Anhinga Trail starts the Everglades near Homestead

Anhinga Trail is one of the simplest ways to start an Everglades visit near Homestead.

The National Park Service trail begins at Royal Palm, a few miles from the main entrance and Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center. It winds through sawgrass marsh, where visitors may see alligators, turtles, anhingas, herons, egrets, and other birds. Winter often brings strong bird activity, but wildlife is still wildlife. Sightings change by day.

For Homestead, the trail helps explain why the city is a real Everglades gateway. The park is not an abstract wilderness far away. It starts with roads, visitor centers, short walks, water levels, and weather right at South Dade’s edge.

Check NPS before you go. Confirm entrance details, trail status, closures, heat, bugs, wildlife guidance, and alerts. Bring water and give animals space. A short trail can still feel very Florida when the sun and marsh are doing their work.