With South Florida still in the throes of summer heat, hiking might seem like a bonkers idea. But there are some beautiful shaded treks to be had in the region.
To find the coolest trails, we spoke with two folks who’ve spent thousands of hours outdoors protecting Florida’s wilderness.
National Geographic Explorer and photographer Carlton Ward Jr. founded the Florida Wildlife Corridor campaign in 2010 and has since hiked 2,000 miles of the state’s wilderness.
Tori Linder is a conservationist and storyteller serving as the managing director of Path of the Panther, which pushes for the protection of the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
The Wildlife Corridor they both work on is an interconnected patchwork of national parks, state forests and private ranches that form a spine of wilderness up through the state, from the mangrove fringe in the Everglades north to Panhandle.
The idea is to give animals, such as black bear, deer and the endangered Florida panther, a path on which to migrate, mingle and better survive. Without it, their populations could become trapped within seas of concrete and suburbia.
Parts of the corridor also give humans a place to take a break from civilization. Here, Ward and Linder describe four of their favorite shaded hikes, all within the Wildlife Corridor, and all within a few hours drive (or less) from Broward and Palm Beach counties. Just be sure to bring plenty of water.
!function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,(function(e){if(void 0!==e.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var t=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var a in e.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r=0;r<t.length;r++){if(t[r].contentWindow===e.source)t[r].style.height=e.data["datawrapper-height"][a]+"px"}}}))}();
Carlton Ward Jr.
Hike #1: East Loop Trail at Jonathan Dickinson State Park
Location and Travel: 16450 SE Federal Hwy, Hobe Sound. The park is just 45 minutes north of Palm Beach County by car, and an hour and 20 minutes from Fort Lauderdale.
Is there an entry fee? The state park entry fee is $6 per vehicle.
How long is the trail? This is a 9.8-mile trail that can be done as a long day hike, or an overnight trip if you stay at the Scrub Jay campsite.
Is it kid-friendly, and what age? The trail is moderately challenging and is suitable for older children.
Is it dog-friendly? Dogs are welcome, but must be kept on a leash.
Why do you like this hike? This hike provides a unique opportunity to experience Florida scrub habitat near the Atlantic coast. It is also a multi-use trail popular for “mountain” biking.
What’s the terrain like? Are there any geological or geographical elements you find fascinating? You’ll traverse through pine flatwoods and sandy pine scrub habitat. This trail is particularly interesting because it passes over some of the tallest dunes in South Florida.
What kind of plants and animals might be of interest on the hike? Any safety concerns with any of these? There are many endangered gopher tortoises that can be seen while hiking this trail. Be wary of their holes. Oftentimes, they’re inhabited by snakes as well.
How buggy is it? Moderately buggy; more so at dawn and dusk.
What is a favorite moment, memory for you on this hike? In 2020 for the Audubon Society, I photographed a team of ornithologists releasing a pair of endangered Florida scrub jays as part of a new study. The scrub jays came from Ocala and were being released here in the hopes that they will replenish the genetics of subsequent generations.
Any favorite spots along the trail? Through the flatwoods, the trail passes the ruins of a structure built in 1942 by the U.S. Army known as Camp Murphy.
Why is this place special to you and special to Florida? This area of Jonathan Dickinson State Park is important for the recovery of the most endangered bird in North America — the Florida scrub jay. It is one of the last remaining patches of scrub habitat in the state. It serves as a reminder that without the Florida Wildlife Corridor intact, these places can disappear to development along with their unique wildlife.
Hike #2: CREW Marsh Trails in the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed
Location and Travel: 4600 Corkscrew Road, Immokalee. This wilderness area is about an hour inland by car from Fort Myers Beach, and an hour and 55 minutes west of Fort Lauderdale.
Is there an entry fee? There is no fee, however donations are accepted at the trailhead.
How long will the hike take? Or how many miles is it? This is a network of trails offering 5.0 miles of fairly easy hiking. There are multiple loops of various lengths, giving you the option to choose a longer or shorter hike.
Is it kid-friendly, and what age? This trail is great for all age groups.
Is it dog-friendly? Dogs are welcome on this trail, but must be on a leash.
Give a general idea of why you like this hike. This hike is a good example of how ecologically diverse Florida is.
What’s the terrain like? Are there any geological or geographical elements you find fascinating? The trails here are wide and covered in either grass or sand. You’ll trek mostly through pine flatwoods and oak hammocks. Sections of the trail will pass popash sloughs and traverse the edge of a 5,000-acre sawgrass marsh critical to the surrounding wetland ecosystems.
What kind of plants and animals might be of interest on the hike? Any safety concerns with any of these? This trail is a popular spot for birding. In fact, swallow tailed kites nest in this area every spring. Throughout the trail you will find native wildflowers such as prairie milkweed and marsh pink.
How buggy is it? It is Florida, so bugs can be expected here. However, on this trail they tend to be pretty moderate during the day.
Any food or drink recommendations nearby? A decent place to grab dinner after a long day of hiking? About 12 miles south in the town of Immokalee is an excellent Mexican restaurant called Mr. Taco. Be sure to try their aguas frescas in different seasonal flavors.
What is a favorite moment, memory for you on this hike? For a few years, I had a camera trap set up on this trail. It captured some great images of wildlife including Florida black bears and endangered Florida panthers. It also remains one of my only camera trap sites on public land. So in addition to wildlife, it captured many images of hikers and curious dogs. Some of those images were funny to look through.
What’s a favorite spot, bend, creek or sight along the hike? For the more adventurous, there is a primitive campsite located in a beautiful oak hammock on the west side of the marsh.
Why is this place special to you and special to Florida? This trail system is located in a crucial part of the Florida Wildlife Corridor. It offers habitat for a plethora of endangered species, while also recharging the aquifer and providing flood control. It’s a great example of how the Corridor benefits both people and nature.
Tori Linder
Hike #1: Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Location and Travel: 375 Sanctuary Road W, Naples. The sanctuary sits just northeast of Naples, about an hour and 55 minutes from Fort Lauderdale by car.
Is there an entry fee? Yes. $17 for general admission, and it’s best to reserve online at corkscrew.audubon.org. Children 6-14 are $6, children under 6 are free.
How long will the hike take? Or how many miles is it? 1 1/2 hours.
It’s a 2.25-mile boardwalk, and there’s a shortcut if you prefer a shorter hike, or are with young kids. There’s lots to stop and see along the way.
Is it kid-friendly? Yes.
Is it dog-friendly? No
Give a general idea of why you like this hike. The sanctuary is home to the world’s largest remaining old-growth bald cypress forest. These towering trees provide a view of what South Florida once looked like before human disturbance and logging. Corkscrew and the adjacent protected areas also play a critical role in protecting wildlands for the endangered Florida panther.
What’s the terrain like? Are there any geological or geographical elements you find fascinating? The boardwalk covers a full mosaic of habitats ranging from pine flatwoods, wet prairie and marsh to old growth cypress.
What kind of plants and animals might be of interest on the hike? Any safety concerns with any of these? Keep an eye out for alligators, otters, owls, white-tailed deer, storks, and red-bellied turtles. Florida panthers and black bears also call Corkscrew home though your chances of seeing one are exceptionally low.
How buggy is it? It’s best to wear a long-sleeve shirt and pants just in case.
Any food or drink recommendations nearby? As Carlton mentioned, Mr. Taco in Immokalee is my go-to.
What is a favorite moment, memory for you on this hike? An extended period of eye contact with a barred owl made for a memorable occasion on my list visit. I also always enjoy watching the otters play in the marsh habitat.
What’s a favorite spot, bend, creek or sight along the hike? If you visit during the summer months try to grab a glimpse of Corkscrew’s “super ghost,” a large clump of ghost orchids located high in an old growth cypress tree. Volunteers on site and placards should be able to point you in the right direction. You can learn more about it in the film Chasing Ghosts, which our team helped produce.
Why is this place special to you and special to Florida? A sign welcomes visitors to Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. It reads, “You have to save the swamp a hundred times, you only get to lose it once.” The message is a nod to the conservationists who protected one of the last stands of towering old growth cypress trees in Florida clear cutting nearly a century ago. With each passing year since the founding of the Path of the Panther project, those words have come to mean more to me. They are a testament to the generations of conservationists who have given us 10 million acres of public protected land in Florida, and they are a reminder how quickly we could lose the Florida Wildlife Corridor if we don’t rise to the new challenges of today.
Hike #2: Knobby Knee Trail, Fisheating Creek Water Management Area
Location and Travel: 7555 US Highway 27, North Palmdale. The conservation area is a bit west of Lake Okeechobee, an hour-and-50-minute drive from both Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale.
Is there an entry fee? Yes. $2 per person
How long will the hike take? Or how many miles is it? 1.7 miles.
Is it kid-friendly, and what age? Yes.
Is it dog-friendly? Yes
Give a general idea of why you like this hike. This hike provides an opportunity to explore the Fisheating Creek floodplain. Depending on the time of year you visit, be prepared to get wet. I always recommend paddling on Fisheating Creek while you’re there.
What’s the terrain like? Are there any geological or geographical elements you find fascinating? The floodplain is home to lots of cypress knees, hence the name of the trail. In the dry season, it’s fun to see the different forms they take.
What kind of plants and animals might be of interest on the hike? Any safety concerns with any of these? Keep an eye out for watersnakes. Always give wildlife space. Wading birds, osprey, hawks and, depending on the time of year, swallow-tailed kites, are sure to be seen.
How buggy is it? Moderate to high depending on the time of year. Winter is less buggy.
What is a favorite moment, memory for you on this hike? I did this hike on a full moon with two National Geographic explorers, Dr. Shireen Rahimi and Erika Larsen. The moon illuminating the creek is a memory I won’t soon forget.
What’s a favorite spot, bend, creek or sight along the hike? The hike provides great opportunities to look out on the winding Fisheating Creek.
Why is this place special to you and special to Florida? The name Fisheating Creek is derived from the indigenous Creek phrase Thlothlopopka-hatchee, meaning “the creek where fish are eaten.” The first known settlement occurred along the banks of Fisheating Creek between 1,000 and 500 B.C. Visiting always seems to put time in perspective.
