For a chance to peep wildlife on your hike, make your way southeast to this sprawling wetland preserve. There are dozens of trails that take you through the park’s numerous habitats, some of which are humid and filled with bugs so you’ll want to keep yourself protected. Hats, sunscreen and spray are all highly recommended. There are two groups of trails, the Flamingo, and the Pine Island, and each has its own set of interpretive trails and self-guided walks that meander through all kinds of trees and palms. It is the Shark Valley Trail which is one of the best spots for hiking in Miami.

This 15.8-mile loop in the Everglades is the closest spot for long-distance hiking near Miami. A pretty accessible and easy trail all year round, the Shark Valley Trail takes you deep into the Everglades where you’ll be able to take in the gorgeous landscape and natural wildlife of South Florida. It’s all paved which makes it an accessible trail to everyone, but be mindful of the bikers that you may run into along the way!

Location: Everglades

Address: 36000 SW 8th Street, Miami, Florida 33194

Fees: $15 - $28
Restroom: At both the visitor center and observation tower
Phone: 305-221-8776

Website: www.sharkvalleytramtours.com

Located in Coral Gables, Matheson Hammock Park is perhaps one of the closest hiking destinations to the Magic City. The park centers around a marina and a man-made atoll pool, while its nature trails offer a stunning trip through rugged terrain and tropical trees in one of the area’s portions of ancient hammock.

To take this hike means a visit to Matheson Hammock Park, a popular swimming and picnic destination around an atoll along the bay. The 1.4-mile natural footpath can be tricky to follow, but is well worth a walk in the woods to see this rare habitat. Future plans by the county include a boardwalk atop the present trail route. And it is Matheson Hammock Park which is one of the best spots for hiking in Miami.

Address: 9610 Old Cutler Rd, Miami
Fees: Free for West Hammock, fee for East Hammock
Restroom: At Matheson Hammock Park
Land manager: Miami-Dade County
Phone: 305-665-5475

Website: www.miamidade.gov

Camping cabins and mountain biking in Miami? Oleta River State Park is a surprising gem amid the bustle of this dense urban area. Some of the harder trails on the list, Oleta River State Park’s paths are mainly designed for mountain bikers offering pedestrians a more moderate challenge when it comes to hiking through the park. The trail loop is almost 2 miles long, but those wishing to add an extra couple of miles can veer off through the various offshoot paths along the main trail. It provides both beach access and paddlers a place to explore the mangrove islands of the Oleta River, as well as a place for semi-rustic camping.

Outdoorsy types love Oleta for its multitude of activities, from biking and kayaking to picnicking. There are 14 miles of multi-use trails that range in levels, though the intermediate ones are usually overrun with mountain bikers so watch out for oncoming traffic. Several of the trails tend to flood during the rainy months. Hate wet socks? Head to the paved paths on those soggier days.

Location: North Miami
Fees: $4-6 per vehicle

Website: oletariveroutdoors.com

Open: 8 AM until sunset daily
Leashed pets welcome

If you’re looking to really break away from civilization, then the Florida Trail at Big Cypress National Preserve might just be for you. A 1,000-mile-long trail connecting Big Cypress at the tip of South Florida with Pensacola up north, the Florida trail’s unpaved and undeveloped paths are a must for serious backpackers and hikers. But if you’re looking to get a little taste of the expert level trail, you can always start at the Tamiami Trail rest stop and head about 30 miles north to I-75.

The wildest and most remote section of the Florida Trail, the traverse of the Big Cypress Swamp north of the Southern Terminus is like no other hike in Florida. Man-made obstructions, including highways and canals, impede the natural wash of water across this tropical landscape. The swamp is home to the highest concentration of orchid and fern species in the United States. Winding deep into the wilds of Big Cypress National Preserve, this is the most remote section of trail in the state of Florida. The landscape is likened to the savannas of Africa, but also has pockets of rainforest-like botanical beauty enveloped in thick humidity.

Location: Big Cypress

Length: 32.7 kilometers

Address: 1022 NW 2nd St, Gainesville, FL 32601, United States
Fees: $5 - $30
Phone: 352-378-8823

Website: www.nps.gov

The Anhinga Trail is another great option for a fun day trip, especially if you’re a fan of the Everglades. The popular trail winds through a saw-grass marsh and is just under a mile. It is also a prime destination for wildlife spotting! The Anhinga Trail promises to be one of the best spots for hiking in Miami.

Its proximity to the park entrance guarantees its popularity, and wildlife here is so common and complacent you’ll hear the tourists asking “is that alligator real?”. Open dawn to dusk. Although leashed pets are allowed in the park, visitors who experienced this trail strongly recommend you do not bring pets on this hike. Alligators are everywhere. From the Visitor Center you will have a chance to see many wading birds and sunning alligators from various observation platforms throughout the boardwalk.

Location: Everglades National Park
Length: 0.8 mile loop
Address: 40001 SR 9336, Homestead
Trailhead: 25.381913, -80.609572
Fees/Permits: Entrance fee of $25 vehicle, $20 motorcycle, $8 cyclist/pedestrian. Good for one week.
Restroom: at the Visitor Center
Land Manager: Everglades National Park
Phone: 305-242-7700

A popular destination for sun worshipers, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is an easy getaway for most folks in the Miami area, with a long strand of beachfront complimenting trails along Biscayne Bay and a historic lighthouse at the point. This three-mile loop in Key Biscayne is perfect for a laid-back, breezy stroll through the beach. The trail itself is pretty easy and will take you along some stunning views of clear blue waters as well as the historic Lighthouse located at the Northmost point of the trail and which has been there for over 200 years!

The historic Cape Florida Lighthouse towers over much of the activity, and a walk along the Biscayne Bay waterfront will provide a panorama of Stiltsville, a funky collection of above-the-water shacks in the bay shallows. Lesser known, however, is the nature trail that bisects the natural areas of the park between the lighthouse and marina. Walk this 1.5-mile loop to learn a little more about Key Biscayne. This site promises to be one of the best spots for hiking in Miami.

Location: Key Biscayne
Fees: $4-8 per vehicle

Website: www.keybiscaynechamber.org

Open: 8 AM until sunset daily
Leashed pets welcome except on beach

The Bear Cut Preserve is another great hiking destination in Key Biscane. On the shores of Biscayne Bay at Crandon Park on Key Biscayne, Bear Cut Nature Preserve is a precious sliver of natural bay-front in Miami. This short two-mile hike will take you to the shoreline under the shade of tropical trees and will lead you across several beaches and sandy dunes. The northernmost point of the trail is home to 6,000-year-old mangrove tree fossils that have since formed a coral reef along the coast.

The preserve provides hiking along the waterfront and in the shade of tropical trees on a trail system of footpaths that intertwine with paved trails. Together, these end up at an overlook of a fossil reef with a backdrop of downtown Miami. The trails radiate from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Nature Center, a must-stop before you explore the surrounding habitats. To sum up, the Bear Cut Preserve Nature Trail is one of the best spots for hiking in Miami.

Location: Key Biscayne
Length: 2.2 miles in three loops plus a 1.3-mile linear paved trail
Address: 6747 Crandon Blvd, Key Biscayne
Fees: $5 weekdays, $7 weekends
Restroom: At the nature center
Phone: 305-365-2320

Open: sunrise to sunset

Website: www.miamidade.gov

Located in Matheson Hammock Park is the Old Cutler Trail. It is an easy out and back trail of 41.7 kilometers or 25.91 miles, offering scenic views, and glimpses of South Florida’s iconic mansions. The Old Cutler Trail follows the historic Old Cutler Road and cuts through residential areas lining the original wilderness path and wagon route, dating back to the mid-1800s. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, running, and road biking. Dogs are also allowed at the park/trail but must be kept on a leash. Matheson Hammock Park surrounds the north and western ends of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.

The Old Cutler Trail parallels one of the most magnificent roads in South Florida — Old Cutler Road in Coral Gables, which is lined with giant sprawling banyan trees and some of Florida’s most spectacular historic mansions. The homes are landscaped like tropical gardens, which is appropriate because there are two outstanding public gardens along this bike trail. For Miami-area bicyclists, it offers a safe, mostly shaded, scenic ride that takes you by a cluster of places that make Miami, well, Miami.

Location: Matheson Hammock Park

Length: 41.7 kilometers (25.91 miles) out and back
Distance: 30 minutes by road from Miami Downtown
Entrance fees: $5.00 per car

Website: www.floridarambler.com

Everglades National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in South Florida. You can visit the Everglades on a day trip from Miami, and go on easy walks to moderate and difficult hikes. The park is home to numerous rare and endangered species and protects an unparalleled terrain of wetlands, coastal mangroves, saw-grass marshes, and hundreds of wildlife species.

For easy hikes, hit the Pa-hay-okee Overlook Trail, which is a short boardwalk trail leading to a lookout tower with scenic views. The trail is 40 kilometers (or .25 miles). Other easy trails include the West Lake Trail (.5 miles/.80 km), Anhinga Trail (.8 miles/1.2 km), and Shark Valley Trail (15.7 miles/25.4 km) to name a few. On this trail, you can witness everything that the park is known for, from varied biodiversity to watching wildlife in their natural habitat.

Location: Everglades National Park, Florida

Distance: 50 minutes by road from Miami Downtown
Length: .40 kilometer (.25 miles) loop
Restroom: At both the visitor center and observation tower
Price: $8-$20

Website: www.npplan.com