Defending a sheet movement of rainfall transferring steadily southward and parallel to the Atlantic Ocean, Grassy Waters Protect bears a putting resemblance to the Florida Everglades.
It’s arduous to think about now, with the crush of humanity alongside this coast, however this shimmering sheet of sawgrass as soon as was a part of the River of Grass.
The Grassy WatersBounded by improvement to the south, it’s a large protect – 23 sq. miles – a part of a panorama that nourished what we now consider as our Everglades.
It exists, untouched, as a result of it provides ingesting water for the residents of West Palm Seaside and a number of other different communities.
Launch level into the protectAssets
Overview
Location: West Palm BeachTrailhead: 26.808829, -80.169952Address: 8264 Northlake Blvd, West Palm BeachFees: FreeRestroom: On the trailheadLand Supervisor: Metropolis of West Palm BeachPhone: 561-804-4980
Open Mon-Sat 8 AM-4:30, Solar 8:30 AM-5 PM. No canines or bicycles. Insect repellent suggested within the hotter months.
Instructions
Concerning the Protect
Grassy Waters Protect is way bigger than you’d suspect. The Cypress Boardwalk at its primary entrance has been a showpiece because it opened, however trails lie north and south, too.
North of Northlake Blvd, the Hog Hammock and Eagle Trails provide uplands and levees to traverse above the huge river of grass.
To the south, the Owahee and Apoxee Trails splash proper into wild habitats edging West Palm Seaside.
Pathway by Hog HammockIt’s the Cypress Boardwalk, nevertheless, that attracts most guests. Resulting in and previous the character heart, it’s an accessible immersion into these moist and wild habitats.
Extending by low-lying tree islands for a half mile, it has many benches because it connects launches for kayakers and a number of commentary decks with panoramas of the grassy waters.
The Cypress BoardwalkHike
Begin on the distinguished kiosk adjoining the lengthy waterfront deck on a man-made channel inside the wetlands. With railings on each side, the broad boardwalk enters a cypress dome.
Thickets of hog plum, the shiny leaves of pond apple, and marsh ferns are a part of a gradient of inexperienced.
They maintain this swamp forest lush in winter when the cypress shed their needles in preparation for brand new spring development.
Trailhead kioskThroughout patches of open water, cypress knees jut from the forest’s reflections. Interpretive indicators recount the human presence on this swamp.
Each historical peoples and the Seminoles known as these low islands within the Everglades residence, the Seminole pressured out by the U.S. Military within the 1860s.
Crossing the cypress strandAt a break up within the boardwalk, veer left to the Nature Middle.
After a go to with its inhabitants, proceed alongside the boardwalk in entrance of the cypress strand alongside the open expanse of the moist prairie.
Kayakers comply with the slender channel chopping by the grassy waters. The boardwalk zigzags to a set of steps main into the water.
Trying in the direction of the character heart from the commentary deckAn commentary deck appears to be like throughout a lily-dotted pond within the swamp, with an interpretive signal calling consideration to the distinct form of cypress domes within the distance.
Re-entering the cypress strand, meet a junction with the opposite finish of the loop by it. Flip left, descending to a decrease boardwalk.
Fringe of the cypress strandIt has guiderail footers however no railings for an immersion within the tropical forest. It’s nonetheless fairly moist beneath, with patches of stable floor indiscernible.
Many species obscure the soggy forest ground, like noticed palmetto, myrsine, marlberry, and oaks.
The low boardwalkBrief straightaways flip sharp corners so you possibly can by no means see too far forward. Undergo a 90-degree flip at 0.2 miles.
A chickee platform hosts two rocking chairs searching into the swamp. Occasional flagging right here and at different areas alongside the boardwalk signifies a swamp stroll route.
Rocking chairs with a swamp viewGuides take college teams and guests on a really soggy tromp by this moist forest between the boardwalks.
These walks embrace interpretation of the plant species you see alongside the best way. Verify the protect’s schedule to enroll in one.
Swamp walks undergo this strandA tunnel of bushes briefly shades the boardwalk earlier than its subsequent sharp flip. Look fastidiously into the tannic swimming pools on the bases of the cypress.
Tiny gambusia (mosquitofish) wriggle, and there are tiny purple flowers atop carnivorous bladderworts. Each eat mosquito larvae, pure insect management for the swamp.
BladderwortsJog right into a straightaway with bigger pond apples alongside it and a slash pine. Heading in the direction of a wall of cypress, take within the number of ferns and bromeliads among the many tree trunks.
Flip proper for one more stretch of straightaway, this one headed right into a thicket of shrubs. The next jog reveals cabbage palms alongside the boardwalk and a junction at 0.3 miles.
Path junctionAt an indication commemorating the commissioners chargeable for the protect, flip left. Stroll out to a chickee at a magnificence spot overlooking a cove of the grassy waters between cypress domes.
At the hours of darkness watery gaps between thick shocks of sawgrass, water lilies adorn the darkish floor.
OverlookReturn to the principle boardwalk and switch left. Slip round corners by a drier island the place slender slash pines rise above the riot of understory.
Two sharp bends result in a ultimate straightaway. Just like the facet journey, the boardwalk beneficial properties railings because it extends throughout the grassy waters.
Prairie boardwalkDepart the cypress strand for a panorama throughout an immense moist prairie, distant cypress strands bounding its edges. Site visitors on a bridge alongside Northlake Blvd units a compass route.
As in all different openings alongside the boardwalk, lilies dot open water. The boardwalk splits in two, with a ramp main as much as the commentary deck.
Moist prairieThe decrease portion meets a kayak launch/touchdown equipment floating within the water. Stairs join the 2 boardwalks on the chickee.
Recognizing scopes allow you to look off to the far horizon. At a half mile, savor this perch on the finish of the Cypress Boardwalk earlier than the return journey.
Kayak dockOn the return, take the alternate route on the T intersection at 0.8 mile by making a left. It’s merely a distinct tackle the cypress dome, with its personal rain shelter with rocking chairs.
Barely longer than the route previous the character heart, it skims the west facet of the identical cypress dome.
Rocking chairs within the cypress domeFrom this angle, edge alongside the sawgrass-filled pond on the dome’s heart whereas additionally taking in views of the prairie past the cypress.
Go a number of benches on widened parts of the boardwalk earlier than rejoining the doorway walkway at a T intersection. Flip left to exit, finishing a mile hike by returning to the trailhead.
Looping to the character heartPath Map
Discover Extra!
Uncover the opposite hikes inside Grassy Waters Protect. Every has its personal trailhead.
Video
Mountain climbing the Cypress Boardwalk at Grassy Waters Protect
Slideshow
See our photographs from the Cypress Boardwalk
Close by Adventures
Official Web site
Articles collectively researched, written, and photographed by Sandra Buddy & John Keatley, Florida authors and publishers of FloridaHikes.com.
