visitors can access picnic tables, hiking, fishing and evening stargazing.
Clyde Butcher Gallery — 52388 Tamiami Trail, Ochopee
The gallery is off mile market 54.5 and boasts Clyde Butcher photograph collections.
The Oasis Visitor Center is home to the southernmost point in The Florida Trail
Oasis Visitor Center — 52105 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee, 34141
Heading east, it is just past the Butcher gallery. The Oasis Visitor Center is also the southernmost point of the 1,500-mile long Florida Trail that starts at the Big Cypress National Preserve and treks north to the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Airboats, stargazing, Florida Trail hiking on road to Alligator Alcatraz