One of the most popular trails in the Everglades for its abundance of wildlife: a short self-guided loop through the sawgrass where alligators and wading birds are often close to the path.
Photo: National Park Service/Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Distance
1.2 km
Time
Under an hour for the 0.8-mile
Difficulty
Easy – wheelchair accessible
Start
Royal Palm Visitor Center, 4 miles (6 km) from the main park entrance at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, near Homestead
Past
The sawgrass marsh, Alligators, turtles, anhingas, herons, egrets and many other birds, The boardwalk over open water
Season
Wildlife is best in winter (National Park Service). The park is open 24 hours a day. Royal Palm is roughly 80 minutes' drive from Downtown Miami without traffic (routing estimate).
With children
Short, flat and wheelchair accessible, so it suits pushchairs and small children; keep your distance from alligators. Park entrance $20–35 per vehicle, plus $100 per person for non-US residents aged 16 and over since 1 January 2026 (National Park Service).
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