Gumbo Limbo Trail at Royal Palm in Everglades National Park
See the Hiking web page for an interactive location map.
Length: .4-mile loop
Time: 20 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
There are two short trails near the Royal Palm Visitor Center at Everglades National Park, the Gumbo Limbo Trail, named after a tree, and the Anhinga Trail, named after a bird. As you might expect, the Gumbo Limbo Trail focuses on the trees and vegetation in the area, and the Anhinga Trail is all about animals. The two trails run in separate directions, so you cannot join them together to form one hike.
While termed a “loop trail,” the Gumbo Limbo Trail is really C-shaped with two trailheads located far apart. I got on the trail by walking out the back of the Visitor Center and following the paved path until coming to a trailhead marked by a sign. When you finish the hike you will find yourself at the other trailhead, which is located in front of the Visitor Center, off to the right in a large grassy area. It makes no difference which end you start on.
The Gumbo Limbo Trail is paved and leads through what is known as a hardwood hammock. A hammock is a section of ground that has a slightly higher elevation than the surrounding wetlands. In the case of the Everglades, a higher elevation may just be a few feet. This drier environment allows hardwoods, pines, and other vegetation that cannot grow in the water to flourish.
Typical terrain of the Gumbo Limbo Trail
Along the trail are signs that identify the different trees and discuss how the forest was formed. The most interesting tree is the one that gives the trail its name, the Gumbo Limbo tree. It is also known as the Tourist tree for its red and peeling bark, just like a tourist’s skin after a few days in Florida.
Gumbo Limbo Trees
Flaky bark on a Gumbo Limbo tree
Towards the end of the trail—at least when hiking in the clockwise direction as I was—is a boardwalk that crosses over a water hole. I did not see any alligators in the hole, or wildlife in general for that matter. Head over to the Anhinga Trail for that.
Water hole on the Gumbo Limbo Trail
The last point of interest on the Gumbo Limbo Trail is a solution hole. The ground of south Florida is comprised of a flat, limestone shelf. Try to dig into the dirt and you’ll hit rock rather quickly. Over millions of years, water has eroded holes in the limestone to create the solution holes. The name comes from the fact that they are full of water. The solution hole on the Gumbo Limbo Trail is quite large, but some are very small. However, while you only see a small hole, water may have caused erosion underneath the limestone shelf to form a small cavity. Theoretically, if you weighed enough, you could break through when standing next to a hole because you may be standing on hollow ground.
Solution hole on the Gumbo Limbo Trail at Royal Palm
The trail runs entirely through the forest, and there are mosquitoes in there, even in the winter. However, there weren’t enough when I visited in February to warrant insect repellent. I’m sure in the summer that the trail is no fun at all. The Anhinga Trail, on the other hand, is completely exposed to the sun, and I didn’t see any mosquitoes on that trail.
As mentioned, the other trailhead for the Gumbo Limbo Trail is on the front side of the Royal Palm Visitor Center, nearer to the road. If you started the way I did, this is where you will end the hike. The hike is well worth your time, and at only .4 mile, even if you don’t like it, you haven’t wasted but a few minutes.
Trailhead for the Gumbo Limbo Trail in Everglades National Park
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Last updated on February 22, 2021
