Anhinga Trail

Everglades National Park, Florida

The Anhinga Trail, a 0.75-mile loop through prime Everglades territory, is world renowned for its abundance of wildlife—winter and spring are the best times to observe American alligator, herons, egrets, and of course, anhingas in their natural habitat.

Begin your hike at the Royal Palm Visitor Center—turn left to join the paved trail. Continue hiking along the paved path, admiring the unbelievable array of birds and reptiles—the animals along the Anhinga Trail are very accustomed to hikers, allowing them to be viewed from impressively close distances. Double-crested Cormorants, Great Blue Herons, Black Vultures, and the namesake Anhingas often perch directly on the wooden railing adjacent to the trail—viewing them from mere feet away is an exciting and common event. Wood Storks, Great Egrets, Green Herons, and Common Moorhens are also commonly sighted along the trail.

At the 0.2-mile mark you will pass the terminus of the boardwalk coming into the paved trail from the left—go straight to form a loop. The self-guiding trail winds through a saw-grass marsh, eventually reaching a large pond and then end of the paved trail—at this point the trail Y’s, the right path leads to a boardwalk overlooking the pond and the left path follows a boardwalk into the saw-grass marsh. Go left to complete the loop.

The boardwalk, complete with spur trails leading to observation platforms, is a great place to look for nesting Anhingas—young Anhingas are white with fluffy feathers. Continue hiking along the boardwalk until it rejoins the paved path—turn right to complete the loop.

Anhinga Trail February 2010: