If paddling the water trails at Everglades National Park in southern Florida is not on your list, but hiking or bicycling on dry land is, this park offers trails for leisurely walks, extended hikes, and two-wheeled explorations. You’ll see a wide variety of habitats and most of the hiking trails are short interpretive trails.
Before embarking on your hiking/bicycling adventure, however, it’s very important to remember a few things.
- Stay hydrated - Regardless whether you are on the water or near it, the importance of carrying your own water and staying hydrated cannot be understated.
- Keep an eye on the weather – If you hear thunder or lightning, you should seek cover immediately. Gulf Coast storms can get intense.
- Bring your insect repellant and sunscreen– Mosquitoes will be prevalent and biting flies are in the park year-round. You’ll particularly feel this during the hot, humid summer months. The sun will also be relentless. Wear a hat, long sleeves, and pants. Apply insect repellant and sunscreen.
Hiking
The Pinelands Trail, Everglades National Park / NPS file
Below are locations and descriptions of popular trails you can hike on dry land.
Pine Island Trails
Click here to see the Anhinga Trail map.
Click here to see the Long Pine Key trail map
The Pahayokee Trail, Everglades National Park / NPS-Federico Acevedo
Pa-Hay-Okee Overlook – Traveler’s Note: The Boardwalk Trail and tower are currently closed for rehabilitation.
Click here to see the Pa-Hay-Okee Trail map.
Flamingo Trails
Shark Valley Trails
Otter Cave Hammock Walking Trail
Bobcat Boardwalk Walking Trail
Gulf Coast Trail
Sandfly Island
Length: 0.9 mile (1.45 kilometers)
Visitors should allow at least 40 minutes to complete. The surface is bare ground and the trail is not wheelchair accessible. Located on Sandfly Island, 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) from the Gulf Coast Visitor Center site, Sandfly Island is only accessible by canoe/kayak or motorboat.
Unmaintained Trails
The trails listed below are passable, but unmaintained due to the presence of federally endangered species. As such, you will be traveling these trails at your own risk.
Coastal Prairie, Snake Bight, Rowdy Bend, Christian Point, Bear Lake as they are critical habitat for Cape Sable thoroughwort.
Long Pine Key Bike Trail: Critical Habitat and presence of Florida leafwing and Bartram's scrub hairstreak butterflies and their host plants.
Note: Pets are not allowed on any of the park's trails. To learn more about regulations on pets in the park, click here.
Bicycling
There are five biking trails through the park. E-bikes with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts (1 horse power) are permitted on trails and public roads where traditional bicycles are allowed. Speed limit is 10 miles per hour (16 kilometers per hour) on all trails and 15 miles per hour (24 kilometers per hour) on the Shark Valley Tram Road. Fully electric (no pedaling required) bicycles are only permitted on public roadways, the same as vehicles.
Long Pine Key Trail (Ernest Coe)
Length: 14 miles (22.5 kilometers) roundtrip
A dirt path awaits from the trailhead, located on the road to Long Pine Key Campground. During this bicycle trek through the Pinelands you may catch a glimpse of one of the mammal species that call the Everglades home. Other wildlife, including birds can be seen as well. The trail ends at Pine Glades Lake, a great place for a picnic or to see alligators and fish species. For the specific location of the trail, stop in one of the park visitor centers or access the park map by the link below.
Bicycling the Shark Valley Loop, Everglades National Park / NPS file
Shark Valley Tram Road
Length: 15 miles (24 kilometers) roundtrip
Start behind the Visitor Center and follow the straight West Road. Along the route, one will discover wildlife, including alligators, a variety of birds, turtles, and snakes. The halfway point is the Shark Valley Observation Tower, the highest accessible elevation by foot within Everglades National Park. One can see for miles on a clear day over the River of Grass.
L-67 Extension Trail (Shark Valley)
Length: 6.4 (10.29 kilometers) roundtrip
Located approximately 5 miles east of Shark Valley, this gravel and grass road is a straight path into Shark Valley Slough. Parallels a canal where alligators, snakes, turtles, and fish can be seen frequently. During the winter months the path is a great bird spotting area as well. When accessing the trail, do not block the entrance gate. Not regularly maintained. Be prepared for high vegetation and difficult trail conditions. For specific directions, please visit Shark Valley Visitor Center.
Rowdy Bend (Flamingo)
Length: 5.2 miles (8.36 kilometers) roundtrip
An overgrown former road, great place to see woodland bird species. Prepare for mosquitos during certain times of the year.
Snake Bight (Flamingo)
Length: 3.2 miles (5.14 kilometers) roundtrip
Don't let the name fool you, a "bight" is the term for a bay within a bay, so in this instance, it is "Snake Bight" within "Florida Bay." Bicycles are allowed on the entire trail, except the boardwalk near the end. Variety of tree species, multiple ecosystems, and if arriving at the hight tide, great bird watching
Ranger-Led Bicycle Programs
A ranger-led bicycle ride along the Long Pine Key Nature Trail, Everglades National Park / NPS file
Ranger led bicycle programs are offered during the winter season which typically runs from December through April. Programs include Full-Moon Bicycle Rides, Meteor Shower Bicycle Rides, and Long Pine Key Bicycle Rides. For the full program schedule and information, you can click on the park calendar.
Bike Rentals
If you don’t have or didn’t want to bring a bike on your trip, there are two concessionaire services in the park that provide bicycle rentals.
Shark Valley Tram Tours is located at the Shark Valley Visitor Center along Rt 41, an hour directly west of Miami. Bicycle rentals are $25 per day. Bicycles are rented until 4 p.m., and must be returned by 5 p.m..
Bike Through Shark Valley
Flamingo Adventures is located in Flamingo, 38 miles (61.16 kilometers) south of the main entrance in Homestead (Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center), at the southern end of the Main Park Road (State Road 9336). Bicycle rentals start at $10 for a 2-hour rental, and $17.50 for a 4-hour rental. All bicycle rentals must be returned by 5 p.m..
Rentals - Flamingo Everglades
