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Winding Waters Natural Area
4.6 ★★★★★ 538 Google reviews · Running trail in West Palm Beach, Florida · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Winding Waters Natural Area's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
548-acre natural area featuring a variety of birds, plus hiking, kayaking & an observation platform.
What runners say about Winding Waters Natural Area
“I was able to see tons of wildlife including a young alligator, a gold eagle, rosette spoonbill, armadillo, tortoise, tons of fish, and beautiful sunsets over marshlands!”
“The day we went, thunderstorms were scheduled for Westlake near Dania Beach, so we headed north to Palm County and discovered this quiet, bird filled paradise.”
I knew very little about this park when going there. Just another one of those parks I found searching Google Maps for parks. Driving the main road there is a parking lot for the trials. It has about a dozen spaces and one spot for a bus to park. A kiosk has a map and park information in it.
Located to the south of both Dyer Park and the R.C. Bush Pilots airport, Winding Waters Natural Area is a 548 acre preserve composed largely of a variety of original and restored wetlands.
Winding Waters is a beautiful place to take a hike or just a leisurely stroll in nature. There are plenty of parking spaces, and you can also park on the street. You start out walking on smooth pavement, so it's nice for people with mobility issues or young children.
Dog friendly! Beautiful and clean trails. Awesome bike trails. The steep hill was great for the dogs to get a good workout. Over a year living in Riviera and just found this gem.
Trail conditions & character
“I was able to see tons of wildlife including a young alligator, a gold eagle, rosette spoonbill, armadillo, tortoise, tons of fish, and beautiful sunsets over marshlands!”
“There’s an unpaved trail that circles the wetland, but there’s also a partially paved stretch that leads to a short boardwalk over the water.”
“There are plenty of parking spaces, and you can also park on the street.”
“The day we went, thunderstorms were scheduled for Westlake near Dania Beach, so we headed north to Palm County and discovered this quiet, bird filled paradise.”
“There are no facilities here, so if you need a bathroom or source of fresh water, you're best bet is to drive north to one of the facilities at adjacent Dyer Park.”
“There’s an unpaved trail that circles the wetland, but there’s also a partially paved stretch that leads to a short boardwalk over the water.”
Plan your run at Winding Waters Natural Area
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- Websitediscover.pbcgov.org
- Phone+1 561-233-2400
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 8 am–5 pm |
| Tuesday | 8 am–5 pm |
| Wednesday | 8 am–5 pm |
| Thursday | 8 am–5 pm |
| Friday | 8 am–5 pm |
| Saturday | 8 am–5 pm |
| Sunday | 8 am–5 pm |
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