Everglades

This trail runs true to its name since you traverse through three distinct ecosystems in one trail. The three ecosystems are Pine Rockland, Hardwood Hammock and Sawgrass Prairie. It is not wheelchair accessible and it is less than 0.8 miles (1200meters)

The famous Anhinga Trail is a self-guiding pavement and boardwalk trail winding through and over sawgrass marsh and freshwater slough. A paved path leads you along the water and to a looping boardwalk, providing views into the prairie and the clear waters of the slough. You may see alligators, fish, turtles, anhingas, and many other birds, especially during the winter, when the generally lower waters of the dry season concentrate aquatic wildlife in the slough. This is one th

The trail is 2 miles (3.2 km) round trip. Meander along the shore of Florida Bay, watching for remnants of an outpost fishing village. Observe the effects of hurricanes Katrina and Wilma on the landscape. Begin at the Coastal Prairie Trailhead at the back of Loop "C" in the Flamingo Campground. Veer left at the trail junction to the bay. Not wheelchair accessible. Bicycles not allowed.

Bear Lake Trail is 1.6 miles one way. Journey through a dense hardwood hammock mixed with mangroves. The trail follows the old Homestead Canal, built in 1922, and is an excellent area for woodland birds. There are more than 50 different tree species. Bike, drive, or walk to the end of Bear Lake Road to begin this trail.

A short accessible .2 miles trail that winds through a willowhead. The boardwalk allows visitors to view the wildlife all around them. Open year round.

Trail that borders the borrow pit at the Shark Valley Tower. Limestone was gathered or 'borrowed' to build local construction before the park. This is a great place to see alligators and other wildlife, open year round

Christian Point is 1.8 miles one way. Wander a rustic path through a wide diversity of habitats. The trail begins in dense mangroves and buttonwoods full of bromeliads, or airplants. Next, investigate the unusual, salt–loving vegetation of open coastal prairie. Dead buttonwood snags interrupt these expanses that were shaped by hurricanes. Finally, you'll end–up along the shore of Snake Bight.

This trial is 7.5 miles one way. Step back in time as you walk this old road once used by cotton pickers and fishermen. Open prairies of succulent coastal plants dotted with shady buttonwoods surround you as you journey towards the shore of Florida Bay. Begin at the rear of Loop "C" in the campground. A backcountry permit is required for camping.

This small pond opens up to Coot Bay, and is great for paddling and wildlife viewing.

Located on the road to the Flamingo Campground, Eco Pond has a ½ mile loop trail. Wading birds, shorebirds and occasional crocodiles can often be seen at this location.

A new waterway along the west side of the park – the Everglades Paddling Trail – was approved in the 2015 General Management Plan. This 120-mile route provides additional wilderness and backcountry opportunities and includes several segments totaling about 30 miles that have boating use restrictions to enhance visitor enjoyment in the busy winter-spring seasons. You will need a wilderness camping permit (available at the Flamingo and Gulf Coast Visitor Centers) if you plan to

The Flamingo Marina, open year-round, can accommodate boats with electric and water hookups. Marina is currently open with access to power, 30A water pedestals, pump out, showers (available for $3), fuel, and fully stocked marina store (beer, water, sunscreen, bug spray, to-go food etc.) The channel will accept a four-foot maximum draft at HIGH-TIDE. At SLACK TIDE (0 tide) the channel is approximately two feet deep.

Non-motorized boat launch available 24 hours a day, every day. No fee charged for boat launch.

The Everglades is an area where temperate and tropical zones meet, creating an ideal climate for plants to thrive. In the Gulf Coast district fresh and saltwater meet. Enjoy a short walk on the Gulf Coast Visitor Center grounds highlighting some of the native plants that exist in this place where worlds join. This is a 1/4 mile easy walk. To find the trail head look at the visitor center and go right across the lawn.

The Gumbo-Limbo trail is a self-guided, paved trail meandering through a shaded, jungle-like hardwood hammock. In the hammock, hardwood trees such as oaks and gumbo limbos form a dense canopy overhead. Look for majestic royal palms, ferns, and air plants such as bromeliads. You may hear or see birds such as warblers, barred owls, or catbirds. Look closely and you may spot a liguus tree snail, the jewel of the hardwood hammock, on the bark of the trees. As the trail passes a p

Mingle with a variety of birds and butterflies as you amble along the shore of Florida Bay. Old pier pilings are a reminder that Flamingo was once a small fishing village. The trail was named for Audubon warden Guy Bradley, who was killed in 1905 while trying to protect a bird rookery in Florida Bay. This trail is a scenic short-cut from the Visitor Center to the Flamingo Campground day-use area and is 1 mile (1.6 km) one way. Wheelchair accessible and bicycles are allowed.

The Halfway Creek and Loop Trails are accessible from the Gulf Coast Visitor Center in Everglades City or from the Big Cypress Welcome Center on Sea Grape Drive off of US 41. The Creek is 7.3 miles long from the Big Cypress Welcome Center to the Gulf Coast Visitor Center. The upper loop is an additional 3.7 miles. From the Gulf Coast Visitor Center, the Halfway Creek-Left Hand Turner-Turner River loop is 11 miles. Allow 4-8 hours for these trails.

Hell’s Bay is 3.0 miles to Lard Can Campsite, 3.5 miles to Pearl Bay Chickee, and 5.5 miles to Hells Bay Chickee. “Hell to get into and Hell to get out of,” or so the old timers claimed. This sheltered route weaves through mangrove creeks and ponds to a series of small bays beyond Lard Can. The trail is marked with more than 160 poles.

This campsite is so named because the bay was “hell to get to and hell to get out of!” This applies whether approaching from the Main Park Road via the twisty Hells Bay Canoe Trail, or from Whitewater Bay via the unmarked East River route. The chickee sits in the middle of the bay in front of a mangrove island. Alligators may be in the area. Do not allow food scraps to fall into the water near any chickee.

Connecting trails through the Pinelands run 7 miles (11 km) west from the Long Pine Key campground to Pine Glades Lake along the main park road. It is advisable to look at trail map to understand the network of trails.

This self-guiding boardwalk trail meanders through a dense, jungle-like hardwood "hammock." Lush vegetation includes gumbo-limbo trees, air plants, and the largest living mahogany tree (Swietenia mahogani) in the United States. The trail is 0.5 miles (800 meters) roundtrip and is wheelchair accessible.

This trail is 7 miles round trip from Coot Bay Pond. Venture inland through the mangroves on this trail connecting the Buttonwood Canal, Coot Bay, Mud Lake, and Bear Lake. Birding is often good at Mud Lake. Accessible from the Bear Lake Trailhead (note Bear Lake Canoe Trail is Impassable) or Coot Bay Pond. Motors no allowed.

Nine Mile Pond is a 5.2 mile loop. This scenic trail passes through shallow grassy marsh with scattered mangrove islands. Watch for alligators, crocodiles, wading birds, and an occasional endangered snail kite. The trail is marked with numbered white poles. Water levels are good for passage in the fall and winter.

Noble Hammock is a 2 mile loop winding through a maze of shady mangrove lined creeks and small ponds, the sharp turns and narrow passageways require good maneuvering skills. Enjoy a “crash” course. Check for low water levels during the dry season. Motors prohibited.

The historic Old Ingraham Highway was the first motorway to Flamingo but now provides at least 10 miles (one way) of backpacking into the heart of the Everglades. There are two backcountry campsites along this trail.

A short, .3 mile trail over a rough limestone surface. This hammock provides an up close view of the solution holes that permeate the floor of the Everglades, open year round.

This elevated wooden boardwalk leads to an overlook that offers sweeping vistas of the "river of grass". This raised observation platform provides close up views of dwarf cypress trees, magnolia, air plants and string lillies. The trail is 0.16 miles or 260 meters roundtrip, Wheelchair accessible.

This chickee is designed to accommodate campers with disabilities. The platforms have railings on several sides, and there is a large chemical toilet. One of the platforms has steps leading down to the water to facilitate access. The chickee sits in the bay, away from the surrounding mangroves, and is open at all sides, so mosquitoes usually are not a problem. On a moonless night, the stars are reflected hugely in the still waters of the bay. Dolphins swim past, hunting a mid

Pinelands Trail is a short, paved loop trail is 2 miles west of the Long Pine Key turnoff on the main park road. This trail loops through a forest of pines, palmettos, and wildflowers. It is 0.4 miles (650 meters) roundtrip. Wheelchair accessible.

Rowdy Bend Trail is 2.6 miles one way. Explore an overgrown old roadbed through shady buttonwoods and open coastal prairie. This is an opportunity for good woodland bird watching. Combine this trail with the Main Park Road (use caution!) and the Snake Bight Trail for a 12.6-mile round–trip bike ride from the Guy Bradley Visitor Center.

Royal Palm Information Station and Bookstore is a great place to stop to see wildlife, walk trails, attend a ranger program, or purchase souvenirs. The gift shop is open year-round from 9AM-4PM. Attend a ranger talk or follow a ranger on a guided walk beginning at the Royal Palm Visitor Center. Royal Palm serves as the terminus of two wheelchair accessible trails, the Anhinga Trail and Gumbo Limbo Trails, each offering visitors the opportunity to explore a different ecosystem

Sandfly Island Hiking Trail

This trip is 5 miles and can take between 2.5 - 4 hours. Trip durations may vary if you walk the trail on Sandfly Island or if strong winds or unfavorable tides are present. If you decide to stop at Sandfly Island, please use the beach area next to the dock, as the dock can be slippery and dangerous. Always tie up your boat.

The highest elevation a visitor can reach by foot in the entire park, at 45 feet plus in elevation. Panoramic views up to 20 miles of the Everglades. Open year round and 24-hours a day.

A 15-mile, flat paved loop trail, open year around, and only access to the Shark Valley Observation Tower. Great panoramic views of the Everglades along with wildlife sightings. Open 24-hours a day, year around.

Sisal Pond is freshwater borrow pit 15 miles from the park entrance. It can be accessed through the Long Pine Key Nature Trail or along the Main Park Road. Freshwater fishing is available.

Snake Bight is 1.8 miles one way, but don't let the name deter you! In this play on words, a "bight" is actually a bay (Snake Bight) within a larger bay (Florida Bay). Enter another world as you travel through a tropical hardwood hammock, with dozens of tropical tree species. There is excellent bird watching from the boardwalk at the end of trail if you plan your hike or bike ride to arrive near high tide

Turner River Canoe Trail information

A great place for wildlife viewing, picnics, paddle trips, hiking adventures and more, West Lake is a great destination. Boating visitors are reminded that watercraft with engines of 6 horsepower or less are permitted on West Lake, but not beyond.

This self-guided boardwalk trail wanders through a forest of white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa), black mangrove (Avicennia nitida), red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle), and buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus) trees to the edge of West Lake. Directions to Trail: Seven miles (11km) north of the Flamingo Visitor Center on the main park road.

Paddle through a series of large open lakes connected by narrow creeks lined with mangroves. Look for alligators and crocodiles. West Lake is closed to vessels with motors greater than 6 h.p. Motors are prohibited from the east end of West Lake through Alligator Creek. Not recommended on windy days due to open, rough waters. A wilderness permit is required for overnight stays.