Finding peace and quiet at Loxahatchee Slough Natural Area

Rain or shine, Florida’s natural areas are worth exploring

Peace and quiet can be hard to come by in South Florida, where constant threats to our beloved natural spaces shock us and development swells into places we never imagined it would. But I encourage you to take a breath, because tranquil pockets of nature still exist, and the stillness of an early morning in the Everglades ecosystem is the perfect antidote to anxiety. Rain or shine, they are worth visiting, as I did one recent moody morning.

With Hurricanes Imelda and Humberto swirling offshore, I decided a sunrise visit to Loxahatchee Slough Natural Area in Palm Beach County was still worth making. As the sun rose behind a thick layer of clouds, snail kites soared through the sky as they fled their roost on their daily journey. A skittish white-tailed deer ventured deeper into the woods at the sight of me. When a rain storm began saturating the mesic flatwoods, I found refuge in the observation tower, letting a calm wash over me. Once the sun broke through, I waded into the cypress swamp in search of the perfect shot of a classic Everglades landscape.

With assistance from a Friend of the Everglades, I was able to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time, but there are many ways to explore. Bring your bicycle, horse, paddleboard or hiking shoes to wander this 13,025-acre refuge that is home to a portion of the Florida Trail’s Ocean to Lake Trail. There are four entrances, depending on your preference. Visit Palm Beach County’s Environmental Resources Management profile on the wetlands to learn more.

Whether you want to map out your own trip, or just live vicariously through this story, click through the gallery above to see more images from my morning in Loxahatchee Slough.

Happy Trails,

Leah Voss

Friends of the Everglades Multimedia Producer