Boca Raton walking and biking trails: El Rio, Patch Reef, T-Rex

Boca Raton's walking and biking trails: the 4.8-mile El Rio Trail, 3.5-mile Patch Reef Trail, T-Rex Trail and Gumbo Limbo's boardwalk, with parking and hours.

Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. Distances, hours and parking come from the City of Boca Raton’s own trail and park pages, linked below.

Boca Raton’s trails are flat, paved and mostly follow its canals. The three longest are city shared-use paths for walking, running and cycling: the El Rio Trail along the El Rio Canal, the Patch Reef Trail along the E4 Canal and the short T-Rex Trail that links the Yamato Road Tri-Rail station to Countess de Hoernle Park. On the barrier island, Gumbo Limbo Nature Center has a boardwalk through coastal hammock and a 40-foot tower.

Who to call

Park Rangers: 561-393-7815

Park maintenance: 561-393-7810

Police non-emergency: 561-368-6201; emergency 911

All city parks: Our Parks

The trails at a glance

Trail	Length	Where	Parking	Hours
El Rio Trail	4.8 miles	Along the El Rio Canal	Free at the Yamato Road Tri-Rail station	Sunrise to sunset
Patch Reef Trail	3.5 miles	E4 Canal, Glades Road to Yamato Road	Free at Patch Reef Park (535 spaces)	Sunrise to sunset
T-Rex Trail	1.42 miles	Yamato Road Tri-Rail station to Countess de Hoernle Park	None on site	Sunrise to sunset
Gumbo Limbo boardwalk	Boardwalk and tower	1801 N. Ocean Blvd.	At the nature center	7 a.m. to sunset

El Rio Trail

A scenic paved path that winds along the El Rio Canal, with shaded rest areas, benches and open green spaces. The city suggests watching for turtles, great blue herons, owls, butterflies and iguanas along the water. At 4.8 miles it is the city’s longest listed trail. Parking at the Tri-Rail station is free; the city lists the trail address as 599 Glades Road (El Rio Trail).

Patch Reef Trail

A 3.5-mile shared-use path for walking, running and cycling along the E4 Canal between Glades Road and Yamato Road. Park at Patch Reef Park, 2000 W. Yamato Road: 535 free spaces, 19 accessible spaces and four free EV charging spots (Patch Reef Trail).

Patch Reef Park itself has restrooms, drinking fountains, a playground, a splash pad and outdoor fitness equipment, so it makes a good trailhead for families. Park hours are 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday (8 p.m. in daylight saving time) (Patch Reef Park).

T-Rex Trail

A 1.42-mile walking and biking trail that starts at the Yamato Road Tri-Rail station next to the El Rio Trail, follows Technology Way, passes under Spanish River Boulevard and ends at Countess de Hoernle Park. There is no parking on site; start from the Tri-Rail station (T-Rex Trail). Both it and the El Rio Trail start at the station, so one parking spot serves both.

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center boardwalk

1801 N. Ocean Blvd.; 561-544-8605. A 20-acre coastal preserve on the barrier island, in a rare remnant of coastal tropical hammock. The boardwalk runs through the forest to Jacob’s Outlook, a 40-foot observation tower with an accessible switchback ramp. The nature trail, boardwalk and tower are open 7 a.m. to sunset daily; the nature center and aquariums are open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and noon to 4 p.m. Monday (Gumbo Limbo Nature Center).

Nature preserves

The city also manages small nature preserves, including Blazing Star Preserve, Gopher Tortoise Preserve and Serenoa Glade Preserve (Nature Preserves). More parks are in our parks and trails guide.

Rules on every city trail

Open sunrise to sunset.
Feeding, harming or interacting with wildlife is prohibited (city code Sec. 11-7).
No smoking, alcohol, drones, balloons or confetti, or fires in city parks.
Dogs must be leashed; see our dog-friendly guide for where they are allowed.

Source: the park rules listed on each city trail page.

Tips for the heat

South Florida trails are hottest from late morning to late afternoon for much of the year. Go early or near sunset, carry water, and wear sun protection. Watch the forecast for afternoon thunderstorms in summer.

Frequently asked questions

What is the longest trail in Boca Raton? The El Rio Trail, 4.8 miles along the El Rio Canal.

Where can I bike? El Rio, Patch Reef and T-Rex trails are all shared-use paths.

Where do I park for the Patch Reef Trail? Patch Reef Park, 2000 W. Yamato Road; 535 free spaces.

What are the Gumbo Limbo boardwalk hours? 7 a.m. to sunset daily.

What this means for you

Use the Tri-Rail station lot for the El Rio and T-Rex trails, and Patch Reef Park for the Patch Reef Trail.
Gumbo Limbo’s boardwalk opens at 7 a.m., two hours before the nature center.
Report a trail problem to the Park Rangers at 561-393-7815.