Castellow Hammock Preserve & Nature Center is a tropical hardwood forest and nature preserve nestled in South Dade’s Redland area, with a half-mile hiking trail. This area is considered Miami’s heartland, where farmers grow and cultivate acres of citrus, strawberries, tomatoes, honey and palms. Just an hour’s drive from Downtown Miami, it’s a true departure from the hustle and bustle of the city. You’ll find yourself on long country roads beneath wide open blue skies, surrounded by flat green fields and towering palm trees.

Natural Wonders

Named for James S. Castellow, an early 20th-century citrus farmer and homesteader, Castellow Hammock preserves the wilderness of Miami’s early pioneering days. At 112 acres and with a relatively short hiking trail, it makes for a perfect introduction to the area’s natural environment with its forest canopy of mahogany, gumbo limbo and Jamaican dogwood trees offering a shaded and comparatively cool hike with some seriously dramatic scenery. Part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, Castellow Hammock Preserve is a popular destination for birders. You might spot warblers, woodpeckers and hummingbirds flitting through the trees next to butterflies

The park also hosts evening programming like naturalist-led night hikes in search of screech owls, bats, raccoons and other nocturnal creatures, concluding with campfire storytelling. Call ahead to (305) 242-7688 or check the website for information. These group activities adhere to social distancing and CDC guidelines.

Visiting Information

The park is accessible through a small nature center with restrooms. In the park, educational markers on the trail offer information about the plants and wildlife. There are also benches and picnic tables near the entrance in case you decide to pack a lunch. Check with the park for hours and amenity availability. An adventure to the peaceful Redland and Castellow Hammock Preserve makes for a fantastic excursion for anyone eager to discover a different side of Miami.