Overview: Massive live oaks look like they've been here, untouched, for 100 years or more. The mangroves are equally ancient — giant roots seemingly drop from the sky to the water. Enchanted Forest Elaine Gordon is an urban park in densely developed northeastern Miami-Dade County but in a few spots has the feel of nature untouched.
It is 22 acres, with picnic facilities, a pony riding stable and some open fields perfect for play. But it also has a nature trail leading through a hardwood hammock and along a canal. Squirrels bound from live oak to live oak. Butterflies and dragonflies fill the meadows and the fringes of the woods. And there are birds — ibis, doves, mockingbirds, cardinals and more. There is a second trail leading toward the park's west end but it is a bit more developed. The west end also features a butterfly garden. There is also a remant of a wet meadow, with a few cypress trees scattered through.
The trails are hard-surfaced — the eastern trail begins at a wooden bridge — and accessible. Parking is plentiful and there are restrooms and drinking water on site. The park is operated by North Miami; it's open from sunrise to sunset. Enchanted Forest is adjacent to Arch Creek Park, so the two can be taken in together without much difficulty.
History: The park is named after Elaine Gordon, a 22-year member of the Florida House of Representatives from North Miami who secured funding for the creation of the park back in the 1980s. Gordon was a staunch advocate for women's rights and human rights, and is a member of the Florida Women's Hall of Fame. Gordon died in 2000.
What You'll See: Enchanted Forest Elaine Gordon Park is a place of multiple personalities, but in a good way. There is indeed a bit of forest in the form of a tropical hardwood hammock, then there is typical open park for typical park activities like picnicking, tossing a ball or frisbee around or just enjoying a bit of nature and some fresh air.
There is a pond filled with turtles (red-eared sliders) and a section of Arch Creek, heavy with red mangroves, flowing through and where you might catch a glimpse of a foraging manatee. We found one of our favorite flowers, mangrove rubbervine, gracing the banks of Arch Creek, lancewood, false mastic, gumbo limbo and other trees in the hammock. It is mostly a place of small creatures, like the eastern gray squirrel seen above and the blue dasher dragonfly seen below.
Amenities: It's difficult to imagine a park as small as Enchanted Forest offering as much as it does. It has the basics, plenty of off-street parking, restrooms and drinking water. There are picnic tables and grills, a nature center and nature preserve with a hard-surface walking trail, a butterfly garden — and an equestrian center. There's much more; for a complete list check out the park's website.
Nearby: Arch Creek Park is literally next door to Enchanted Forest Elaine Gordon Park. Also nearby are Greynolds Park East and West. Oleta River State Park sits to the southeast were guessing a 10-minute drive away.
Links: The Friends of Enchanted Forest's Facebook page is here. The Institute for Regional Conservation's inventory plants for Enchanted Forest Elaine Gordon Park is here.
Of Note: Enchanted Forest Elaine Gordon Park is open dawn to dusk every day of the year. There is no admission fee.
Cover Photo: An eastern gray squirrel searching for acorns fallen from some of the park's live oak trees. Second photo: Some park patrons hanging out on a wooden bridge that spans Arch Creek.
It is 22 acres, with picnic facilities, a pony riding stable and some open fields perfect for play. But it also has a nature trail leading through a hardwood hammock and along a canal. Squirrels bound from live oak to live oak. Butterflies and dragonflies fill the meadows and the fringes of the woods. And there are birds — ibis, doves, mockingbirds, cardinals and more. There is a second trail leading toward the park's west end but it is a bit more developed. The west end also features a butterfly garden. There is also a remant of a wet meadow, with a few cypress trees scattered through.
The trails are hard-surfaced — the eastern trail begins at a wooden bridge — and accessible. Parking is plentiful and there are restrooms and drinking water on site. The park is operated by North Miami; it's open from sunrise to sunset. Enchanted Forest is adjacent to Arch Creek Park, so the two can be taken in together without much difficulty.
History: The park is named after Elaine Gordon, a 22-year member of the Florida House of Representatives from North Miami who secured funding for the creation of the park back in the 1980s. Gordon was a staunch advocate for women's rights and human rights, and is a member of the Florida Women's Hall of Fame. Gordon died in 2000.
What You'll See: Enchanted Forest Elaine Gordon Park is a place of multiple personalities, but in a good way. There is indeed a bit of forest in the form of a tropical hardwood hammock, then there is typical open park for typical park activities like picnicking, tossing a ball or frisbee around or just enjoying a bit of nature and some fresh air.
There is a pond filled with turtles (red-eared sliders) and a section of Arch Creek, heavy with red mangroves, flowing through and where you might catch a glimpse of a foraging manatee. We found one of our favorite flowers, mangrove rubbervine, gracing the banks of Arch Creek, lancewood, false mastic, gumbo limbo and other trees in the hammock. It is mostly a place of small creatures, like the eastern gray squirrel seen above and the blue dasher dragonfly seen below.
Amenities: It's difficult to imagine a park as small as Enchanted Forest offering as much as it does. It has the basics, plenty of off-street parking, restrooms and drinking water. There are picnic tables and grills, a nature center and nature preserve with a hard-surface walking trail, a butterfly garden — and an equestrian center. There's much more; for a complete list check out the park's website.
Nearby: Arch Creek Park is literally next door to Enchanted Forest Elaine Gordon Park. Also nearby are Greynolds Park East and West. Oleta River State Park sits to the southeast were guessing a 10-minute drive away.
Links: The Friends of Enchanted Forest's Facebook page is here. The Institute for Regional Conservation's inventory plants for Enchanted Forest Elaine Gordon Park is here.
Of Note: Enchanted Forest Elaine Gordon Park is open dawn to dusk every day of the year. There is no admission fee.
Cover Photo: An eastern gray squirrel searching for acorns fallen from some of the park's live oak trees. Second photo: Some park patrons hanging out on a wooden bridge that spans Arch Creek.
