Coastal Prairie Trail

At 11.2 miles long, the Coastal Prairie Trail is one of the longer trails in the Everglades.

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Coastal Prairie Trail Details

The Coastal Prairie is one of the more difficult trails in the Everglades, so be prepared if you plan to hike it. The prize at the end is the remote Clubhouse Beach, which you can camp on if you choose (just get a backcountry permit first). The trail can be a little miserable when wet: be prepared for ankle- to knee-deep wading and a LOT of mud. There's little shade on the hike, and the sparsely vegetated marl prairie is a breeding ground for mosquitoes, so sun protection and long sleeve shirts and pants are probably a good idea. The beginning of the trail is in the back of the C Loop at Flamingo Campground. At .2 miles, you'll come to a junction: the Coastal Prairie trail leads right, and the Bayshore Loop leads left. Veer right and you'll cross through several different habitats, including coastal prairies, buttonwood hammocks, mud flats, and marl prairies. Clubhouse Beach is also accessible by boat; during the shoulder seasons and the summer, the boat is often preferable to braving the heat and the bugs of the trail. Allow plenty of time for yourself if you do plan on hiking, as the full out-and back-on the Coastal Prairie trail usually takes about 7 or 8 hours.

Difficulty

High

Distance

11.2 miles

Estimated time

7-8 hours

Region

N/A