A round-trip and loop, the two.3 mile Coastal Strand Path provides a stunning exercise and, seasonally, loads of mosquitoes to guard your self in opposition to.
At its begin, count on mushy mud when waters rise amid the mangrove-lined marshes of the Halifax River basin at Smith Creek.
A sometimes-sticky part of footpathClose to its south finish, a roller-coaster of historical dunes above the Atlantic Ocean create a tunnel impact between excessive factors and low scrub.
Shaded by showy windswept oak hammocks, the linear portion of the path yields to a sun-drenched loop by means of a coastal scrub forest.
Descent from the excessive levelSources
Overview
Location: Ormond-by-the-SeaLength: 2.3 mile round-tripTrailhead: 29.41072,-81.094962Address: 40 Highbridge Rd, Ormond-by-the-SeaFees: FreeRestroom: At Smith Creek LandingLand supervisor: Florida State ParksPhone: 386-517-2086
Open 8 AM to sundown. Leashed canines welcome besides on seaside.
Instructions
Hike
On the fringe of the parking space the place a picnic desk sits by Smith Creek, curve previous a path entrance signal with a map field into the cedars alongside the creek.
A broad statement deck offers a sweeping view of its open waters earlier than the path slips behind a display of marsh-level mangroves.
Begin of the pathThe footpath could get mucky at excessive tide. Be part of a boardwalk and bridge throughout a shallow mangrove-lined waterway.
Ascending into a stupendous coastal hammock shaded by massive dwell oaks, cross a shaded bench.
Boardwalk bridgeEmerge at a definite north-south hall that was doubtless the previous route of A1A. Flip left. Broad and grassy, it turns into extra sandy round a curve.
The encircling habitat turns scrubby. An interpretive marker factors out a well-trodden path to a gopher tortoise burrow.
Broad predominant north-south hallHold proper at a Y junction, following a linear hall previous a 1/4 mile signal. Bear left at a junction with an uphill into the shade of sand dwell oaks.
Attain a T with a kiosk and bench to the left. That’s the return route. Flip proper to proceed in direction of the bigger loop on the north finish of the path.
Quarter mile markerTunnel by means of the sand dwell oaks, the cover sometimes opening up alongside a stupendous hall edged with noticed palmetto, younger scrub oaks, and silk bay.
Extra interpretive indicators level out potential inhabitants of this dry habitat on this sandy ridge between the Halifax River basin and the Atlantic Ocean.
Shady coastal hammockA straightaway emerges into the solar previous the 1/2 mile publish, the environment now firmly coastal scrub. On a light curve, a bench sits in a welcome puddle of shade.
Seeing energy traces forward, attain Powerline Reduce at 0.8 miles, a hiker marker pointing straight throughout it.
Powerline ReduceBear proper after strolling below the facility traces to enter the palm-shaded sandy path identified by the subsequent marker.
The loop begins with a steep, sandy ascent on this slender passageway by means of the scrub to a excessive level on the ridge.
Tunnel of scrub resulting in a excessive levelA bench marks the spot, the sound of the Atlantic surf reverberating close by. It’s a line of blue on the horizon the bench faces.
Descend by means of the low scrub on a surprisingly sharp angle of descent, assembly the Brief Reduce junction. Taking it cuts nearly a half mile off the loop.
Atlantic Ocean on the horizonProceed previous the junction for a roller-coaster stroll on the comfortable sands of the traditional dunes. One bench offers a cease alongside this tight hall hemmed in by the thicket of scrub.
The place the timber develop taller and coontie rises trailside, comply with a curve onto orange-tinted coquina sands, rising to the grassy linear hall.
Climbing a scrubby hillAt 1.1 miles, that is the north finish of the loop. Flip left and amble alongside this grassy strip by means of the scrub, a favourite place for gopher tortoises to feed.
A fence with a niche and a hiker image invitations exploration down a aspect path to a bench and kiosk dealing with the marshy fringe of the Halifax River basin.
North finish of loopAgain on the principle path, cross the opposite finish of the Brief Reduce at 1.4 miles. Returning to the south finish of the loop at Powerline Reduce by 1.6 miles, retrace the linear path by means of the oak hammocks.
Assembly the junction on the kiosk with the bench, proceed straight forward. Take a second to catch the view of the Halifax River basin from this excessive level.
River basin viewDropping downhill below purple cedars, merge in with the opposite aspect of the quick loop round this ridge.
Reaching a clearing, take the unmarked aspect path on the best to see the sting of the marsh alongside the river.
Fringe of the marshProceed south alongside the broad hall to the turnoff marked with a hiker marker. Return alongside this lovely passageway, crossing the bridge.
Stroll behind the mangroves to the Smith Creek statement deck. The trailhead is simply across the nook, wrapping a 2.3 mile hike.
Bench within the shadePath Map
Discover Extra!
Study extra about North Peninsula State Park
North Peninsula State Park Neatly accessed by way of a scenic drive extending north from Ormond Seashore, North Peninsula State Park has two tantalizing miles of oceanfront alongside a palm-rimmed line of dunes.Video
Climbing the Coastal Strand Path
Slideshow
See our photographs from the Coastal Strand Path
Close by Adventures
Bulow Creek State Park At Bulow Creek State Park, stroll among the many ancients in Bulow Hammock, beginning with the imposing Fairchild Oak, certainly one of Florida’s largest dwell oak timber.
Tomoka State Park Stroll within the footsteps of the Timucua beneath the traditional oaks at Tomoka State Park, the place the village of Nocoroco was a thriving neighborhood on a bountiful set of rivers.Path Map (PDF) Official Web site
Writer of 45 books, Sandra Buddy established FloridaHikes.com in 2006 to broaden on the sector analysis she’d accomplished for her first six mountain climbing guides. She has been honored with lifetime achievement awards from the Florida Path Affiliation and the Florida Outside Writers Affiliation.
