The Refuge protects a remnant of the once vast northern Everglades. At the Visitor Center you can take a virtual airboat ride, listen to night sounds of the Everglades and explore a gator hole - all without getting wet! Behind the Visitor Center you can explore the Cypress Swamp Boardwalk, a 0.4-mile trail that loops through towering cypress trees, pond apple trees, ferns and other flora of the swamp.Then relax in the nearby Butterfly Garden, or head across the road to the Marsh Trail. The 0.8-mile Marsh Trail is one of several walking trails along the grass levees that encircle impoundment areas, where different water levels provide habitat for various types of wading birds and other wildlife. Bring your camera and binoculars! You might see an endangered Wood Stork or Snail Kite, or any of 270 other species of birds. While walking the trails, look for tracks in the soft sand. Common tracks include those of bobcats, otters, alligators, raccoons, armadillos and birds.See the Everglades up close and personal in a canoe or kayak on the 5.5-mile Canoe Trail! Or enjoy the view from the levee as you ride along the 12-mile Bike Trail alongside the main canal. Canoes, kayaks and bicycles are available for rent. Try your luck fishing from the pier for largemouth bass, bluegill and bullhead catfish. Boating and sport fishing are also allowed in the main canal. State regulations for fishing licenses apply. Airboats are not allowed on the Refuge, but Loxahatchee Everglades Tours operates just south of the Refuge. Guided bird and nature walks and canoe trips take place on a regular basis. Ranger-led school tours are available by appointment.