Regional Guide

Hike the marshy Glades? You bet. The park's trails are concentrated around three area visitor centers: Flamingo, Long Pine Key, and Shark Valley. Head to Long Pine Key for a classic selection of short walks that wind through sawgrass marsh and feature local wildlife like alligators, turtles, anhingas, herons, and egrets.

For a longer walk through Glades terrain, consider Tram Road, a 15-mile flat (and sometimes busy) path that plays host to hikers, cyclists, and tram riders. Head to Shark Valley to begin the walk and don't miss the observation tower at the halfway point which serves up panoramic views of the surrounding sawgrass prairie.

Head to the Florida National Scenic Trail for some long-distance Floridian trekking. Added to the national trails system in 1983, the Florida Trail will one day extend 1,300 miles, from Florida's panhandle to Big Cypress National Preserve in South Florida.

Despite the name, Biscayne National Park's Spite Trail is a pleasant hike that offers a peek into classic Floridian beauty—think clear blue water, bright yellow sun, and big blue sky. Head to Elliott Key—seven miles offshore—to begin the adventure.

 Walk the hardwood hammocks of Biscayne's Keys. Watch for Zebra butterflies and rare Schaus swallowtails as you wander through the key's mixture of tropical trees and shrubs that resemble those native to the West Indies.