Anhinga Trail

The Anhinga Trail is a 0.8-mile (1.3 km) loop at the Royal Palm area of Everglades National Park, near Homestead in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The trailhead is behind the Royal Palm Visitor Center at 40001 State Road 9336, roughly 40 miles (64 km) southwest of downtown Miami and about 50-60 minutes by car. No public transit reaches the area, so visitors arrive by car or rideshare, and park entry is charged per vehicle (about $35 USD for seven days; confirm current fees at nps.gov/ever). No permit is needed for the trail itself. The route is essentially flat, with under 10 ft (3 m) of elevation change, and is classed as easy. The surface alternates between a paved path and a raised boardwalk that runs over Taylor Slough, a freshwater marsh that holds water through the dry season. Sections are open to the sun with little shade, so heat and humidity can feel strong by midday. The trail is named for the anhinga, a dark water bird often seen drying its outstretched wings on low branches. Alligators, great blue herons, purple gallinules, turtles, and wading birds gather close to the boardwalk, especially from December to April, when falling water levels concentrate wildlife in the slough. Because the loop is short, there are no formal turn-around points; most visitors walk the full circuit and pause at the railings for photography. Benches and a few shaded spots break up the walk. Restrooms and drinking water are available at the Royal Palm Visitor Center beside the trailhead, but no water sources or huts exist along the loop. Wildlife is wild and close to the path, so visitors keep a safe distance from alligators and do not feed any animals. Mosquitoes can be heavy in the wet months from roughly May to October, and repellent is advisable year-round.