• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Florida Hikes logo

Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

  • Trails
  • Maps
  • Guidebooks
  • Search
  • Hike
    • Scenic Hikes
    • Loop Trails
    • Dog-friendly Hikes
    • Hikes for Kids
    • National Parks in Florida
    • Florida State Parks
  • Bike
    • Major Bike Trails
    • Paved Bike Trails
    • Off Road Biking
    • Biking Articles
  • Paddle
    • Canoe & Kayak Rentals
    • Paddling Destinations
    • Paddling Articles
  • Camp
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Car Camping
    • Primitive Camping
  • Florida Trail
    • Plan your Hike
    • Best Scenic Hikes
    • Best Backpacking
    • Section Hiking
    • Thru-Hiking
    • Trail Updates
  • Travel
  • Hike
    • Scenic Hikes
    • Loop Trails
    • Dog-friendly Hikes
    • Hikes for Kids
    • National Parks in Florida
    • Florida State Parks
  • Bike
    • Major Bike Trails
    • Paved Bike Trails
    • Off Road Biking
    • Biking Articles
  • Paddle
    • Canoe & Kayak Rentals
    • Paddling Destinations
    • Paddling Articles
  • Camp
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Car Camping
    • Primitive Camping
  • Florida Trail
    • Plan your Hike
    • Best Scenic Hikes
    • Best Backpacking
    • Section Hiking
    • Thru-Hiking
    • Trail Updates
  • Travel
Apoxee Wilderness

Apoxee Wilderness Trail

In the wet prairies and tropical hammocks of Apoxee Wilderness, an urban wilderness area, you’ll walk through the water supply of West Palm Beach on a 4.7-mile day hike through the southernmost part of Grassy Waters Preserve

Grassy Waters Preserve  |  West Palm Beach
( 26.727542,-80.151119 )      4.7 miles

218shares
Apoxee Wilderness
See more images from the Apoxee Wilderness Trail

In the wet prairies and tropical hammocks of Apoxee Park, the first urban wilderness area in Palm Beach County, you’ll walk over and through the water supply of West Palm Beach. A fascinating 4.7-mile day hike showcasing the sheet flow of water through habitats that thrive in humidity and dampness, the Apoxee Wilderness Trail features a mix of boardwalks, crushed limestone, and natural surfaces underfoot on a loop that includes a section of the Owahee Trail, a lengthy berm that runs through all of Grassy Waters Preserve.

Resources

South Florida: An Explorer's Guide

Overview

Location: West Palm Beach
Length: 4.7 miles
Lat-Long: 26.727542,-80.151119
Type: balloon
Fees / Permits: free
Difficulty: moderate to difficult, depending on water levels
Bug factor: moderate to high
Restroom: portable toilets

Open 7 AM – 6 PM. Pets are not permitted. Except in winter, expect to get your feet wet. A shorter accessible trail, the Butterfly Orchid Trail, is also a part of this hike and can be walked directly from the trailhead for a brief loop through the tropical hammock. We used a portion of the Owahee Trail of Grassy Waters Preserve to turn the trails of Apoxee Wilderness into a loop.

Apoxee Wilderness Park website

Directions

From I-95 at Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach, drive west for 4.6 miles to Jog Road. From Florida’s Turnpike, exit at Okeechobee Blvd and drive west 0.9 mile to Jog Road. Turn north off Okeechobee Blvd and watch for the park entrance on the left, just as the road starts a curve to the right, at 3125 N Jog Road.

Hike

Starting out on the paved Butterfly Orchid Trail into a tropical hammock, you soon come to the turnoff at a kiosk for the Apoxee (Ah-PO-EE) Trail. Turn right and follow the trail along boardwalks and between (and sometimes in) large prairie ponds beneath power lines to reach the beginning of the large loop at a kiosk with a chickee top. We walked it counterclockwise, ensuring that the bulk of the wading we’d do would be along our return trip. Highlights include tunneling through tropical hammocks, a lengthy boardwalk across a large wet prairie, and plenty of wildlife sightings – particularly wading birds – along both the Apoxee Trail and the Owahee (Oh-WHA-Hee) Trail. Both trails are well marked.

Atop a dike, the Owahee Trail lets you look across prairies and a broad canal lined with cypress; it is multiuse, but provides a connector between the two sections of the Apoxee Trail. Returning along the Apoxee Trail, you’ll walk across several boardwalks and through lush palm hammocks before encountering a fork in the trail. To the right is the shorter route; the left side follows a prairie rim. After they come together, expect more wading where prairies slosh into each other in the wet season. There is a chickee on a small hill, usable as a rain shelter. When you reach the kiosk again, you’ve completed the big loop. Turn right to exit, crossing under the power lines again. Back at the paved trail, turn right to walk the remainder of the Butterfly Orchid Loop, which ends a little farther down along the parking area. Turn left to complete the loop.

Trail Map

Apoxee Owahee trail map

Category: City Parks, Day Hikes, Hikes, Loop Hikes, Natural Lands, Southeast Florida, Swamp Walks, TrailsTag: Birding, Boardwalks, Grassy Waters Preserve, NENA, Observation Decks, Scenic Hikes, West Palm Beach, Wildlife Viewing

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gail P

    April 28, 2020 at 10:37 am

    When will you be opened

    Reply
    • Sandra Friend

      April 28, 2020 at 3:59 pm

      Hi, we’re not the park. We just provide information about the park. Grassy Waters Preserve, which Apoxee is part of, says on their Facebook page they plan to be closed through Apr 30. After that perhaps they will open.

      Reply
    • Sandra Friend

      April 28, 2020 at 5:21 pm

      Just confirmed they will open no earlier than May 11

      Reply
    • Willard Schanck

      April 30, 2020 at 12:05 pm

      The park web site say May 11 but that may change check for updates at
      wpb.org/grasswaters

      Reply
  2. Gilbert

    January 12, 2020 at 10:22 am

    This trail seems like it is always closed and never open

    Reply
    • Sandra Friend

      January 12, 2020 at 11:42 am

      Locals agree with you. It’s a real shame, since we enjoyed swamp tromping there. Is the paved path still open, or have they barred the gates?

      Reply
  3. Danielle Mcmiller

    January 5, 2019 at 5:10 pm

    I arrived today but it clearly said no dogs, yet on your site it said dogs can go in the Winter.
    Can they or can they not?

    Reply
    • Sandra Friend

      January 7, 2019 at 7:11 pm

      Our site says very clearly that pets are not permitted.

      Reply
      • Kristine

        January 22, 2019 at 4:43 pm

        That sentence Except in winter.. was about the feet getting wet. I can see how a person could read it expecting it to be about dogs.

        Reply
  4. john E Sanchez

    April 8, 2018 at 10:26 am

    I’m interested in day hikes in Florida as i approach retirement.

    Reply
  5. Ines

    September 28, 2015 at 9:33 am

    We would like to have more information about the trail please. Ines Delgado

    Reply
    • Sandra Friend

      February 7, 2016 at 3:32 pm

      The information we provide here is from our personal experience on the trail. If you need to speak with someone about the trail, we suggest contacting the land manager, Grassy Waters Preserve, at 561-804-4985. The hike leaders of the Florida Trail Association’s Loxahatchee Chapter can be helpful as well: http://www.loxfltrail.org

      Reply
      • Tonia

        February 17, 2019 at 4:02 pm

        What shoes did you wear? My boots are squishy and we only went 3/4 of a mile lol

        Reply
        • Sandra Friend

          February 17, 2019 at 5:37 pm

          New Balance trail runners! We always wear shoes that will drain water. You just have to figure on getting your feet wet in there.

          Reply
          • Sarah

            February 18, 2019 at 11:42 am

            ??

          • Sarah

            February 18, 2019 at 11:47 am

            I don’t mind getting my feet wet but is it totally safe there?!? I’m a single older woman and I’ve walked the loop twice but felt a little nervous because I never saw one other soul, not even in the parking lot. It just seemed a little dangerous because I was so isolated! I was mostly afraid of a bad person coming along, but also of alligators! I’m usually not paranoid, but …

          • Sandra Friend

            February 18, 2019 at 5:23 pm

            I don’t think we can say that anywhere is “totally safe” but we’ve never had trouble hiking there. Remember, WPB is an urban area so you need to be aware of your surroundings generally. We definitely recommend hiking with a friend, no matter where you go.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA OVERVIEW
East Coast Greenway. Everglades National Park. Florida Trail

Big Pine Key. Biscayne Bay. Biscayne National Park. Boca Raton. Boynton Beach. Coral Gables. Davie. Delray Beach. Northeast Everglades Natural Area . Florida Keys. Fort Lauderdale. Fort Pierce. Hobe Sound. Hollywood. Homestead. Islamorada. Jensen Beach. Jupiter. Juno Beach. Key Biscayne. Key Largo. Key West. Marathon. Miami. Ocean to Lake Greenway. Overseas Heritage Trail. Palm Beach. Port St. Lucie. Redland. Sebastian. Stuart. Vero Beach. West Palm Beach

Our Newest Books

Discovering the Florida Trail

Florida Trail mini coffee table book cover of trail into palm hammock

A visual journey the length of the Florida Trail, covering more than 1,500 miles from the Everglades to Pensacola Beach. Hardcover, 196 pages. $24.95 + tax and shipping.

Order Now

Florida Trail Hikes

Florida Trail HikesThe best day hikes, overnights, and weekend trips on the Florida Trail. Full hike descriptions and maps, full color. 376 pages. $24.95 + tax and shipping.

Order Now


50 Hikes in Central Florida
Explorers Guide North Florida Panhandle
The Florida Trail Guide (third edition)
Five Star Trails Orlando
Five Star Trails Gainesville & Ocala

The Florida Trail

Florida Trail large coffee table book cover of trail down swamp causeway under ancient pines

Our history of the first 50 years of the Florida Trail, from its founding in 1966 to becoming a National Scenic Trail to volunteer efforts today.

Learn More

Florida Trail App

Guthook GuidesGuthook Guides Comprehensive logistics and offline maps for the Florida National Scenic Trail.

Get the App!

Explore More

Our recent park & trail updates in this region

Shallow water with mangrove-lined islands beyond

Eastern Continental Trail

Eastern Continental Trail
Bike path under shade of tropical trees

Overseas Heritage Trail, Upper Keys

Overseas Heritage Trail, Upper Keys

Overseas Heritage Trail, Middle Keys

Overseas Heritage Trail, Middle Keys
1943 carved in concrete railroad bridge over mangroves

Overseas Heritage Trail, Lower Keys

Overseas Heritage Trail, Lower Keys

Footer

FIND A TRAIL OR PARK

NORTHWEST FLORIDA
Apalachicola. Apalachicola National Forest. Blackwater River State Forest. Blountstown. Bonifay. Bristol. Cape San Blas. Carrabelle. Chattahoochee. Chipley. Crawfordville. Crestview. DeFuniak Springs. Destin. Ebro. Eglin Air Force Base. Fort Walton Beach. Freeport. Gulf Islands National Seashore. Madison. Marianna. Milton. Monticello. Mossy Head. Navarre Beach . Niceville. Panama City Beach. Pensacola. Ponce De Leon. Port St. Joe. Quincy. Sopchoppy. South Walton. St. Marks. St. Marks NWR. Tallahassee. Vernon. Wakulla. Wewahitchka

NORTH FLORIDA
Alachua. Amelia Island. Baldwin. Branford. Bunnell. Cedar Key. Chiefland. Dowling Park. Ellaville. Fernandina Beach. Flagler Beach. Gainesville. Green Cove Springs. High Springs. Jacksonville. Keystone Heights. Lake Butler.Lake City. Live Oak. Mayo. Macclenny. Micanopy. Olustee. Orange Park. Osceola National Forest. Palatka. Palatka-Lake Butler Trail. Palm Coast. Perry. Salt Springs. St. Augustine. Starke. Steinhatchee. Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. Suwannee Springs. Talbot Islands. Timucuan Preserve. Trenton. Welaka. White Springs. Williston

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

MULTI-REGION
Big Cypress Swamp. East Coast Greenway. Everglades National Park. Florida National Scenic Trail

CENTRAL FLORIDA
Apopka. Belleview. Brandon. Brooksville. Bushnell. Canaveral National Seashore. Christmas. Chuluota. Clearwater Beach. Clermont. Coast to Coast Trail. Cocoa Beach. Cross Florida Greenway. Crystal River. Dade City. Daytona Beach. De Leon Springs. DeBary. Deland. Deltona. Dunedin. Dunnellon. Frostproof. Geneva. Inverness. Kenansville. Kissimmee. Lake Mary. Lake Wales. Lakeland. Largo. Leesburg. Longwood. Melbourne. Melbourne Beach. Merritt Island. Merritt Island NWR. Mims. Mount Dora. New Port Richey. New Smyrna Beach. Ocala. Ocala National Forest. Ocklawaha. Orlando. Ormond Beach. Osteen. Oviedo. Palm Bay. Ridge Manor. Sanford. Silver Springs. Spring Hill. St. Cloud. St. Petersburg. Tampa. Tarpon Springs. Titusville . Walt Disney World. Weeki Wachee. Winter Springs. Withlacoochee State Forest. Withlacoochee State Trail. Yeehaw Junction

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Bradenton . Charlotte Harbor. Ding Darling NWR. Englewood. Estero. Fort Myers. Immokalee. Naples. Pine Island. Port Charlotte. Punta Gorda. Sanibel Island. Sarasota. Venice

SOUTH FLORIDA
Arcadia. Basinger. Big Cypress National Preserve. Big Cypress Seminole Reservation. Clewiston. Everglades City. Fisheating Creek. Lake Okeechobee. Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail. Lake Placid. LaBelle. Lakeport. Moore Haven. Okeechobee. Pahokee. Port Mayaca. Sebring. South Bay

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA
Big Pine Key. Biscayne Bay. Biscayne National Park. Boca Raton. Boynton Beach. Coral Gables. Davie. Delray Beach. Northeast Everglades Natural Area. Florida Keys. Fort Lauderdale. Fort Pierce. Hobe Sound. Hollywood. Homestead. Islamorada. Jensen Beach. Jupiter. Juno Beach. Key Biscayne. Key Largo. Key West. Marathon. Miami. Ocean to Lake Greenway. Overseas Heritage Trail. Palm Beach. Port St. Lucie. Redland. Sebastian. Stuart. Vero Beach. West Palm Beach

  • Trails
  • Parks
  • Beaches
  • Gardens
  • Springs
  • Ecotours
  • Attractions
©2006-2021, Sandra Friend & John Keatley | Disclosure | Site Index | Work with Us | Advertise with Us
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy | Florida Hikes PO Box 93 Mims FL 32754| Contact