Florida\u00a0has a number of trails with minimal obstacles. \u00a0Some are very easy and others are wheelchair accessible. \u00a0Here are just a few of them.
\nMost of the links given were found through Internet search. Some places I have been able to visit and a few have been recommended to me by other people who have been there. With your help, we can share our knowledge with disabled people everywhere and also increase awareness of the need for more accessibility. Please e-mail me with your suggestions using the form in the sidebar.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Federal<\/a>
\nState<\/a>
\nLocal<\/a>
\nPrivate<\/a>
\nMiscellaneous<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>Federal<\/h2>\n

• Desoto National Memorial
  \n<\/strong>“De Soto National Memorial, in Manatee County 5 miles west of Bradenton, Florida, commemorates the 1539 landing of Hernando de Soto and the first extensive organized exploration by Europeans of what is now the southern United States. The memorial includes 26 acres, where the Manatee River joins Tampa Bay.”\u00a0 (from Wikipedia)\u00a0 \u00a0Thank you Diane McConnell for letting me know about this park.\u00a0 She writes that the crushed shell trails through mangroves are wide and flat.
  \n“A visitor to De Soto National Memorial can quickly experience four distinct natural ecosystems along the park’s half mile nature trail. The park is situated along the south shore of the Manatee River at the mouth of Tampa Bay. The Bay is a subtropical estuary consisting of open water and a mixture of mangrove and salt marsh vegetation in the tidal zone.”\u00a0 Map<\/a>\u00a0 Phone 941-792-0458 x105\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Website<\/a><\/p>\n

  <\/a>The Nature Trail winds along the shoreline and through several Florida ecosystems, including a mangrove forest like the one that De Soto’s men would have encountered when they landed. Trails include interpretive signage and waysides that tell the story of the De Soto Expedition and the natural history of the area.<\/p>\n

  Covid restrictions as of March 2020: “De Soto National Memorial’s parking lot, nature trails, and restroom facilities are open. The Visitor Center remains closed.\u202f”<\/p>\n

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• Everglades National Park<\/a>
  \n<\/strong>The Everglades spans across 1.5 million acres that stretches over the southern part of Florida. There are three main areas. The northern section of the park is accessible via Miami or Everglades City, the southern section is accessible through Homestead. \u00a0The three entrances are not connected. \u00a0The Everglades has a “vast diversity of flora and fauna in different eco-systems: freshwater sloughs, marl prairies, tropical hammocks, pineland, cypress, mangrove, coastal lowlands, marine, and estuarine.”
  \nGulf Coast Visitor Center<\/a>\u00a0Phone\u00a0239-695-3311\u00a0 As of November, 2017 the center is closed because of damage from Hurricane Irma<\/em>.\u00a0 Call to learn current status.
  \n<\/span>Flamingo Visitor Center<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Phone\u00a0239-695-2945\u00a0 As of November, 2017 the center is partially closed because of damage from Hurricane Irma.\u00a0<\/em>Call to learn current status.
  \nShark Valley Visitor Center<\/a>\u00a0 Phone\u00a0305-221-8776 As of November, 2017 the center is closed because of flooding from Hurricane Irma.\u00a0<\/em>Call to learn current status.
  \nErnest F. Coe Visitor Center<\/a>\u00a0 Phone\u00a0305-242-7700 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

  Facilities, including trails for mobility-impaired<\/a> visitors.
  \nInformation for sight-impaired<\/a> visitors.<\/p>\n

  Anhinga Trail<\/a>\u00a0 0.8 mile round trip “…self-guiding trail winds through a sawgrass marsh, where you may see alligators, turtles, anhingas, herons, egrets, and many other birds, especially during the winter. This is one the most popular trails in the park because of its abundance of wildlife.”
  \n<\/a>Gumbo Limbo Trail<\/a>\u00a0 0.4 round trip “…\u00a0self-guiding, paved trail meanders through a shaded, jungle-like hammock of gumbo limbo trees (Bursera simaruba<\/em>), royal palms (Roystonea elata<\/em>), ferns, and air plants.”
  \nPineland Trail<\/a> \u00a00.4 mile trail\u00a0trail “loops through a forest of pines, palmettos, and wildflowers.”
  \nPahayokee Overlook<\/a> \u00a0a 0.16 mile boardwalk loop<\/p>\n

  Mahogany Hammock Trail<\/a>\u00a0 0.5 mile “self-guiding boardwalk trail meanders through a dense, jungle-like hardwook “hammock.” Lush vegetation includes gumbo-limbo trees, air plants, and the largest living mahogany tree (Swietenia mahogani<\/em>) in the United States.”
  \nWest Lake Trail<\/a> \u00a0.05 mile \u00a0“self-guided boardwalk trail wanders through a forest of white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa<\/em>), black mangrove (Avicennia nitida<\/em>), red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle<\/em>), and buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus<\/em>) trees to the edge of West Lake.”
  \nBobcat Boardwalk Trail<\/a>\u00a0 0.5 mile “self-guided boardwalk trail that meanders through the sawgrass slough and tropical hardwood forests.”<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

• Gulf Islands National Seashore<\/strong>.
  \nThe hurricanes of 2017 may have done considerable damage to these areas.\u00a0 Call before going.\u00a0Phone 850-934-2600<\/em>
  \nThe islands\u00a0 in the northern Gulf of Mexico offer white sandy beaches and\u00a0 aquamarine waters.\u00a0 Come for boating, camping exploring an old fort or to fish.
  \n“Visitors can plan their trip to either the Florida District<\/a> or to the\u00a0Mississippi District<\/a>. Each district provides recreation, barrier islands, salt marshes, historic structures and wildlife along the Gulf of Mexico.” \u00a0 Accessibility \u00a0 <\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Loaner wheelchairs are available in both districts.\u00a0 Here is their website<\/a>.\u00a0
  \n<\/a>Florida:
  \n<\/a>“Perdido Key Discovery Trail<\/a> and six beach cross-over boardwalks (two to sound; four to Gulf) are wheelchair accessible.” \u00a0call 850-934-2600 for more information. \u00a0Fort Pickens fishing pier is accessible.
  \n<\/a>Naval Live Oaks<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0The first loop of the 0.8 mile Breckenridge Trail is an “accessible boardwalk with tactile waysides.”
  \nMississippi:
  \n<\/a>The Davis Bayou Trail takes visitors through a coastal forest and over two local bayous. The trail is approximately two miles long. AllTrails<\/a> describes it as “good for all skill levels.”
  \n<\/a>The short boardwalk over Stark Bayou is the only part of the trail that is wheelchair accessible.
  \n“Boardwalk trails, campsites and fishing pier are accessible.” \u00a0For information call Davis Bayou Visitor center at 228-875-9057.<\/p>\n

  <\/div>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul>Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n

  <\/a>State<\/h2>\n

  • Florida State Parks<\/a> Accessible facilities. \u00a0A number of state parks are listed as having accessible trails. \u00a0However, most of the links do not work and even when they do, there are few description of the trails.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

  • Florida Tech Botanical Garden<\/strong> – accessible, easy
    \nThe over twenty acre botanical garden at Florida Tech in Melbourne is free and open to the public.\u00a0 There are more than 200 palms, bamboos and many other plants amidst winding streams in this lush setting.\u00a0 \u00a0Michelle Mulak in Florida Today<\/a> writes that, “The trail has both paved and unpaved sections, with some small bridges and uneven terrain. When dry, this would be suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. When wet, wooden surfaces become slippery, and low-lying sections will flood. Most of the trail is shaded.”\u00a0 Thank you to Bill Blevins for letting us know about the garden.\u00a0 \u00a0Phone\u00a0321-674-803\u00a0\u00a0Virtual Tour<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Map<\/a>
    \nTheir website<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 Description and Self Guided Tour at plantsmap.com<\/a>.
    \n<\/a>1.25 mile\u00a0 Dent Smith Trail.\u00a0 See comment above about the trail when it is wet.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

  • Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park
    \n<\/strong>Tarkiln Bayou Preserve empties into Perdido Bay. \u00a0It is “home to four species of endangered pitcher plants, as well as other rare and endangered plant species and. \u00a0Almost 100 rare plants and animals depend on the wet prairie habitat, including the alligator snapping turtle, sweet pitcher plant, and Chapman’s butterwort.”\u00a0 Phone 850-492-1595\u00a0 Here is their website<\/a>.
    \n<\/span>Tarkiln Bayou Trail\u00a0\u00a00.5mile ADA accessible trail.\u00a0 “The sidewalk and elevated boardwalk of this trail meanders through prairie, cypress and titi forests.\u00a0 Benches along the trail provide areas for reflection.\u00a0 When the trail ends, the observation area provides a scenic view of the bayou.”<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul>Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n

    <\/a>Local<\/h2>\n

    • Joan M. Durante Community Park<\/strong><\/p>\n

      <\/a><\/a>?<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0Joan M. Durante Park, is a 32 acre site on Sarasota Bay two miles from the north end of Longboat Key.\u00a0 \u00a0 “The park is the result of a private\/public partnership to enhance and restore one of the few remaining vacant island properties on Longboat Key to a viable wetland and coastal hammock forest.”\u00a0 Thank you to Diane McConnell who wrote that the park is a “lovely walk through mangroves and along Sarasota Bay with lookouts and lots of benches.\u00a0 Paths are crushed hard shell or wood.\u00a0 No stairs….”\u00a0 \u00a0Phone 941-316-1988 or call Longboat Key at 941-316-1999<\/p>\n

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    • Altamonte Springs -Lake Lotus Park
      \n<\/strong>Lake Lotus Park is\u00a0s a 150 acre nature preserve in Altamonte Springs.\u00a0 It is open Thursdays through Sundays.
      \nThere is a mile long boardwalk, but no description of how easy it is to get on and off.\u00a0 A shuttle from the parking lot to the heart of the park runs every 45 minutes, but again, no mention as to whether it can accommodate wheelchairs.\u00a0 Better call before you go.\u00a0 Here is a description from\u00a0Florida Hikes<\/a>.\u00a0 Reviews on\u00a0Yelp<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Phone 407-293-8885\u00a0 This is Altamonte Springs’\u00a0website<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Lake Lotus Park<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

    • Pinellas County<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0Phone\u00a0727-582-2100
      \nJohn Chestnut Sr. Park<\/a>
      \n<\/a><\/a>Peggy Park Nature Trail is a self-guided nature trail on an elevated boardwalk with a guide cable and Braille interpretive signs.<\/p>\n

      <\/a>Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail<\/a> is a linear park and recreation trail currently extending from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs along an abandoned railroad corridor.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

    • Robinson Nature Preserve<\/strong>
      \n“Robinson Preserve is located in northwest Bradenton…. Including the recently acquired “Expansion” and Winston tract properties, the preserve now consists of 682 acres that is a mix of preserved mangrove, tidal marsh, and former agricultural lands which have undergone an incredible transformation\u00a0 to coastal wetland habitat.”\u00a0 “Bike or roller blade on 2.5 miles of paved trail, and hikers can explore more than 5 miles of shell and coastal trails.” Thank you to Diane McConnell for bringing this park to my attention.\u00a0 Here is the park website<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Brochure<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Phone 941-742-5923
      \n<\/a>There is one paved trail that begins at the entrance of Robinson Preserve and traverses the entire preserve ending at Manatee Avenue.\u00a0 Most of the trails are packed shell through the preserve.\u00a0 Please help to protect the habitat and resident wildlife by remaining on designated trails at all times.<\/p>\n

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    • Volusia County \u00a0<\/strong>Phone 386-239-7873
      \nThese beaches<\/a> do not offer the kind of natural trails this website is really about, but they do offer facilities for disabled visitors.
      \nDaytona Beach<\/a>\u00a0 Accessibility<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 Phone 386-255-0415 \u00a0Wheelchairs<\/a><\/p>\n

      New Smyrna Beach \u00a0Brochure<\/a><\/p>\n

      Smyrna Dunes Park<\/a> in New Smyrna Beach (Volusia County)
      \nThis park has “… over 2 miles of boardwalk with views of the Indian River, Ponce Inlet and the Atlantic Ocean. A great view of the lighthouse while walking. Meet other dog lovers and see a wide variety of animals, birds, reptiles, marine life and vegetation in their natural habitat. Note: pets must be leashed at all times.” \u00a0This quote is from the New Smryna Beach Visitors Center<\/a> site.\u00a0 Phone 386-424-2935.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

    • West Palm Beach Parks and Recreation
      \n<\/strong>Grassy Waters Preserve <\/strong>of West Palm Beach has accessible trails.\u00a0 The Preserve\u00a0<\/strong>is a 23 square mile “remnant of the once great Everglades system.\u00a0 A mosaic of wetlands, tree islands, and forested hammocks, Grassy Waters Preserve is home to a variety of native wildlife.”\u00a0 \u00a0There are a number of attractive-sounding trails.\u00a0 Trail System<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 Call for trail conditions:\u00a0561-804-4985\u00a0 Here are the websites for Grassy Waters<\/a> and for West Palm Beach Parks and Recreation.
      \n\u00a0Cypress Boardwalk Trail<\/a> 1 mile round trip through marsh and cypress swamp. \u00a0It is “wheelchair and stroller friendly”.\u00a0 Brochure<\/a>
      \n<\/a>?\u00a0<\/strong>Hog Hammock Trail<\/a> 4.23 miles round trip crushed concrete with intermittent boardwalks through “…restored and natural wetland communities including cabbage palm hammock, mesic pine flatwoods, forrested wetlands, and cypress domes.” Brochure<\/a>
      \n<\/a>Apoxee Trail<\/a> 0.5 miles connecting to other trails, which may be easy depending on trail conditions.\u00a0 Brochure<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul>Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n

      <\/a>Private<\/h2>\n

      • Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary\u00a0<\/strong>
        \nCorkscrew swamp sanctuary is a 14,000 acre wildlife sanctuary near Naples, Florida.\u00a0 It contains the largest remaining Bald Cypress Forest in North America.
        \nAccessibility as described on tripadvisor<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0and on\u00a0 \u00a0Disabled Travel on VisitFlorida<\/a>
        \nHere is their website<\/a>.\u00a0 The sanctuary was founded in 1954 and is an Audubon Society property.\u00a0 Here is Audubon’s\u00a0website<\/a> about Corkscrew.\u00a0\u00a0Phone 239-348-9151
        \n<\/a><\/span>\u00a0A 2.25 mile boardwalk goes through pine flatwoods, wet prairie, around a marsh, and into the old growth Bald Cypress.\u00a0 \u00a0 There is also another, one mile, boardwalk.
        \nAs of November, 2017:<\/em> “Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary has reopened after\u00a0Hurricane Irma and we are offering a reduced admission price of $10 for adults and children under 18 are FREE. The\u00a0boardwalk experience includes the short loop\u00a0as we continue to repair the additional boardwalk areas.”<\/em><\/p>\n

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      • <\/a>