Miami's Best Walking and Hiking Trails

Greater Miami & Miami Beach may be known for its white sandy shores, diverse culinary scene and vibrant nightlife, but it’s also a haven for hiking enthusiasts. With mostly flat terrain and year-round sunshine, it’s easy to enjoy hiking trails in Miami that span through mangroves, coastal paths, cypress swamps and other uniquely Florida habitats. 

Whether you’re looking for a casual stroll or a more rigorous challenge, you’ll find scenic trails in Miami for hikers and walkers of all levels.

Easy Trails for Casual Walks & Sightseeing

Anhinga Trail (Everglades National Park, Homestead entrance)

0.8 miles | 20 minutes

Winding through scenic sawgrass marsh, this trail is perfect for spotting alligators, turtles, herons, egrets and more. Anhinga Trail is one of the most popular walks at Everglades National Park, not only because of the plentiful wildlife, but also because of its accessibility. 

Visitors who use wheelchairs can easily navigate this path, which is a boardwalk in some areas and pavement in others. The trailhead is near the Royal Palm Information Station, which is a short drive from the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center at the main park entrance in Homestead.

Matheson Hammock Park

1.4 miles | 30 minutes

Tucked against Biscayne Bay in Coral Gables, the lush tropical foliage and marina at Matheson Hammock Park make for an oasis-like atmosphere. Hiking in Miami doesn’t get much better than a leisurely stroll around the 1.4-mile loop that crosses over rugged limestone terrain but is still easy enough for hikers of all skill levels. Along the way, you’ll see one of the area’s last remaining sections of ancient hardwood hammock. 

If you care to cool off, the park is also home to a manmade atoll pool that’s a popular swimming spot for families, thanks to its calm water. Then grab a meal at NOMA Beach at Redfish, a waterfront restaurant within the park.

Bear Cut Preserve (Crandon Park)

2 miles | 45 minutes

Located at the northern end of Key Biscayne, Bear Cut Preserve is a protected area within Crandon Park with a two-mile network of short, easy-to-explore trails. Walk along sand dunes on the Osprey Beach Trail, admire maritime hammocks on the Tequesta Hammock Trail, and enjoy some shade under sea grape and mangrove trees on the Bear Cut Nature Trail. 

You can also wander down the paved Fossil Reef Bike Trail, which leads to a fossilized mangrove reef forest and one of the best views of the Miami skyline. 

Stop at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center for details about these trails and naturalist-led tours of the area.

Intermediate/Moderate Trails for Longer Walks & Light Adventure

Oleta River State Park Trails

3 miles | 1 hour

Known for its thrilling mountain biking trails, Oleta River State Park in North Miami Beach also offers a paved three-mile loop that’s ideal for hikers. You’ll catch views of sunny Biscayne Bay as you meander through mangroves and walk past gumbo limbo trees. After your hike, explore more of the park’s 1,000+ acres and cool off in the calm waters at the bayfront beach.

Robin’s Birding Trail and Lighthouse Loop (Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park)

3 miles | 1 hour

Head to the southern tip of Key Biscayne for a beachfront walk at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, which is home to more than 200 bird species. The three-mile Robin’s Birding Trail and Lighthouse Loop highlights this wildlife while taking you down the mangrove-lined shores and around No Name Harbor. 

The trail also leads to Bill Baggs’ biggest highlight: the historic lighthouse. Time your hike properly to catch one of the tours that allow you to climb up the lighthouse and enjoy panoramic views. The lighthouse is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Tours are available between 10 a.m. and noon on all other days of the week.

Spite Highway Trail (Biscayne National Park)

6 miles | 2 hours

Ninety-five percent of Biscayne National Park is made of water, so it’s no surprise that many of its trails can only be explored in a kayak or on a paddleboard. 

Spite Highway Trail is the exception. The six-mile path is on Elliott Key, which can only be accessed by boat but is worth the effort to tour the national park’s largest island. A walk through this maritime forest reveals abundant mangroves, buttonwood, gumbo-limbo and torchwood trees. Fully equipped campgrounds are also available on the island for overnight stays.

Expert/Difficult Trails for Experienced Hikers & Adventurers

Old Cutler Trail (Coral Gables to Cutler Bay)

11 miles | 5 hours

Hit the Old Cutler Trail for an urban hiking experience that takes you past some of Miami’s most elegant houses and lush parks as well as through picturesque tunnels of banyan and oak trees. The paved trail follows a historic former wagon track (currently Old Cutler Road) from Coral Gables to Cutler Bay, with potential pit stops at Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden and Pinecrest Gardens. 

Start your walk at Ingraham Terrace Park at the north end of the trail, where there’s parking in Cocoplum Circle. For slightly shorter hikes, park at the lot across from Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, officially designated for trail users, or leave your vehicle at the larger lot at Pinecrest Gardens.

Tram Road (Everglades National Park, Shark Valley Entrance)

15 miles | 7 hours

Tram Road is a paved trail through Everglades National Park that is popular among cyclists, but hikers looking for a challenge frequent it as well. The looped path starts and ends at the Shark Valley Visitor Center, along Tamiami Trail (Southwest 8th Street), and is one of the best ways to catch a surprisingly close glimpse of sunbathing alligators. 

At the halfway point, you’ll find the Shark Valley Observation Tower. Standing 70 feet tall, it’s the highest point in the park, offering panoramic views of the surrounding wetlands. There is no shade and there aren’t any water refill stations along this trail, and the only restrooms are at the observation tower, so make sure to plan ahead.

Florida National Scenic Trail (Big Cypress National Preserve)(Ochopee)

36 miles

The entire Florida National Scenic Trail stretches 1,300 miles, but you can explore a section of it by heading to the trailhead at the Oasis Visitor Center at Big Cypress National Preserve, about 58 miles west of Downtown Miami along Tamiami Trail (Southwest 8th Street). 

The trail winds through hardwood hammocks, pinelands and prairies, with plenty of towering cypress trees along the way. This trail is not heavily marked, and vegetation often overgrows the path, making it more suited for experienced hikers. 

For an overnight adventure, there are also campgrounds around mile marker 13. 

This trail is best during the dry season (November-April) as rainy months often bring waist-deep water to the area.