During our Florida road trip, we want to visit the Everglades National Park for the first time. And we are already very excited about what awaits us here. We’ve heard that the Everglades National Park is an amazing place and we can’t wait to explore it.
In addition to alligators, crocodiles, manatees and dolphins can also be seen in Flamingo, in the far south on the Gulf of Mexico, if you’re lucky. And first things first: we were indeed lucky.
We also met a very special resident of the Everglades, which was quite a surprise. But more on that later.
We’ve been on the Tamiami Trail in Big Cypress several times and also in Everglades City.
But we’ve never been to Everglades National Park, the entrance to which is only a few kilometers from Homestead.
We stayed here for 2 days to explore the upper part of the Florida Keys and the Everglades National Park.
The Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park is a must-see for anyone who wants to experience one of the most unique and diverse ecosystems in the United States.
The national park protects a unique landscape of swamps, alluvial plains, tall grass plains and mangrove forests that are home to alligators, manatees and the extremely shy Florida panther. With a bit of luck, crocodiles can also be seen at Flamingo Beach in the far south in the Gulf of Mexico.
As we drive into Everglades National Park, we are already looking forward to everything we will see and discover today. I’m most excited about the Anhinga Trail. But I’m sure we’ll discover a few other things we weren’t expecting.
The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center
On the way to the national park I have to stop briefly to take a picture here. By the way, I’m Alex. My wife Jasmina and I are once again on a three-week road trip in Florida.
You can find more videos about our travels on my YouTube channel.
Shortly before entering the park, we stop at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center to pick up a map of the park and have a chat with the rangers. The National Park Rangers always have good tips and advice on what visitors should definitely see.
There is also a lot to see and learn at the Everglades National Park Visitor Center.
For example, what an alligator baby sounds like or a pig frog. How big alligators can grow and how long it takes.
Or what an alligator feels like. Because you’d better not do that with a live specimen. Even if it is said to have happened before.
We spent some time here, spoke to a very friendly park ranger to get some tips and then made our way into the Everglades. We pay 30 dollars at the ticket office at the entrance, get a very good map with all the trails and stops, and are excited about our first stop in the park.
Our first destination is probably the most popular trail in the park, the Anhinga Trail. After just under 4 miles, we are already there and can hardly wait to finally go on the Anhinga and Gumbo Limbo Trail ourselves.
Incidentally, both trails share a parking lot at the Royal Palm Visitor Center and are right next to each other.
On the Anhinga Trail
Excited and full of anticipation, we set off on the trail. The Anhinga Trail is a 0.8 mile long, beautiful trail where visitors have the opportunity to see alligators, turtles and a variety of birds up close.
The Anhinga Trail is one of the most popular trails in the park and offers visitors beautiful views of the Florida Everglades.
The trail winds through a sawgrass swamp area and takes visitors right into the heart of the incredibly beautiful Everglades.
We also see some alligators on our way and are fascinated by how close we get to the animals.
In addition to the alligators, we also see a variety of bird species on our way, including herons, ibises and many anhingas. Turtles can be seen in the water, often sunbathing on tree trunks or stones.
The circular trail leads over a wooden walkway to a viewing platform by a pond, from where the diverse wildlife of the Everglades can be seen up close. The anhingas have their nests here, which is why the trail got its name – Anhinga Trail.
We spent some time here and admired the beauty of nature.
Gumbo Limbo Trail
We then make our way to the Gumbo Limbo Trail. The Gumbo Limbo Trail is an easy 0.4 mile loop trail that also starts and ends at the ranger station.
When you hike the Gumbo Limbo Trail in Everglades National Park, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to another world. The trail winds through a tropical hardwood hammock, a dense and shady tangle of vegetation that is dramatically different from the sprawling swamplands elsewhere in the park.
Many information boards along the way provide information about the flora and fauna on the Gumbo Limbo Trail.
Due to the intense competition for light and space, the vegetation here grows in several layers. The tallest trees, such as royal palms and gumbo limbo, form a canopy over the smaller trees, shrubs and herbs.
The nature you see today is a small remnant of the vast deciduous forest that once covered much of South Florida.
What is a hardwood hammock?
A hardwood hammock is a dense stand of deciduous trees that grow at a natural elevation of just a few inches. Hammocks can be found in almost all Everglades ecosystems. In the deeper swamps, the seasonal flow of water contributes to the hammocks having a distinct teardrop shape.
We then make our way further south to the Pa-hay-okee Trail.
On the drive, we marvel at the seemingly endless landscape of the Everglades.
After about 20 minutes we arrive at our destination.
Everglades National Park: Pa-hay-okee Trail
On this trail, you can see the Everglades as they appeared to the early inhabitants. For hundreds of years, the Calusa, Miccosukee and early pioneers lived, adapted and made their homes in this area.
Pa-hay-okee is a Seminole term meaning “grassy waters”.
The trail is beautiful
The trail is beautiful and there are information boards along the way that provide information about the flora and fauna along the way. After just 100 m, we arrive at the highlight of the trail.
This is because the viewing platform halfway along the trail offers a breathtaking view of this wilderness.
On the viewing platform
On the slightly raised platform, you can see whether it is the rainy or dry season, discover patterns in the tree islands and observe the wildlife from a better angle.
The Pa-hay-okee Trail is a short, easy walk. The trail is 0.2 miles, or about 250 yards long, and takes about 20 minutes to complete. If you are visiting Everglades National Park, I highly recommend this trail.
The drive takes us further, deep into the heart of the Everglades. The weather is kind to us. The sun is shining and the day is still young.
About 10 miles later, we arrive at the Mahogany Hammock Trail.
Mahogany Hammock Trail
Mahogany Hammock is an island on the edge of the Shark River Swamp in Everglades National Park. The island is home to a lush, tropical tree population where ancient mahogany trees have grown to record sizes.
Tucked away, and thus protected from deforestation in the past, the mahogany trees have grown to an impressive size on the higher, drier ground of the Hammock.
The Mahogany Hammock Trail is a 700 m long path that winds its way through fascinating vegetation, from the dense undergrowth up into the treetops of the mighty trees. Along the way, visitors can also see owl and air plants that thrive in this unique environment.
We spent almost an hour here exploring the natural wonders of the Mahogany Hammock Trail. It was a wonderful experience, and I would recommend the trail to anyone visiting Everglades National Park.
On our way to the southernmost tip of Everglades National Park, we make a quick stop at one of the many stops along the way. There are numerous opportunities to stop briefly along the way. There are often tables and chairs for a short break.
Canoe and kayak trips
The Everglades National Park also offers kayak and canoe tours with a guide. One of the providers of kayaks and canoes is Carl’s. The Everglades can be explored from the water on a guided tour.
At the end of Main Road – at Flamingo – kayaks, canoes and boats can also be hired spontaneously to start the adventure on one of the waterways.
Our next stop is the newest trail here: West Lake Trail
The West Lake Trail is a beautiful trail that takes us through the mangroves and to West Lake. The West Lake Trail is a great place to spot a variety of wildlife including birds, crabs and bromeliads. This is the perfect place to explore the landscape between land and sea. Thanks to the boardwalk, this area is easily accessible to explore.
Shrimp and fish can be found in abundance on the flooded forest floor. The rich nutrient mix of fallen leaves and other plant debris is the perfect environment for these creatures. If you’re lucky, you might see a few shrimp and fish swimming through the water.
We then make our way to the southernmost point of the road. Flamingo is the name of the place on the Gulf of Mexico and is said to be beautiful. If you’re lucky, you might spot crocodiles, manatees and sometimes even dolphins. And we are already pretty excited to get there.
Flamingo in the Everglades National Park
Flamingo is a great place. There’s plenty to see and do here, including hiking, biking, paddling and participating in ranger-led programs. You can also learn about the area’s unique ecology and see some of the rare animals that call it home.
We are lucky enough to see an osprey with its young in a nest. The mother eagle carefully watches over her chicks, making sure they are safe and warm, while the father eagle hunts for food and comes into the nest from time to time. It is a beautiful sight.
We look out over the water and admire the mangroves and the beauty of nature. Of course, we also hope to see a few manatees that regularly hang around here. It’s peaceful and beautiful.
Then we saw something move. At first we thought it was just a fish or another small animal. But when we take a closer look, we realize that it’s actually a crocodile lying in the mangroves!
I’m no expert on crocodiles, but I’m pretty sure this isn’t an alligator. Crocodiles have a V-shaped snout, like this one.
A crocodile’s snout can be very wide or very narrow, but it always has the same pointed shape. In addition, the jaws close from top to bottom and not from bottom to top.
This overbite and underbite means that a crocodile’s jaw shows both the upper and lower teeth in a sort of “jagged” formation. If you look closely, you can see five of the lower teeth.
Alligators have a large, broad snout shaped like the letter U. Unlike crocodiles, the alligator’s jaw closes downwards and you can only see its upper teeth. Notches in the lower jaw hide the lower teeth when the mouth is closed.
Located at the southernmost tip of the Florida peninsula, Flamingo offers beautiful campsites, a wealth of recreational activities and a view of the largest subtropical wilderness in the country. We are thrilled.
The Marina Store at Flamingo Adventures offers a wide selection of food, drinks, beer, wine, sundries, gifts, souvenirs, ice cream and firewood. Because you can also camp here.
A little tip from us if you’re ever here. Make sure you drive a little further from the Flamingo Marina at the Flamingo Visitor Center in the direction of the campgrounds and the amphitheater.
The Flamingo Highway then curves to the left and you can drive to the end of the Guy Bradley Trail. There are also plenty of tables and chairs here if you want to have a picnic. We stayed right at the water’s edge.
Because you could park your car here and walk just a few meters forward directly to Flamingo Beach on the Gulf of Mexico. If the visibility is good, you can see part of the Florida Keys in the distance and this place is beautiful.
By the way, we are visiting the Florida Keys and Key West in the next few days. If you feel like it, please subscribe to my channel and give my video a thumbs up. Thank you very much.
A few muffins and an energy drink later, we decide to leave this beautiful place and make our way back to Homestead. Because we still want to go to Miami Beach tonight.
Conclusion: Lots of wildlife and freedom in the beautiful Everglades
On the drive back, my wife Jasi and I talk for a long time about the beauty of the flora and fauna in Everglades National Park. The subtropical wilderness of the World Heritage-listed Everglades National Park may not be immediately inspiring for everyone on a first visit, but at second glance the Everglades reveal all their uniqueness and beauty.
We still remember the first time we drove through the Big Cypress in the Everglades many years ago and were not particularly impressed at first. But after seeing some of the trails and interesting places in the Everglades, we were incredibly impressed. I guess many first-time visitors are like that.
You should take a whole day to visit the Everglades National Park. If you want to go on some trails and see Flamingo, then a day will be over quickly.
You can then either spend the evening relaxing or do as we did and go to Miami in the evening to have some FUN.
I hope you enjoyed the blog post with the movie documentary and maybe it helped you to plan your next vacation here. If so, I’d be delighted if you gave me a thumbs up and maybe even subscribed to my channel. On my channel you will find many videos from Europe and the USA, and of course also from Florida.
You can also find our current road trip through Florida on my YouTube channel.
You can find more videos about our travels on my YouTubechannel.
Over the next few days we will be visiting the Florida Keys and my wife’s happy place, Key West. After that we will go to Naples, Clearwater and Sarasota. We will visit Honeymoon Beach, Sanibel and Captiva and Anna Maria Island, just to name a few.
Then it’s back to Orlando to have some more fun at Universal Studios before we fly back to Germany. Until the next video, thanks for reading and watching, and have fun, Alex.
Admission prices and arrival
The Everglades National Park is open all year round. Entrance fees are $30 per vehicle and $25 per motorcycle. For people on foot or bicycle, admission is $15. There is also an annual pass to the park that costs $50.
There are several campsites in the park, which have different price categories. Most campsites in the park are closed from mid-November to the end of May. There are also some cabins and bungalows in the park that can be booked for overnight stays.
Everglades National Park is accessible via Interstate 75 and Route 41. The nearest airport is Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, which is about 60 kilometers from the park. There are also several bus connections to the park from various cities in Florida.
America the Beautiful Pass – annual pass for national parks in the United States
If you are planning to visit several national parks on your road trip through the United States, you should take a quick look at this annual pass. It may save you a lot of money. We actually bought this pass when we drove through California, Arizona and Nevada. In Florida itself, it’s not really worth it.
The America the Beautiful Pass is an annual pass that offers access to all national parks in the United States. The pass costs $80 (as of April 2022) and is available at all national park entrances.
The pass is also available online at www.nps.gov/findapark/passes.htm
Address and contact
Everglades National Park
40001 State Road 9336
Homestead, FL 33034-6733
Phone: 305-242-7700
Internet: www.nps.gov/ever
