Some say that Delray Beach is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. People travel from all over the world to come here to see our town and beaches. But did you know we actually have a wealth of walking trails right here in Delray? Below are our top picks, please forgive us if a few of these are actually in Boca or Boynton but we promise they are close by.

A few tips for Florida hikers:

  • bring water – pretty much mandatory, even if you are just going out for “just a short walk”
  • let someone know where you are going, chances are you won’t get eaten by an alligator but accidents do happen
  • apply sun screen – even with the shade provided by some of these trees, you are going to need it
  • organic bug spray – use your favorite concoction
  • bring your camera
  • binoculars for birds

Here are our favorite trails in / near Delray Beach:

Green Cay

Address: 12800 Hagen Ranch Rd, Boynton Beach, FL 33437

Green Cay is an approximately 2 mile “moderately trafficked loop” located inside Green Cay Nature Center. It has trail maps and beautiful flowers and wildlife. It is good for all skill levels and has a beautiful man made boardwalk that allows you to walk deep into the everglades.

Wakodahatchee

13270 Jog Road Delray Beach, FL 33446

Wakodahatchee, which I pronounce “Wack-o-duh-hatchey” is a really cool trail in West Delray that has an approximately 1 mile boardwalk. You will see tons of wildlife small and large, and has tons of signs and gazebos throughout the trail. You’ll see lots of “birding” activities as well as a lot of different flowers and plants depending on the time of year.

Morikami Japanese Garden

4000 Morikami Park Rd, Delray Beach, FL 33446

A lot going on here, so popular you can see signs from I95 or the Turnpike. Without a doubt the most beautiful trail in all of Delray Beach, possibly Palm Beach County and Beyond.

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center

1801 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton, FL 33432

My personal favorite. It is open from 7am to dusk. Always a lot of sea turtle conservationists around, and lots of activities. Since its on A1A it is right near the beach so after you are done at Gumbo Limbo you can take a dip in the ocean, just watch out for seat turtle nests!

Arthur Marshall Trail

10216 Lee Rd, Boynton Beach, FL 33472

I personally haven’t visited this trail before, so I can’t comment on it. I think there is an entrance fee, but there is a lot going on out here. Similar to Green Cay / Wakodahatchee I believe.

Atlantic Park 441 and Atlantic (West Regional)

Just west of Atlantic & 441 on W. Atlantic

There are so many things to do out here. A huge model airplane area, remote control car track, and some of the best trails in South Florida. It even has hills! Can you believe it? There are pavilions and grills so it is a great place to have a picnic, fly a kite, ride your mountain bike and take a walk. I’m not technically sure what the name of this park is, but I believe it is called “West Regional.”

El Rio Trail

Congress Ave. and Glades Road/FL 808 (Boca Raton)

I don’t think this is technically a trail, more of a walking path since it is on asphalt. It is almost 5 miles long and is paved. Great option for the disabled or those that don’t want to ride bikes on the dirt. Great for roller skating if people still do that.

Delray Oaks

 2021 SW 29th St, Delray Beach, FL 33445

Palm Beach County Gov’s website describes this as, “Hike the trails to explore Florida’s rare xeric hammock ecosystem Open Sunrise to Sunset, 365 Days a Year.” I don’t know what this means, I’ve been here a few times and have not seen hammocks, but it is a beautiful walk. Huge canopy of oak trees (where the trail gets its name) and tons of beautiful plants. Only con to this trail is it is a very short loop.

Pondhawk Natural Area

NW, 1501 Spanish River Blvd, Boca Raton, FL 33431

Located near Military and Spanish River, this 2.5 mile trail is a beautiful hike. No pets and no bikes, be careful some areas are quite “marshy” and almost seems as though there is no trail at one point. Very close to Spanish River Public Library, after your hike you can stop by for a coffee.

The Beach

Take a walk on the beach! The beach is always a great place to walk, especially in the hard sand in your bare feet 🙂

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Have anything to add? Shoot us an email via our contact page, and we’ll be happy to add your favorite trail, photo of your trail, or correct any mistakes we might have made.