Everglades Everglades National Park
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National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Everglades Everglades National Park Flamingo Canoe Trails Caution: Tides and winds can significantly affect your canoe trip. Do not over- estimate your abilities. 1 Nine Mile Pond more detailed trail map is available. Motors are Venture inland through the mangroves on this 5.2 mile loop prohibited from the trailhead to Lard Can. A trail connecting the Buttonwood Canal, Coot This scenic trail passes through shallow grassy wilderness permit is required for overnight Bay, Mud Lake, and Bear Lake. Birding can be camping. good at Mud Lake. Accessible from the Bear marsh with scattered mangrove islands. Watch for alligators, wading birds, and an occasional Lake Trailhead into the Buttonwood Canal or 4 Florida Bay Coot Bay Pond. Motors are prohibited on Mud endangered snail kite. The trail is marked with Distance varies numbered white poles. A more detailed trail Lake and Bear Lake. Check the Visitor Center Opportunities for fun abound! Watch mullet for current status of this trail. map is available. Trail may be impassable due jump and birds feed (particularly at Snake to low water levels near the end of the dry sea- Bight), do some fishing, or just enjoy the scenic 7 West Lake son. Motors prohibited. bay. Explore Bradley Key (during daylight 7.7 miles one way to Alligator Creek 2 Noble Hammock hours only), the only nearby key open to land- Paddle through a series of large open lakes 2 mile loop ing. The open waters of Florida Bay are rela- connected by narrow creeks lined with man- The sharp turns and narrow passageways tively mosquito-free, even in summer. Not rec- groves. Look for alligators and crocodiles. West through this mangrove-lined trail require good ommended on windy days due to open, rough Lake is closed to vessels with motors greater maneuvering skills. Enjoy a “crash” course. waters. than 6 h.p. Motors are prohibited from the east Check for low water levels during the dry sea- end of West Lake through Alligator Creek. Not son. A calm trail on a windy day. Motors pro- 5 Bear Lake Canoe Trail recommended on windy days due to open, hibited. Check Ranger Station for Conditions! rough waters. A wilderness permit is required 1.6 miles to Bear Lake for overnight camping. 3 Hells Bay 11.5 miles one way to/from Cape Sable 3.0 miles to Lard Can This historic canal is surrounded by tropical 3.5 miles to Pearl Bay Chickee Paddlers: you may encounter motorboats in trees, bromeliads and orchids. Check trail con- some areas. If you are in a narrow river or 5.5 miles to Hells Bay Chickee ditions first as this trail is often impassable due “Hell to get into and Hell to get out of,” or so pass, and a boat approaches, pull as far to the to shallow water. Trail begins at Bear side as possible, point the bow of your canoe the old timers claimed. This sheltered route Lake Trailhead. or kayak into the boat’s wake, and stop pad- weaves through mangrove creeks and ponds to a series of small bays beyond Lard Can. The 6 Mud Lake Loop dling until the boat passes. trail is marked with more than 160 poles. A 7 miles round trip from Coot Bay Pond National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Everglades Everglades National Park Flamingo Hiking Trails Mosquitoes Be well prepared for mosquitoes on all trails in the Flamingo area. Long pants, closed shoes, and mosquito repellent are recommended. Summer conditions Due to high mosquito levels and wet and muddy conditions most of the trails listed below are not suitable for hiking in summer. 1 Snake Bight of open coastal prairie. Dead buttonwood snags named for Audubon warden Guy Bradley, mur- 1.8 miles one way punctuate these expanses. Trail ends along the dered in 1905 by plume hunters while trying to Don’t let the name fool you! In this play on shore of Snake Bight, best viewed near low tide protect a bird rookery in Florida Bay. This is a words, a “bight” is actually a bay (Snake Bight) for birds. scenic shortcut between the campground area within a bay (Florida Bay). Enter another world and the visitor center and may have lower insect as you travel through a tropical hardwood ham- 4 Bear Lake levels in summer than other trails. mock with dozens of tropical tree species. Bird Trail: 1.6 miles one way watching may be good from the boardwalk at Road: 2 miles one way 7 Bayshore Loop Journey through a dense hardwood hammock the end of the trail if you plan your hike or bike 2 mile loop mixed with mangroves. The trail follows the old ride to arrive near high tide (tide charts availa- Meander along the shore of Florida Bay, watch- Homestead Canal, built in 1922, and can be an ing for remnants of an outpost fishing village. ble at the visitor center). excellent area for woodland birds. The trail is Begin at the Coastal Prairie trailhead at the back home to dozens of Caribbean tree species. of Loop “C” in the campground. Veer left at the 2 Rowdy Bend Bike, drive, or walk to the end of Bear Lake trail junction to the bay. 2.6 mile one way Road to begin this trail, which ends at Bear Explore an overgrown old road bed through Lake. 7 Coastal Prairie shady buttonwoods and open coastal prairie. 7 miles one way This is an opportunity for good woodland bird 5 Eco Pond Step back in time as you walk this old road watching. Combine this trail with the Main Park 1/2 mile loop once used by cotton pickers and fisherman. Road (use caution!) and the Snake Bight Trail This easy stroll around a former water treatment Open prairies of succulent coastal plants dotted for a 12.6 mile round-trip bike ride from the pond provides opportunities to see wading with shady buttonwoods surround you as you Flamingo Visitor Center. birds, shorebirds, and woodland birds, including journey towards the shore of Florida Bay. Begin the beautiful wintering Painted Bunting. at the end of Loop “C” in the campground. A 3 Christian Point backcountry permit is required for camping at 1.8 miles one way 6 Guy Bradley Trail Clubhouse Beach. Wander a rustic path through a wide diversity .5 miles to campground of habitats. The trail begins in dense mangroves Look for a variety of birds and butterflies as and buttonwoods full of bromeliads. Next, in- you walk along the shore of Florida Bay. Old Bicycles permitted, but always be cau- vestigate the unusual, salt-loving vegetation pier pilings are a reminder that Flamingo was tious for hikers on these sometimes once a small fishing village. The trail was winding trails. 6/13 .