Bird and Wildlife Watching Along Everglades Flamingo Trails

This Green Scene story spotlights an environmentally focused attraction, event, person or place that enriches the Florida Keys

The Flamingo region of Everglades National Park, located within Florida’s Monroe County, is considered the mainland section of the Florida Keys. 

Included in this vast area of the park is Florida Bay, the Wilderness Waterway boat and paddling trail, the Flamingo Marina providing access for boaters and paddlers to Florida and Whitewater Bays, and many hiking trails within easy access of guests staying at the new Flamingo Everglades Lodge. 

Avid bird watchers and native plant enthusiasts are fans of Snake Bight Trail, but don't let the name deter you from this popular route. In this play on words, "bight" is a small bay called Snake Bight within the larger Florida Bay.

The flat pathway takes walkers through a tropical hardwood hammock with dozens of tropical tree species. A sign at the trailhead warns that the pathway is not being maintained because of potential damage to critical habitat for the endangered Cape Sable thoroughwort, a perennial herb that grows up to 40 inches tall. 

Long pants and sleeves are recommended due to overhanging branches of a variety of plants and trees including several species of cactus. 

The trail is mostly hard packed soil with a canal on one side and mangrove estuary on the other. At the end near the boardwalk the area is often muddy, so boots or other close-toed shoes are best. 

The trail runs a straight 3.6 miles out-and-back from Main Park Road to Snake Bight, with a viewing boardwalk at the end. It’s a safe bet that hikers will find serious birdwatchers stationed along the boardwalk with large camera lenses and binoculars aimed at gatherings of birds on a mudflat that is exposed at low tide.

From November to April, hikers are likely to be rewarded with views of both white and brown pelicans, roseate spoonbills, as wells as varieties of herons, egrets, warblers, and occasionally, flamingos. 

In addition to birds, those stationed on the boardwalk may see either alligators or crocodiles, since the bight is in an area where freshwater — preferred by alligators —flows into Florida Bay’s saltwater — preferred by crocodiles. 

There are eight hiking trails and seven paddling trails in the Flamingo portion of the park with varying levels of difficulty, all with excellent opportunities for bird and wildlife watching as well as views of the vast and varied Everglades ecosystem.

Along Main Park Road visitors can access even more trails including the popular Anhinga Trail with its boardwalk bordering Taylor Slough, accessible from the Royal Palm Visitor Center. 

Difficulty level: Easy to moderate
Best for: Nature lovers, especially bird and botanical enthusiasts 
Admission: $35 per vehicle, motorcycles $30, cyclists age 16 and up $20. All amounts cover seven days of park access. 
Address: 1 Flamingo Lodge Highway
Nearby lodging: Flamingo Everglades Lodge and the Flamingo and Long Pine Key Campgrounds within the park, Reefhouse Resort & Marina in Key Largo
Nearby dining: Everglades Flamingo Lodge or Buzzard’s Roost, Blackwater Siren and The Fish House in Key Largo