Top Parks In South Florida For A Winter Nature Walk

The winter season in South Florida was not meant to be spent indoors. While some people will brave the chilly water temperatures, others prefer a much drier activity. Take a camera and go for a nature walk at one of the many parks around South Florida. Some of the trails at the parks in this area are short 20-minute walks, while other hiking trails are much longer and can take up to 1 1/2 hours to complete.

Deering Estate At Cutler

16701 SW 72nd Ave.
Miami, FL
(305) 235-1668
www.deeringestate.org

Deering Estate, located along Biscayne Bay, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Historic homes, ancient artifacts, lush natural areas and beautiful waterways make Deering Estate an outdoorsman's paradise. Visitors can take a walk on one of many nature trails located throughout Deering Estate, or sign up for a guided tour through the historical preserves. The entrance fee for Deering Estate is $12 for adults and $7 for children.

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

3109 E. Sunrise Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
(954) 564-4521
www.floridastateparks.org

There are two short hiking trails available for hikers at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. The trails are surrounded by native plants and wildlife for viewing by nature lovers. The Coastal Hammock Trail is a 20-minute hike through a natural hardwood hammock area native to the area. The Mid Trail goes through a different section of the park that contains plants brought to the area by Mr. Birch so many years ago. Self-guided audio tours are available on visitor's cell phones to enable them to truly enjoy the hike around Mid Trail.

Pinecrest Gardens

11000 Red Road
Pinecrest, FL 33156
(305) 669-6942
pinecrest-fl.gov

Pinecrest Gardens has everything that a nature lover could want. There are natural caves, sinkholes, rare and exotic plants and exotic birds. Hikers can explore the park's tropical hardwood hammocks, native cypress sloughs, the remnants of the Snapper Creek streambed or the beautiful rock formations native plants and wildlife can be found throughout Pinecrest Gardens. Some of the walkways are paved, others are limestone paths, but all the walkways lead back to the beginning so there is little chance of getting lost.

Related: Top Parks In South Florida 

(Source: nps.gov)

Everglades National Park

40001 State Road 9336
Homestead, FL 33034
(305) 242-7700
nps.gov

Everglades National Park offers many different trails for a nice winter walk. On Anhinga Trail, hikers can see turtles, alligators and herons, as well as a diverse amount of plant life. Shark Valley has a 65-foot tower where visitors can get a great view of the everglades and see the flora and fauna that lives within Everglades National Park. There are many other trails within Everglades National Park that hikers can enjoy. Anyone who visits the park should take lots of sunscreen and also plenty of insect spray to fend off the myriad of insects in the everglades.

John U Lloyd Beach State Park

6503 N. Ocean Drive
Dania Beach, FL 33004
(954) 923-2833
floridastateparks.org

There is a 45-minute meandering self-guided tour through the native subtropical coastal hammock that is a part of this park. There is even a barrier island located in the park's perimeter where visitors can walk along the beach. Visitors can see raccoons, squirrels, and lots of different kinds of birds. John U Lloyd State Park is a hidden gem in the South Florida area. This place also contains some of the most spectacular dune areas in South Florida.

Related: Best Historical Parks In South Florida 
Katherine Bostick is a freelance writer covering all things Tampa Bay. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.