Top Things to do in Everglades National Park
Things to do in Everglades National Park, Everglades National Park: The Best Hiking Trails
Water covers nearly the entire Everglades. So it's best if you have a boat.
1. Anhinga Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,417 reviews
A half-mile boardwalk along a man-made canal with striking views.
Reviewed By 646lorit - Dawsonville, United States
We visited in late January during the dry season, and were able to watch up-close the reptiles and birds that dominate the everglades. Because the Anhinga Trail wanders through an area that is filled with water year-round, it is actually an oasis with a high concentration of wildlife during the dry winter months. The trail starts at the Royal Palms visitor center and winds through the glades via well maintained boardwalks and paved walkways. We saw alligators sunning right beside the sidewalk. We saw a cormarant catch a fish, and then have it stolen by a great blue heron. We saw turtles, anhingas, and so much more. Helpful hint: take the free ranger-led walk to learn so much about the everglades ecosystem and see even more animals thanks to the many eyes of the group looking. The ranger pointed out a red shouldered hawk in a tree directly overhead that I would have missed because I was looking at the alligators. This trail is not to be missed!
2. 99 Mile Wilderness Waterway
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14 reviews
A 100-mile marked inside water route that winds through creeks, rivers and open bays from Everglades City on the Gulf of Mexico to Flamingo on Florida Bay.
3. Pa-hay-okee Trail
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 195 reviews
Boardwalk trail through the "watery grass".
Reviewed By ananda6 - Springfield, United States
We stopped here as we left the park. It is only about .2 miles and the vista is breathtaking. There are no bathrooms. The walk is on a boardwalk that is easy to traverse. My 11 year old was unimpressed but I think that was because he was exhausted from kayaking earlier in the day.
4. Old Ingraham Highway
5. Pineland Trail
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 29 reviews
Reviewed By stijntailly - Waregem, Belgium
Here's a little story. I remember back in 2008, when I came to the United States for the first time (it was an Orlando-Miami-Key West trip), and I had no hiking/outdoor experience, I tried to complete this simple 0.4-mile loop. This was in September. We literally had to run back to our car because we got stalked by mosquitoes. I swore back then that if I were ever back in the Everglades, I would come prepared. And here I was, a full 11 years later. Covered in bug repellent, I did this simple but hauntingly beautiful loop in about 15 minutes. The - obviously flat and well maintained - trail winds through a pine forest with Sabal minor undergrowth, a quintessential biotope of the South. I'm glad I conquered it (and the mosquitoes) this time.
6. Gumbo Limbo Trail
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 216 reviews
Half-mile hiking trail through scenic areas.
Reviewed By thehikingharpist - Boston, United States
This is a great trail to pair with the Anhinga Trail. After seeing wildlife on the Anhinga boardwalks, we headed over to the Gumbo Limbo trail to see the tropical foliage. The Gumbo Limbo trails are amazing. They have reddish colored bark, twisty branches, and lots of above-ground roots. There is also a plaque explaining more about the trees. It was so peaceful walking under the canopy of trees as the sun poked through, and birds flew up above. At the end (or beginning, depending on which way you go), there is a little wooden footbridge. We walked the trail twice because it was so quick.
