The 1.5 million acres that make up Everglades National Park is amazingly diverse, everything from saltwater marshes near Florida Bay to the hardwood hammock through which the Gumbo Limbo Trail winds. The trail is a short hike, perhaps 30 minutes or less; the trailhead sits near the Royal Palm Visitors Center and the trail ends there. The trail is well named as gumbo limbo trees like the large one seen in this photo dominate the hammock, but you'll also find strangler figs, cabbage palms, pigeon plum, paradise trees and more. The understory includes shrubs like wild coffee, cocoplum and myrsine, plus a variety of ferns, inculding long strap and golden polypody. The trail itself is asphalt and narrow; tree roots pose a bit of a tripping hazard in places.
NEXT STOP: The Beginning — Royal Palm State Park
RETURN TO THE TOUR PAGE —||— RETURN TO THE MAIN PAGE
NEXT STOP: The Beginning — Royal Palm State Park
RETURN TO THE TOUR PAGE —||— RETURN TO THE MAIN PAGE