Hugging swamps and marshes en route to 2 showy pure options, that is the most well-liked Florida Path section within the refuge.
It ties collectively a simple stroll on forest roads and uplands footpaths with a troublesome traverse of the Cathedral of Palms.
The Cathedral of PalmsIt’s a muddy however spectacular coastal palm hammock alongside the sting of a large estuary.
Past it’s Shepherd Spring, a trying glass of clear water surrounded by a floodplain forest.
Shepherd SpringThe second half of the hike dances alongside the sting of the coastal floodplain, largely in a forest of historic pines and magnolias.
A shift to sandhills and pine flatwoods happens throughout the ultimate mile, with one final swamp to cross alongside a causeway.
Culvert on the causewayWe describe the linear section between trailheads, however the hike may be tackled a number of different methods.
From Wakulla Seashore trailhead to Shepherd Spring, the spherical journey is 7 miles. From Spring Creek trailhead into the guts of the Cathedral of Palms, 5.4 miles.
A forest highway connector proven in blue on our map additionally permits a lollipop loop from both trailhead.
Blue-blazed routeOverview
Location: CrawfordvilleLength: 6.0 milesTrailhead: 30.145603, -84.254211Address: 282 Wakulla Seashore Rd, CrawfordvilleFees: FreeRestrooms: NoneLand supervisor: St. Marks Nationwide Wildlife RefugePhone: 850-925-6121
Open dawn to sundown. Trailheads have restricted parking. Bicycles permitted on forest roads however not on the footpath.
Leashed canines welcome, though it’s harmful because of the presence of alligators. Count on mosquitoes and moist, muddy sneakers. Use a mountaineering stick for steadiness in mud.
Organize tenting at Wakulla Subject upfront by allow with St. Marks NWR in case you are backpacking all the refuge.
Instructions
Hike
Rounding the trailhead gate, begin down a forest highway due west, its causeway flanked on each side by an unlimited cypress swamp.
Scan fallen logs for resting alligators. Daylight dapples by means of a cover of towering bushes.
Alligator in a trailside cypress swampPast a sign-swallowing tree, emerge into brighter gentle briefly the place a tree farm lies north of the refuge boundary fence.
The tunnel impact resumes, enveloping the path alongside a straightaway to a distant horizon throughout the forest.
Tunnel impactA sheen of tannic water typically overtops the path and flows throughout it at 1.2 miles.
Cypresses stand as silent sentinels, their reflections captured throughout the watery expanse.
Shallow swamp seeping into the pathInside lower than a half mile, a stream flows between swamps on both facet of the highway. It could be slim sufficient to hop or require a wade.
At 2.3 miles, attain the junction the place the orange blazes flip south. Blue blazes proceed ahead, marking the excessive water route. Flip left.
Nearing the junctionEnter a combined hardwood forest, the path making its means in direction of the shoreline. Cross over two streams within the subsequent half mile, every flowing by means of a culvert underfoot.
The environment are usually damp, and get damper because the cabbage palms develop denser. Welcome to the Cathedral of Palms.
Coming into the CathedralInterspersed amidst the palms, towering pines and spreading stay oaks add to the grandeur of this palm hammock.
Catch transient glimpses of the coastal estuary to the east earlier than the footpath burrows deep into the guts of this maze of palm trunks round 3.2 miles.
A maze of palmsFooting will get sloppier because the palms skinny, the understory turning greener. Bluestem palms poke up from the leaf litter.
Standing water within the low spots—the footpath—makes for boot-sucking mud at instances. A mountaineering stick is a should by means of this part.
Sloppy goingEmerge from the palm hammock, crossing a forest highway at 3.6 miles. Plunge again into the woods briefly earlier than coming to a path junction.
Face a bench carved as a set of directional indicators: “Path” to the appropriate and “Spring” to the left. Flip left to go to Shepherd Spring.
Shepherd Spring junctionThe round-trip on this blue-blaze is a tenth of a mile. Beginning out as a duff-covered footpath, it joins a boardwalk to strategy the spring.
An statement deck with bench marks path’s finish at this pure pool deep throughout the forest, 25 toes deep.
Shepherd SpringLocals suggest in opposition to swimming, as a big alligator calls the spring dwelling. Faculties of mullet swirl within the depths.
Saltwater intrusion was once regular at excessive tide however now’s actuality alongside this shoreline. We now not suggest it as a water supply for backpackers.
Boardwalk leaving the springReturn to the bench on the path junction. For a round-trip again to your begin level, make a proper. In any other case, proceed straight forward.
A thicket of native bamboo crowds the footpath, swarming the understory of a forest of pines and oaks. Move longleaf pines of great girth and peak.
Huge pine within the bamboo thicketRising from a showy stand of Southern magnolia, attain an indication for Wakulla Subject Campsite. Behind it’s a giant clearing with a few benches.
Proceed previous it alongside a small causeway flanked by younger pines in a low, moist space earlier than getting into a extra mature forest.
Wakulla Subject CampsiteLongleaf pines and Southern magnolia tower above. Cross a forest highway at a diagonal to enter an oak hammock dominated by one mature oak’s crown unfold.
Ascend right into a wholesome longleaf pine forest with a dense understory of noticed palmetto. Assembly FR 210 at a T intersection at 4.9 miles, the footpath ends.
Uphill underneath an oakTo loop again in direction of your place to begin by taking the blue-blazed forest highway route east, flip proper.
To proceed on to the Spring Creek Trailhead, make a left, becoming a member of the forest highway southwest by means of a pleasing stand of longleaf pines.
Longleaf pinesDescend to a causeway. Because it ranges out, the path is flanked by swamp forest, with swimming pools and ponds of water trailside and a culvert beneath the forest highway.
Rising again into the pine forest, come to a Y intersection with FR 206 at 5.5 miles. Maintain proper.
CausewayIn a clearing at an intersection of forest roads, the orange blazes proceed straight forward, headed in direction of the Porter Tract and Spring Creek.
To exit this section of the Florida Path, flip proper. Comply with the blue blazes by means of the sandhills. Passing a sheltered kiosk, attain Spring Creek Trailhead at 6 miles.
Sheltered kiosk at Spring Creek TrailheadFLORIDA TRAIL NORTHBOUND: Porter TractFLORIDA TRAIL SOUTHBOUND: Wakulla River
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Creator of 45 books, Sandra Pal established FloridaHikes.com in 2006 to broaden on the sector 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 Outside Writers Affiliation.
