State: Florida
Location: Everglades National Park
Length, Round Trip: 0.5 miles
Trail Type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 0 feet
Maximum Elevation: 5 feet
Elevation Change: 5 feet
Trail Surface: Boardwalk
Best Season: Spring, Fall, Winter
Difficulty: Easy
Usage: Heavy
Florida Everglades
Trail Information
Located several miles north of Flamingo along Main Park Road, the West Lake Trail is a self-guided boardwalk trail wandering through a forest of white mangrove, black and red mangrove and buttonwood trees to the shore of West Lake. These mangroves here and throughout southern Florida act as hurricane barriers and protect inland areas from the brunt of storms. The mangroves also serve as a nursery for marine life including shrimp, crabs, lobsters, oysters and fish. The groping roots provide abundant protection from hungry creatures including raccoons, opossums and birds. Alligators are abundant. This trail is handicapped accessible.
Directions
From Flamingo:
West Lake Trail is 30.5 miles (61 km) southwest from the main entrance (Main Park Road), at the southern end of the park.
