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- Anhinga Trail (Royal Palm) — A short, flat boardwalk that dumps you into prime wildlife territory: alligators lounging at the water’s edge, anhingas drying their wings, herons stalking fish. It’s the easiest, most reliable spot to see big, close-up Everglades life without a boat.
- Shark Valley & Observation Tower — A wide, paved tram/bike trail through endless sawgrass ending at a 65-foot tower with a 360° view of the “river of grass.” Great for sunrise, easy wildlife viewing (you’ll spot alligators and wading birds), and it’s my personal favorite because the tower view makes the scale of the Everglades hit home.
- Pa-hay-okee Overlook — A short walk to a raised boardwalk and platform that gives a sweeping panorama of sawgrass prairie and distant tree islands. Best for quiet sunrise or a
- Anhinga Trail (Royal Palm) — A short, flat boardwalk that dumps you into prime wildlife territory: alligators lounging at the water’s edge, anhingas drying their wings, herons stalking fish. It’s the easiest, most reliable spot to see big, close-up Everglades life without a boat.
- Shark Valley & Observation Tower — A wide, paved tram/bike trail through endless sawgrass ending at a 65-foot tower with a 360° view of the “river of grass.” Great for sunrise, easy wildlife viewing (you’ll spot alligators and wading birds), and it’s my personal favorite because the tower view makes the scale of the Everglades hit home.
- Pa-hay-okee Overlook — A short walk to a raised boardwalk and platform that gives a sweeping panorama of sawgrass prairie and distant tree islands. Best for quiet sunrise or a quick stop to really feel how flat and vast this place is — deceptively beautiful and very photogenic.
- Flamingo & Florida Bay — The southern gateway to mangrove creeks and open bay: launch kayaks, take a boat trip, look for manatees, dolphins, and the rarer American crocodile. Excellent for big sunsets, fishing, and paddling among islands and shallow flats.
- Ten Thousand Islands & Wilderness Waterway — A maze of mangrove islands and narrow channels perfect for experienced kayakers and backcountry campers. Remote, quiet, and addictive — you can spend days island-hopping, shelling beaches, and watching birds where few people go.
- Mahogany Hammock — A short, shady boardwalk through an old-growth tropical hardwood hammock. It’s a cool contrast to the sawgrass — dense shade, huge mahogany trees, and a surprisingly lush microclimate that feels almost jungle-like.
- Long Pine Key Trail & Pine Rocklands — A drier, pine-dominated area with miles of trails and elevated boulder “pineland” meadows. Different habitat from the marshes — good for hiking, seeing wildflowers after rains, and spotting wildlife adapted to higher, rockier ground.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.