Some of the best wildlife watching in South Florida happens on a boardwalk 15 minutes from a strip mall. These easy walks are flat, mostly shaded or short, and great for kids, cameras and early mornings. Several are free.
Palm Beach County
- Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Delray Beach. Free. A three-quarter-mile boardwalk loop through wetlands packed with herons, wood storks, gallinules and the occasional gator. Nesting season in winter and spring is spectacular.
- Green Cay Wetlands, Boynton Beach. A longer, quieter boardwalk (about 1.5 miles) with a nature center. Good for spotting roseate spoonbills.
- Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, Boynton Beach. The northern edge of the Everglades, with a cypress swamp boardwalk and levee trails. Entrance is $10 per vehicle per day.
- Grassy Waters Preserve, West Palm Beach. The city’s freshwater supply doubles as a 20-plus square mile wetland, with a boardwalk and guided canoe trips.
Broward
- Anne Kolb Nature Center, Hollywood. Mangrove boardwalks in West Lake Park and an observation tower with views over the lake to the beach. Rent a kayak for the mangrove trails.
- Fern Forest Nature Center, Coconut Creek. A shady boardwalk through a cypress and fern forest that feels like old Florida.
- Tree Tops Park, Davie. Shady trails through a live oak hammock and a boardwalk over the marsh.
Miami-Dade
- Oleta River State Park, North Miami Beach. Florida’s largest urban park, with mangrove paddling trails and miles of mountain bike paths.
- Matheson Hammock Park, Coral Gables. A mangrove walking trail and a calm atoll pool on Biscayne Bay, perfect for little kids.
- Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park. Worth the drive past Homestead for the best gator and bird viewing around. See our Everglades day trip guide.
Tips
- Go at sunrise. The light is best, the birds are busiest, and it’s cooler.
- Bring binoculars, bug spray and water. Most boardwalks have little shade.
- Stay on the boardwalk and keep your voice down. You’ll see more.
Further reading
- Wakodahatchee Wetlands (Palm Beach County Parks)
- Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands (Palm Beach County Parks)
- Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
- Oleta River State Park (Florida State Parks)
- Matheson Hammock Park (Miami-Dade Parks)
- Royal Palm and the Anhinga Trail (National Park Service)
Hours, prices and tour times change. Check each spot’s website before you go.