Everglades National Park: Snake Bight and Rowdy Bends Trails
Hike among flamingos, tropical trees, and salt breezes on this 7.6-mile loop.
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This park is the only subtropical preserve in North America. Explore its diversity on this 7.6-mile loop via two trails and the Main Park Road, starting at the Snake Bight trailhead. Pass through a tropical forest paralleling the Snake Bight canal, and emerge in a coastal prairie of buttonwoods and salt hay, ending after 2 miles at an observation platform with a sweeping view of the bight. Watch for flamingos on the mud flats; a small flock returns from the Yucatan every December. Backtrack 0.3 mile to the unmarked opening on the left that puts you on the Rowdy Bend Trail. Walk under cabbage palms, blolly, and mahogany to the Main Park Road at 4.9 miles. Turn right and walk the mangrove-lined road for 2.7 miles, passing Coot Bay and Mrazek Ponds en route to the trailhead. Mosquitoes usually tag along, so bring bug spray.Hike provided by the Florida Trail Association
Waypoints
SBT001
Location: 25.201019, -80.874224
Snake Bight Trailhead