When you picture the Everglades, you might think of swamps, mosquitoes, and gators—but it’s so much more!

Trails wind through prairies, jungles, and mangroves, with boardwalks and short loops for all ages.

Hikes here give you a close look at one of the most unique ecosystems in the U.S.

The park has two seasons: wet (May–Nov) with heat, rain, and bugs, and dry (Dec–Apr) with cooler weather.

To enjoy your hike, pack the musts—water, sturdy shoes, sunscreen, and plenty of bug spray. A hat, light layers, and a camera will make it even better.

Best Hikes in Everglades National Park

1. Anhinga Trail 

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• Difficulty: Easy
• Length: 0.8 miles round trip
• Time: about 15 minutes
• On the tour? Yes

The Anhinga Trail is one of the most popular and scenic trails at Everglades National Park! A paved path leads to a boardwalk that winds through sawgrass marshes and freshwater sloughs.

Along the way, you’re likely to spot alligators, turtles, herons, egrets, and, of course, the anhinga bird!

2. Gumbo Limbo Trail 

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• Difficulty: Easy
• Length: 0.4 miles round trip
• Time: about 15 minutes
• On the tour? Yes

Take a stroll beneath a dense canopy of colorful Gumbo Limbo trees, royal palms, ferns, and air plants. Look closely; you just might spot a rare liguus tree snail.

This is a flat, paved path that passes a pond, so you might get a glimpse of a sunbathing alligator or two!

3. Mahogany Hammock Trail 

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• Difficulty: Easy
• Length: 0.5 miles round trip
• Time: about 30 minutes
• On the tour? Yes

The trail winds on a flat, wooden boardwalk through a dense hardwood hammock. Native flora like gumbo limbo trees, strangler figs, and air plants provide a cool, shaded walk.

Along the way, you’ll see the largest living mahogany tree in the United States towering amongst other native trees.

4. Pa Hay Okee Trail 

Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

• Difficulty: Easy
• Length: 0.16 miles
• Time: about 10 minutes
• On the tour? Yes

This is a super short and easy stroll for all ages and abilities! Pa-hay-okee means river of grass in the Native Seminole language, and this trail will give you some of the best views of the Everglades sawgrass prairies—aka, the Rivers of Grass.

The entire trail is a raised boardwalk, keeping you dry and above the ground during wet seasons.

Along the way, informational panels at the overlook explain the sawgrass ecosystem and its importance in the Everglades.

5. West Lake Trail 

• Difficulty: Easy
• Length: 0.4 miles
• Time: about 15-20 minutes
• On the tour? Yes

Stroll through a cool, shady tunnel of white, black, and red mangrove trees to a scenic overlook of West Lake.

Keep an eye out for alligators and wading birds that frequent the lake and surrounding area.

If you get very lucky, you may get a rare glimpse of a freshwater crocodile in the water!

6. Pinelands Trail 

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• Difficulty: East
• Length: 0.4 miles round trip
• Time: about 15 minutes
• On the tour? Yes

Take a break from the Everglades wetlands, and check out a completely different Everglades habitat! This is a paved loop through a forest dominated by slash pines, palmettos, and wildflowers.

While you won't see wading birds or swimming alligators here, keep an eye out for other creatures adapted to this drier environment—like white-tailed deer, Florida black bears, bobcats, raccoons, and opossum!

There are interpretive signs along the trail, explaining the role of fire in this ecosystem and the impact of Hurricane Andrew on the forest.

7. Bobcat Boardwalk Trail 

NPS

• Difficulty: Easy
• Length: 1 mile round-trip
• Time: about 30 minutes
• On the tour? No

The Bobcat Boardwalk trail is located in the Shark Valley area of the Everglades, about 45 minutes north of the main park area.

It’s an easy stroll through sawgrass prairie and a tropical hardwood hammock, giving you a chance to see the variety of Everglades habitats.

Interpretive signs along the path explain the ecology and vegetation of the areas you're passing through.

8. Eco Pond Trail 

David Fulmer

• Difficulty: Easy
• Length: 0.5-mile loop
• Time: About 20 minutes
• On the tour? No

This trail doesn’t have a boardwalk or observation platforms, but it’s still a flat, accessible, somewhat shaded path around the pond’s edge.

That means, optimal wildlife viewing!  The Eco Pond Trail is prime for bird lovers—this is one of the best places to spot birds in the Everglades.

Keep your eyes peeled for Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Tricolored Herons, and maybe even a Roseate Spoonbill with its unique pink beak. 

9. Guy Bradley Trail 

• Difficulty: Easy
• Length: 1.5 miles out-and-back
• Time: about 30 minutes
• On the tour? No

This is a flat, paved walk along the shore of Florida Bay, located in the Flamingo area of the park. The trail winds past areas with red, white, and black mangrove trees, and you can spot old pier pilings left over from the days when Flamingo was a quiet fishing village.

Look out for a variety of wading birds like herons and egrets, shorebirds like sandpipers and plovers, and pelicans soaring overhead. Roseate spoonbills with their unique pink beaks might also be spotted.

10. Nine Mile Pond Canoe Trail 

NPS

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Length: 5 miles
• Time: 4-5 hours
• On the tour? Yes

Nine Mile Pond Canoe Trail isn’t your typical hike—because it’s not a hike at all! This trail can only be explored via canoe or kayak!

Navigate through narrow passages through mangrove forests and vast sawgrass prairies.

PVC pipe markers guide the way, helping you navigate the maze of islands and waterways.

Keep your eyes peeled for alligators, and (on the rare occasion)  crocodiles, wading birds like herons and egrets, and maybe even a snail kite soaring overhead.

11. Hell’s Bay Canoe Trail 

NPS

• Difficulty: Challenging
• Length: 13 miles round trip
• Time: about 4-5 hours
• On the tour? Mentioned

The early Everglades settlers called this Hell’s Bay because, as they said, “It’s hell to get into, and it’s hell to get out of!”  

Because of its narrow passages, tight turns, and distance, this water-vessel-only trail is great for experienced rowers and paddlers.

The trail weaves through tight mazes of mangrove creeks and ponds, surrounded by lush vegetation and the tranquility of the Everglades.

Though less frequent than other areas, you just might get to see dolphins, blacktip sharks, and wading birds like pelicans and egrets.

Sadly, alligators are pretty uncommon, though, due to the lack of banks.

12. Shark Valley Tram Trail 

NPS

• Difficulty: varies
• Length: 15 miles round trip
• Time: varies (multiple hours)
• On the tour? No, but it IS on Shaka Guide’s Big Cypress National Preserve tour!

The Shark Valley Tram Trail, located about 45 minutes north of Everglades National Park’s main road, is truly unique because there are a few different ways to experience it!

Take a narrated tram tour, rent a bike, or walk on this paved loop trail and enjoy expansive views of the sawgrass prairie, dotted with hammocks and Bald Cypress trees.

Keep your eyes peeled for alligators, wading birds like herons and egrets, turtles, and even elusive snail kites.

At the end of the trail is a 65-foot observation tower, which you can climb for a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding Everglades ecosystem. 

FAQS

How many hiking trails are in Everglades National Park?

There are roughly 12-15 hiking trails in the park.

What is the most popular part of the Everglades?

The Shark Valley area is generally the most popular because of its proximity to Miami, and because the Shark Valley Observation Tower allows you to see the most panoramic views of the “river of grass”.

What is the most popular hike in the Everglades?

For a short, scenic hike, it’s the Anhinga Trail in the Royal Palm area of the park. But one of the best places to see wildlife up close is the  Shark Valley 15-mile loop trail (which is walkable, bikeable, or viewable from a tram tour) 

Do I need a permit to hike in the Everglades?

Nope! Not if you’re planning to hike the popular trails within the park boundary. However, a wilderness permit is required for any backcountry camping, hiking, and canoeing. 

What should I bring for hiking the Everglades?

The most important thing is water! At least 2–3 liters per person, because dehydration is common. It’s also important to bring sunscreen, mosquito and insect repellent, light, breathable clothing that can be layered if necessary, sturdy hiking shoes or sandals, and a dry bag or waterproof pouch for electronics.

Final Thoughts 

Whether you choose a leisurely stroll along a boardwalk teeming with birdlife or an immersive kayak paddle through the mangrove forests, the Everglades offer hikes unlike any other.

Remember to wear comfortable shoes, sun protection, and plenty of bug spray—and, of course, Shaka Guide!

We offer audio driving tours of Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Monument, and the Overseas Highway!

So, grab your camera, and get ready to be captivated by the whispering sawgrass, the symphony of birdsong, and the unforgettable dance of life in this subtropical paradise. 

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