On this 12 mile day hike loop inside St. Marks Unit of St. Marks Nationwide Wildlife Refuge, emerge from the pine flatwoods to a shoreline like no different.
Somewhat previous the midway level of the hike, stand inside marshes west of the Pinhook River and take within the sweep of the Huge Bend.
The Huge BendLargely following forest roads and levees, that is a straightforward, flat stroll that can be tackled by bike.
Alongside an arc of coastal levees partly shared with the statewide Florida Path, anticipate minimal shade paired with a pleasant variety of wildlife sightings.
Even within the woods, alligators seem from roadside ditchesAssets
Overview
Location: St. Marks Nationwide Wildlife RefugeLength: 12 milesTrailhead: 30.140917, -84.138847Address: Lighthouse Rd, St. MarksFees: $5 car, $1 bicycle or pedestrianRestroom: NoneLand supervisor: U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServicePhone: 850-925-6121
Open dawn to sundown. No pets. The gate on Lighthouse Rd opens at 6 AM and closes after darkish. Preserve alert for alligators as they’re a typical sight.
Nationwide Park Passes and Federal Duck Stamps are honored for admission. An annual go for the refuge may be bought for $25.
Instructions
Hike
From the small parking pulloff adjoining the St. Marks Unit Primitive Strolling Trails signal, cross the bridge and circle the gate for FR 105.
The Deep Creek Path shares its begin with the Stoney Bayou Path, which covers half as a lot distance as an interior loop.
Place to beginA set of stanchions permits a series to bar the highway a bit additional alongside the place a aspect highway results in a upkeep yard beneath the pines.
Take pleasure in dappled shade solid by stay oaks on the method to FR 106 at a half mile, a forest highway to the appropriate that’s the return route for this loop.
Typical stretch of FR 105 to beginStick with FR 105 heading east. The place FR 109 branches off, a broad grassy needlerush marsh fills an open expanse amid the pine flatwoods.
Past the 1.1 mile signal, the two-track stops being a straightaway and curves round a bend. Move FR 110 at a marshy junction.
A succession of forest roads proceed to department off into habitats shifting to moist flatwoods dotted with forested swamps.
A deer watches from a aspect highwayOn the 1.9 mile signal, the Stoney Bayou Path peels off to the appropriate at an odd angle. Keep left to stay on the Deep Creek Path.
Gaining a bit elevation, pine flatwoods transition into blended hardwood forest, providing the shade of stay oaks over the path.
A smattering of cedars and an rising variety of cabbage palms adjoin the path.
Stoney Bayou junctionEdged with sawgrass, darkish swimming pools of water are residence to alligators, one of the vital frequent wildlife sightings to anticipate alongside this path. Don’t method them.
White-tailed deer startle the unwary once they burst throughout the forest highway.
Round 2.6 miles, cross a concrete bridge over Deep Creek, a broad blackwater stream outlined by floodplain forest, and proceed by means of a curve.
The bridge at Deep CreekBecause the habitat shifts to drier terrain, redbud sports activities showy blossoms in spring close to a clearing beneath the pines shaded by stay oaks.
Passing extra forest highway junctions, proceed to comply with the distinct two-track beneath the pines and oaks.
A ditch adjoining it broadens, significantly when the view opens as much as a sawgrass prairie.
Sawgrass prairieA signposted junction at 4.5 miles marks an necessary proper flip the place the Deep Creek Path turns proper on Fundamental Levee, headed in direction of the shoreline.
Raised up sufficient for good views of the encircling forests and marshes, Fundamental Levee parallels a deep ditch the place alligators solar alongside its sides.
Junction at Fundamental LeveeSix miles into this loop, an indication that claims “Half Approach” means simply that. Not far previous it’s a junction with the Swamp Hammock Path at a footbridge
It emerges from a coastal palm hammock. A bench within the shade is price savoring, as the rest of this hike is basically in full solar.
It has various through the years, however the orange blazes of the Florida Path take part on Fundamental Levee right here in the event that they didn’t again on the earlier signposted junction.
Half Approach levelInside a half mile, a grated bridge over an outflow from the marshes alerts the beginning of a parade of coastal panoramas.
First framed by stunted cabbage palms after which merely laid out on the foot of Fundamental Levee is a sweep of salt marshes extending to the far horizon.
Rising into the salt marshThey outline the shallowest shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico, the place the Pinhook and Aucilla and Econfina Rivers empty darkish waters into the curve of Florida.
The peninsula and Panhandle meet on the horizon. Since Fundamental Levee is offshore, the salt marsh views on its interior curve are lovely as nicely.
Look ahead to splashes of pink within the marsh. Whereas prone to be roseate spoonbills sifting by means of delicate mud, flamingos have been seasonally noticed, too.
Curve of Fundamental Levee westCross a number of giant spillways inside a half mile. When Fundamental Levee reaches a cabbage palm hammock at 7.8 miles, a path left results in Ring Dike Campsite.
It’s accessible for in a single day stays for backpackers crossing the complete refuge on the Florida Path and for paddlers following the Florida Saltwater Circumnavigation Path.
Blue blazed path to campsiteCease for a relaxation break, because it’s price a go to for its magnificence and its bench overlooking the glint of Apalachee Bay.
Past the campsite, the open water on each side of the levee make it straightforward to look at mergansers and geese.
Waterfront at Ring DikeAt a path junction within the levee with a white “Path” signal at 8.5 miles, meet the japanese fringe of Stoney Bayou Pool #2.
The Florida Path turns north right here to fulfill the Stoney Bayou Path alongside the north finish of this huge, shallow impoundment.
Proceed straight forward to remain on the Deep Creek Path in full solar. The pool on the appropriate bustles with the exercise of wading birds.
JunctionAlligators lounge amid water lilies and tufts of needlerush on muddy islands. Flotillas of coots startle simply into skipping throughout the floor in semi-flight.
A channel parallels the bottom of the levee. Past it, the expanse of needlerush marsh continues.
It’s damaged in a number of locations by intentional ditching round deeper waters within the marsh.
Alligators within the shallowsAttain the subsequent path junction at 9.7 miles and an necessary proper flip on the open expanse of Stoney Bayou Pool #1.
Constructed by an all-Black workforce beneath the Civilian Conservation Corps within the early Forties, these impoundments assisted in mosquito management.
Coots in a row within the marshIn addition they supplied migratory birds quite a lot of depths of waters to encourage their stopoff earlier than winging throughout the Gulf to their subsequent vacation spot.
This impoundment tends to much more open water than the others. When sandbars are uncovered, they draw the curiosity of flocks of skimmers and seagulls.
Sandbar alongside the leveeInside 0.7 mile, Deep Creek Path turns proper off this levee and meets a four-way junction with a ten.4 mile signal.
A trailhead at Lighthouse Highway is seen to the left; the Florida Path crosses right here and proceeds in direction of it.
Marked with brown indicators, the Stoney Bayou Path turns off to hitch the Deep Creek Path in its remaining stretch again to the Primitive Trails trailhead.
The place trails mergeA low, broad causeway leads by means of the expanse of grassy marshes for 0.2 miles to a slight rise into the pines.
With views out into the marsh, take pleasure in an easy stroll by means of the pine flatwoods for the subsequent mile.
On the junction with FR 105, flip left for the ultimate half mile alongside the two-track highway to the Primitive Trails trailhead, wrapping up this scenic 12 mile journey.
FR 105/106 junctionPath Map
Discover Extra!
Be taught extra about St. Marks Nationwide Wildlife Refuge
St. Marks Nationwide Wildlife Refuge Stretching throughout 86,000 acres in Florida’s Huge Bend, St. Marks Nationwide Wildlife Refuge protects one in every of Florida’s longest wild shorelines, greater than 43 miles in three counties.Be taught extra in regards to the Florida Path within the Huge Bend
Florida Path, Huge Bend Crossing rural farms and forests, this 116 mile section of the Florida Path reveals the secrets and techniques of the Aucilla River earlier than tracing the Gulf shoreline at St. Marks Nationwide Wildlife Refuge.Slideshow
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Writer of 45 books, Sandra Buddy established FloridaHikes.com in 2006 to develop on the sphere analysis she’d accomplished for her first six mountaineering guides. She has been honored with lifetime achievement awards from the Florida Path Affiliation and the Florida Out of doors Writers Affiliation.
