Photo: Daniel Kraft, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Everglades is a slow river of grass, miles wide and inches deep, flowing toward Florida Bay through sawgrass, cypress domes and mangroves. Alligators, wading birds, manatees and crocodiles share it, and the wildlife often comes right to the boardwalk. Most of the park is water, so the best walks are short and the best adventures happen by bike, canoe or boat. Come in the dry winter months for the most wildlife and the fewest mosquitoes.
TRAILS
1 OF 7
Anhinga Trail
Difficulty
Easy
Length
0.8 mi
Elevation gain
Flat
Royal Palm · Royal Palm Visitor Center — The best wildlife walk in the park, and maybe in the whole country for the effort. A paved path and boardwalk loop over a freshwater slough where alligators, turtles, herons and anhingas gather, especially in winter. Sunrise here is magic. Add the shady Gumbo Limbo Trail next door for a 0.4-mile walk through tropical hardwoods.
⚠︎ Vultures here like to peck at car rubber. Use the free tarps the park provides to cover your car.
Photo: evergladesnps, public domain, Wikimedia Commons
2 OF 7
Shark Valley Tram Road
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
15 mi loop
Elevation gain
Flat
Shark Valley · Tamiami Trail — A paved loop deep into the sawgrass, with gators sunning on the edges and birds everywhere. Ride it by bike (rentals on site) or take the narrated tram tour. Halfway around, an observation tower gives a sweeping view over the river of grass. There is little shade, so bring water and a hat.
⚠︎ No cars past the parking lot. Expect long waits from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in peak season.
Photo: evergladesnps, public domain, Wikimedia Commons
3 OF 7
Pa-hay-okee Overlook
Difficulty
Easy
Length
0.2 mi
Elevation gain
Flat
Main park road · Pa-hay-okee — A short boardwalk climbs to a raised deck over an endless sea of sawgrass dotted with tree islands. It is the clearest picture of what the Everglades really is. Come at sunset when the sky lights up over the grass. Great for every age and ability.
Photo: Everglades NPS from Homestead, Florida, United States, public domain, Wikimedia Commons
4 OF 7
Mahogany Hammock
Difficulty
Easy
Length
0.5 mi
Elevation gain
Flat
Main park road · Mahogany Hammock — This boardwalk loops through a dense, jungle-like island of hardwoods rising out of the sawgrass. It shelters the largest living mahogany tree in the United States, along with air plants and gumbo limbo trees. Barred owls sometimes call from the shade. A quick, cool stop on the drive to Flamingo.
Photo: evergladesnps, public domain, Wikimedia Commons
5 OF 7
Flamingo Boat Tours
Difficulty
Easy
Length
90-minute tour
Elevation gain
Boat
Flamingo · Flamingo marina — From the marina at the end of the park road, guided boats head either up the mangrove-lined backcountry creeks or out onto open Florida Bay. Watch for crocodiles, manatees, dolphins and big flocks of shorebirds. Look for manatees and crocodiles around the marina itself before you board. Pair it with a night at Flamingo for sunset over the bay.
⚠︎ Paid tours. Backcountry trips run all year; Florida Bay trips usually November to April.
Photo: Everglades NPS from Homestead, Florida, United States, public domain, Wikimedia Commons
6 OF 7
Nine Mile Pond Canoe Trail
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
5.2 mi loop
Elevation gain
Flat water
Main park road · Nine Mile Pond — A peaceful paddle across shallow marsh and through narrow mangrove tunnels, marked by numbered poles. Alligators, wading birds and the odd crocodile are common company. Canoes and kayaks can be rented at Flamingo. Allow about four hours and start early, before the wind picks up.
⚠︎ Water can get too low to paddle late in the dry season.
Photo: Everglades NPS from Homestead, Florida, United States, public domain, Wikimedia Commons
7 OF 7
West Lake Trail
Difficulty
Easy
Length
0.4 mi
Elevation gain
Flat
Main park road · West Lake — A boardwalk through a tangle of red, black and white mangroves to the edge of a wide, brackish lake. Interpretive signs explain how mangroves protect the coast and feed the bay. Crocodiles sometimes rest along the shoreline. A good leg-stretcher near Flamingo.
Photo: Everglades NPS from Homestead, Florida, United States, public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Plan your Everglades trip
The Nova Bound app builds the whole trip around these trails: where to stay, where to charge, and what to see each day. Coming soon to the App Store.
Distances are round trip unless noted, from NPS.gov and rounded. Trails, permits and road openings change; always check nps.gov before you go. Trail write-ups by Nova Bound.