Trip details · Anhinga Trail

Anhinga Trail packing checklist

ActivityDay hike
ParkEverglades National Park, FL
NearestAlum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte, 728 mi

A flat, 0.8-mile paved path and boardwalk loop over the sawgrass marsh of Taylor Slough, at the Royal Palm area of Everglades National Park. It is one of the best places in the park to see alligators, turtles, anhingas, herons and egrets, especially in the winter dry season. Alligators close to the path, black vultures that damage cars, mosquitoes, heat, afternoon storms and hurricane season are the main things to plan for.

Trip details

Distance: 0.8 mi (1,200 m) round trip on a paved path and a looping boardwalk
Elevation gain: None. The trail is flat, about 4 ft above sea level
Route: From the Royal Palm visitor area, a paved path follows the water to a looping boardwalk over sawgrass marsh and the clear water of Taylor Slough, then returns the same way. The 0.4-mile Gumbo Limbo Trail starts at the same spot
Difficulty: Easy. Flat and wheelchair and stroller accessible. Allow about 1 to 2 hours to watch wildlife
Trailhead: Royal Palm visitor area, about 2 miles west of the main entrance station near the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center (Homestead entrance, 40001 State Road 9336). Make the first left turn after the entrance gate. Flush restrooms, drinking water, a water bottle filling station and a small bookstore
Fees and permits: $35 per private vehicle, $30 per motorcycle, or $20 per person, good for 7 days. Under 16 free. Non-US residents 16 and older pay an extra $100. Card or digital pass only. No permit needed
Hours: The park and the Homestead entrance are open 24 hours. The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center is open 9 am to 5 pm in the wet season and 8 am to 5 pm in the dry season. The Royal Palm bookstore is open 9 am to 4 pm
Pets: Not allowed on the trail or boardwalk. Service animals only
Best season: December to April, in the dry season, when wildlife gathers at the slough and it is cooler with fewer mosquitoes (our pick)

Source

“Our pick” seasons are our own call.

Packing list

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Before you go

Check alerts and closures. Look at NPS Everglades: current conditions the day before. As of Oct 28, 2026, no alert is listed for Royal Palm or the Anhinga Trail. Elsewhere in the park, the East Everglades Day Use Area and a few wilderness campsites are closed, and roadwork on US 41 (Tamiami Trail) can cause delays of up to 15 minutes.
Check the weather and the tropics. Look at the National Weather Service forecast for the Anhinga Trail and, until November 30, the National Hurricane Center. The park may close for a storm; call 305-242-7700 for updates. NPS Everglades: weather
Bring a card for the entrance fee. The park doesn’t take cash. Use a credit or debit card, or buy a digital pass ahead of time. NPS Everglades: fees and passes
Protect your car from vultures. Park in full sun away from groups of vultures, and use a tarp or car cover if one is available. NPS Everglades: safety
Leave pets at home. Pets aren’t allowed on any trail here, and they can’t be left unattended. NPS Everglades: pets
Tell someone your plan. Let someone know where you’re going and when you’ll be back, as the park suggests. In an emergency call 911. NPS Everglades: safety
Know when to leave. Get off the boardwalk if you hear thunder, back away from any alligator that hisses or moves toward you, and head for shade and water if anyone feels the heat.

This list is a starting point, not a guarantee. Conditions change, so adjust it for your trip and your group.

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Check off what you already have. For anything you still need, there’s a product suggestion when we have a good match.

Trip-specific: permits and hazards

The Ten Essentials (NPS)

Water: about 1 liter per personRoyal Palm has drinking water and a water bottle filling station at the trailhead. The walk is short, but in this heat we suggest carrying about 1 liter per person, more if you also walk the Gumbo Limbo Trail or stay to watch wildlife. The park says to bring water, especially in summer.
Nalgene Tritan Wide Mouth 32 oz (Gray, Black Lid)
$16.99 on Amazon
Holds about 1 liter. Top it up at the Royal Palm water bottle filling station before you start.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
Source: NPS Everglades: Royal Palm · NPS Everglades: safety
Food and snacksBring a snack and eat it at the car or picnic area rather than on the boardwalk. The Royal Palm bookstore sells snacks, and there is a vending machine. Never feed wildlife.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: NPS Everglades: Royal Palm · NPS Everglades: safety
NavigationThe trail is a short paved path and boardwalk loop that is easy to follow. Pick up a park map at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center on the way in, and tell someone your plans, as the park suggests. The park lists cell signal at Royal Palm.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: NPS Everglades: safety · NPS Everglades: Royal Palm · NPS Everglades: Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center
HeadlampThe trail is a popular place to watch sunrise and sunset, and the park is open 24 hours. If you stay for sunset, a headlamp gets you back to the car. Watch for alligators near the path after dark.
Petzl Tikka Headlamp
$34.95 on Amazon
For a sunrise or sunset walk, when the light is best and alligators are most active.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
Source: NPS Everglades: Anhinga Trail · NPS Everglades: operating hours · NPS Everglades: safety
Sun protectionThe boardwalk crosses open sawgrass marsh under a wide sky. The park suggests a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
Banana Boat Sport SPF 50 Sunscreen Spray, 6 oz (2 pack)
$13.86 on Amazon
The boardwalk crosses open marsh, and the park lists sunscreen as a must for outdoor activities.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
Source: NPS Everglades: Anhinga Trail · NPS Everglades: the wet season · NPS Everglades: safety
Light clothing and rain gearWear cool, loose clothes. Long sleeves and pants help with mosquitoes. Bring a light rain jacket or umbrella for afternoon storms, which usually pass quickly.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: NPS Everglades: the wet season · NPS Everglades: safety
First aid kitFor bites, stings, scrapes and blisters. If anyone feels sick from the heat, get them into shade or the car’s air conditioning and have them drink water. Royal Palm has a first aid kit, and rangers are often there. In an emergency, call 911.
Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .5
$31.95 on Amazon
A small, watertight kit for scrapes, stings and blisters, light enough to carry on a short walk.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
Source: NPS Everglades: Royal Palm · NPS Everglades: safety
Fire starter and emergency shelterOn a short walk from the car, your car is your shelter: get into it, or a building, when a storm builds. Keep a lighter in your pack or car; it weighs almost nothing.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: NPS Everglades: weather · NPS: the Ten Essentials
Knife or repair kitA small knife or multi-tool is handy for quick fixes, like trimming tape or a blister pad.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: NPS: the Ten Essentials

Prices and stock checked on Amazon on Oct 28, 2026, and may have changed.

Photos

The Anhinga Trail boardwalk curving over a marsh covered in water lilies under an evening sky — Photo: Dylann Turffs, National Park Service · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

An American alligator resting at the water’s edge beside a tree trunk on the Anhinga Trail — Photo: D. Diaz, National Park Service · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons