In Everglades National Park, you’ll find 1.5 million acres of canals, miles of marshes and tons of sub-tropical critters – but not so many hiking routes.
In fact, outdoorsy types will find fewer than three dozen formal trails in the entirety of this South Florida preserve, many of which are short interpretive trails less than a mile long. Plus, with entrances to the park in three separate cities that are many miles apart, you need approach the park with a precise plan for seeking out just the right experience.
Yet the trails you will find are ones you won’t soon forget. Regardless of where your Everglades hiking adventure takes you, you can be sure the route will be flat (this is Florida, after all) and that you’ll have the chance to get up to close to the park’s nearly 400 bird species, lush flora and – yes – perhaps a gator or two. Just make sure to pack sun-protective clothing, sunscreen and bug repellant for any Everglades hike to mitigate sun- or mosquito-related headaches.
Now that you have all you need, you’re ready to set out. Here are the five best hikes within Everglades National Park.
Best hike with a little history 3.2 miles (5.1km) round trip, 1–2 hours, moderate
Trickling alongside the Bear Lake Trail, you’ll see the Homestead Canal, which was constructed in 1922 to funnel freshwater from the marshland out to sea. The project’s (dubious) goal? To create a drier piece of land for future development. The result? Just the opposite, as saltwater entered what had been a freshwater ecosystem, forever creating a hybrid habitat in that portion of the park.
Located two miles north of the Flamingo Visitor Center in Homestead, the trail itself features more than 50 different tree species, with hardwood hammocks towering above, culminating in a sweeping vista of Bear Lake with dots of mangrove islands. Regular maintenance has ceased on Bear Lake Trail recently as the park prioritizes protecting the Cape Sable thoroughwort, a small purple-hued sunflower. So count on wearing sturdier hiking shoes to navigate the periodic thick grass patches and downed branches.
Best hike through diverse Florida landscapes 3.6 miles (5.79km) round trip, 2–3 hours, difficult
Some of the shorter trails in Everglades National Park deliver one vibe; this challenging hike is multifaceted. You’ll find the trailhead one mile north of the Flamingo Visitor Center – and once you set out, you’ll discover that the trail’s difficulty stems from its jagged terrain, including thick mangrove patches and sporadic debris from hurricanes of yesteryear. A stretch of open prairie provides a nice reprieve on dry days.
If rain is in the forecast or the area has seen recent downpours, prepare for a muddy experience. Even the flattest prairies are
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