As soon as half of a giant land rip-off in South Florida, the property that grew to become Picayune State Forest was extensively altered.
Its moist flatwoods and swamps had been drained for a deliberate growth referred to as Golden Gate Estates.
When this portion of that enterprise finally failed, the state stepped in and started buying tons in 1985.
They finally took measures to revive hydrology and convey the ecological communities again to a extra pure state.
Cypress swamp within the dry seasonDesigned by Boy Scouts, the Sabal Palm Path explores western edges of the forest, offering a glimpse of various landscapes from pine uplands to water-filled cypress strands.
A part of the State Forest Trailwalker Program, this path consists of two interconnected loops, permitting for hikes of differing lengths.
Count on a lot of the path to be underwater in the summertime and fall, particularly after heavy rain occasions.
Bench and interpretive signalSources
Overview
Location: NaplesLength: 3.4 milesTrailhead: 26.094889, -81.634028Address: Sabal Palm Rd, NaplesFees: $2 per personRestrooms: Moveable restroom close to the trailheadLand supervisor: Florida Forest ServicePhone: 239-348-7557
Open dawn to sundown. Leashed canines welcome.
Instructions
Hike
On the trailhead, a big kiosk and set of interpretive indicators present detailed descriptions and maps of the forest, together with paper brochures.
Start your hike heading south alongside a large, sandy pathway by means of a forest of younger South Florida slash pines.
Trailhead kioskA big portion of this pine flatwoods neighborhood burned to the bottom throughout a wildfire in 2012.
The atmosphere has rebounded with a wholesome protecting of grasses, noticed palmettos, and shrubs.
Purple blazes cleared the path to an indication in the beginning of the A Loop, the place pines start to provide option to cypress timber.
At this level, the path could turn out to be flooded through the moist season.
Planted pinesProceed south on the first fork, descending additional into the swamp alongside corridors lined with dense partitions of melaleuca.
This fast-growing invasive tree thrives on this atmosphere and has confirmed to be very troublesome to take away.
Makes an attempt to manage the propagation of this plant could be seen in a number of clear-cut areas alongside the path.
Melaleuca mazeThe path takes a pointy flip to the left at 0.6 mile, passing by means of a well-managed mesic flatwoods habitat the place oaks, love vine, and cocoplum take maintain on increased floor.
Elevation steadily drops whereas heading eastward, and the trail finally crosses a fern-filled strand swamp.
Cypress strand with bench alongside grassy footpathNearing the one-mile mark on the opposite aspect of the strand, flip proper on the subsequent intersection to start the B Loop.
This spot used to have a primitive campsite on the nook the place a rusted grill stays, poking up from a cluster of tall grasses.
A and B Loop junctionSabal palms enhance in quantity, and cypress grows taller earlier than reaching the southern finish of the loop at 1.4 miles.
At this level, the trail climbs up onto a berm and heads to the east, overlooking seasonally swampy landscapes to the north and south.
Raised bermBecause the path curves again towards the trailhead, it joins a sandy forest highway edged by grassy pine prairies.
Deep sugar sand could make for troublesome footing till the path cuts off into the flatwoods once more at 2.3 miles. In one other tenth of a mile, flip proper to start the second half of the A Loop.
Pine prairieA handful of small oak hammocks seem alongside the trail because it continues northward, then takes a pointy left flip alongside a windy stretch earlier than finishing the loop at 3 miles.
From this level, observe the linear part again by means of the flatwoods restoration, reaching the trailhead in one other 0.4 miles.
Oak hammockPath Map
Discover Extra!
Video
Climbing the Sabal Palm Path
Close by Adventures
Path Map (PDF) Official Web site
