Monument Bypass

Monument Bypass is an easy, low-elevation hike of about 3.4 miles in Big Cypress National Preserve, a National Park Service unit in southwest Florida. The route is an out-and-back, with the trail starting at a low point of about 9 feet and rising to about 10 feet. The climb is gentle, with a steepest grade of 2% around the 2.8-mile mark, and there is no elevation gain to speak of for a trip of this length. Winter and early spring are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run from highs around 78°F and lows near 55°F in January to about 83°F in March, while summer brings highs in the low 90s and rain on 17 or more days a month from June through September. There is no fee to hike this trail, and it sits within Big Cypress National Preserve, which the National Park Service manages. The Poppenhager hike starts just 0.1 mile away, and the Monument, Buckskin and Boot Hill West trails are all within about 3 miles.