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Anhinga Trail

Miami-Dade County, Florida

4.8/5
based on 4 reviews

Details

Distance

1.39 miles

Elevation Gain

62 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Christian Murillo

The Anhinga Trail in Florida's Everglades National Park provides easy access to awesome wildlife watching, featuring birds and alligators.

The Everglades National Park is a superb spot for viewing wading birds and alligators off an easy paved path. There are a number of observation decks along the way, off of the main path. The trail begins at the Visitor Center, following Taylor Slough.

The Anhinga Trail is one of the best places to see alligators in this part of the Everglades, so be sure to walk to the end of the paved path and around the boardwalk loop. Gators like to hang out on the islands or drift through the inky water below the boardwalk. You may also see turtles, egrets, herons, cormorants, and many other marsh-dwelling birds. Several species of fish call Anhinga home including the alligator gar, a prehistoric fish with a gator-looking snout. 

Note
This is a popular trail and a relatively easy hike, so it can be very crowded especially on weekends and during vacation times. 

Best season for visiting
Winter is the best time to visit as it's the dry season and there a fewer mosquitos. 

Park Website
For more information about the wildlife of the park, click here.

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Features

Photography
Hiking
Scenic
Wildlife

Anhinga Trail Reviews

This is a great place to see wildlife and for photographers to take wildlife pictures. Guaranteed to see alligators.

What is incredible about the Everglades is also what keeps many people away. The swampy nature of this national park is a haven for bugs (and the rest of the food chain that relies on these bugs). Although it is a short trail, you want to avoid going in the hottest summer months when the mosquitos will bite right through clothes and even mosquito repellant. Since the ponds surrounding the Anhinga trail retain their water year-round, in the dry seasons the trail becomes somewhat of an oasis for the abundant fauna. Lucky for you, this also happens to be in the not-so-hot time of year. December until late April are typically very dry for Florida standards and the Mosquitos do not really start to come out until May. One drawback that some may see as a positive of visiting this paved trail in the winter/spring is that the great Florida storm clouds are much more common in the summer months. If you have big landscape photography in mind, you might want to wait for some dramatic storms to roll in. For wildlife photography, go earlier in the season and save yourself from both the bugs and the heat. Enjoy!

I can't say enough good things about this trail. I did it four times during my two days in the Everglades. The wildlife was always abundant and the large ponds offered great reflections for sunrise and sunset photography. It was gorgeous and easily accessible. I don't think it can get much better.

The only caution for this one is preferably go December through March. Bugs in the Everglades are fierce the rest of the year. No matter when you go, bring sunscreen , bug repellant & water.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Take a Stroll on the Pa-Hay-Okee Overlook Trail

Walk the Mahogany Hammock Trail in Everglades NP

Paddle the 9 Mile Pond Canoe Trail

Watch the Sunrise at the Deering Estate People's Dock

Camp at Clubhouse Beach

Kayak Camp on the East Cape, FL

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