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Royal Palm
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The Anhinga Trail runs along a body of water called the Taylor Slough and then
runs along a boardwalk which forms a loop over the Taylor Slough.
The Gumbo Limbo Trail runs through a forest.
Lots of birds, lots of alligators.
This might be the most visited location in the park. It is very convenient in that
the parking lots, restrooms, vending machines, and pool with alligators and birds are
all adjacent. Probably the best place to visit if you are traveling with children or
seniors.
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Old Ingraham Highway Bicycle Trail
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(I just put "Ingraham H'way Bicycle Trail" on my map, because it was looking too
crowded. The word "Old" is always included in the name.)
Bicycle trail. Much of trail is flooded during rainy season.
To reach the trail: turn off the Main Park Road towards Royal Palm, then turn toward
the Research Center. When the road turns 90 degrees to the right (west), continue
straight (south) and park. Then bicycle south, past Gate 15 and keep going.
This is in the Florida DeLorme Atlas on page 122. On the extreme left of the page,
find 25°20'. The trail is the dashed red line just below this which runs
east-west. If you follow it east, it bends toward the north-east and runs to the
words "Paradise Key". Following it west, on to page 121 it appears to reconnect with
the Main Park Road. Actually it does not. The trail has been cut by a canal and now
dead ends.
On my map, the black line which connects the trail to Royal Palm is a cleared path
of mowed grass. It is not very good for bicycling. There are no signs which say that
bicycles are not allowed. This cleared path crosses the Gumbo-Limbo Trail.
This trail parallels a canal. Wildlife includes deer, snakes, alligators, raccoons.
A few birds, especially ibises and hawks.
Trail runs for at least seven miles and dead ends. I have never been all the way
to the end.
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Long Pine Bicycle Trail
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Trail is about six miles in length and
is flooded during the rainy season. Trail starts along the
road which leads to Long Pine campground, and ends at Pine Glades Lake.
You could then bicycle back to where you started via the Main Park Road to make
a loop, or just return the same way you came.
Runs through pine and palmetto forest.
There are no ponds or canals along the trail. During the dry season, the
trail goes through rather dry terrain. I have bicycled this trail three times
and have seen very little wildlife, other than a few deer. I prefer bicycling
the Old Ingraham Highway Trail.
In the
Florida DeLorme Atlas it's on page 122. The trail runs from the 'campground'
symbol at about 25°24'N -- 80°39'W to the "RD" in "MAIN PARK RD" at the
upper left of the page.
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Pinelands
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Short hiking trail through pine and palmetto.
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Pa-hay-okee
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Elevated boardwalk overlooking sawgrass.
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Mahogany Hammock
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A Hammock is an island in the marsh.
A slightly higher land elevation allows a hardwood forest to grow.
A brand new boardwalk through this forest opened in early 2003.
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Paurotis Pond
Nine Mile Pond
Mrazek Pond
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These are three ponds which attract birds. You cannot walk around the ponds. In fact,
you just get out of your car and look for birds, there are no hiking trails.
I could not fit Mrazek Pond on my map. It is on the southeast side of the Main Park
Road in the little triangle formed by Snake Bight Trail and Rowdy Bend Trail. Rowdy
Bend Trail is the short line which runs east-west from Snake Bight Trail to the Main Park
Road.
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West Lake
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Boardwalk through a mangrove swamp which ends at a lake.
There is also a boat ramp and restrooms and a covered picnic area.
Not crowded.
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Snake Bight Trail
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Two-mile (one-way) bicycle or hiking path through mangroves. Mosquitos from hell.
The foliage is fascinating. Lots of airplants and entanglement of mangrove roots.
Trail ends at Atlantic Ocean (technically Florida Bay)
where there is a boardwalk over a mud beach. This mud beach is of interest to
serious birders because odd birds are often found there.
"Bight" is British for "Bay". The part of the ocean where the trail ends is called
Snake Bight.
Snake Bight Trail connects
with Rowdy Bend trail which leads back out to the Main Park Road, so you
could bicycle in a loop.
On my little map, the black line, which runs east-west and connects Snake Bight
Trail to the Main Park Road, is Rowdy Bend Trail.
On the Florida DeLorme Atlas, Snake Bight Trail is on page 121, something like
25°11'N 80°52'W. It's the dashed red line which runs north-south from
the Main Park Road to the ocean about one mile west of the Dade-Monroe county line.
The dashed red line which branches off to the west is Rowdy Bend Trail. The dashed
red line which branches off to the east is a footpath which quickly disappears.
Not crowded. You might be there by yourself.
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Bear Lake
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This is a hiking trail which leads to a lake.
On my map you see a north-south leg and an east-west leg. You can drive up the
north-south leg.
The east-west leg is clearly marked "No Bicycles".
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Marina Store
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When you are at the south end of Everglades National Park, you eat at the Marina Store.
They sell chips, ice cream, soda, and junk food in plastic wrappers which you heat-up
in their microwave.
I gave the Marina Store two stars because you might find crocodiles there.
Look for crocodiles on the opposite side of little bridge behind
the Marina Store. Or ask
someone where to find them.
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Eco Pond
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In Flamingo. Just about at the end of the Main Park Road.
You can walk all the way around the pond. Bicycles are not allowed.
Extremely good for birds -- herons, ibises, hawks, maybe Roseate Spoonbills and
Wood Storks. Also coots, gallinules, moorhens, egrets.
Also lots of racers (snakes).
Eco Pond is a very popular place and might be crowded.
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Before you leave, stop and try to remember if there is a book you have
been wanting to buy.
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