By the nature of the Everglades wetlands, the number and length of hiking trails are limited. The better ones are built on elevated boardwalks that let you experience the unique wetlands ecosystem up close, but high and dry.
Situated in the “River of Grass” are small islands on which rather dense vegetation can grow. The Mahogany Hammock Trail allows you to visit such a place.
The boardwalk leaves the parking lot, loops around an island and returns you to your starting point. It’s a very easy walk, only a half mile long, and is handicap accessible. But it can be hot and buggy, so be prepared.
You’ll pass a lot of interesting sights on your walk. Our first was this plump locust, just sitting there on the walkway.
There are ferns, saw palmettos, and lots of epiphytes (“air plants”) growing on the limbs of trees. The largest mahogany tree in the USA grows beside this boardwalk.
