Blanketing 90 acres inside metropolis limits, Hammock Park is a wonderland of botanical range owned by the Metropolis of Dunedin.
Whereas the hardwood hammock is anticipated, there are patches of sandhill and scrub, a bayhead with monumental timber, and a rim of mangrove forest, all inside a mile of one another.
Uplands within the heart of the parkOffering infinite mixtures of potential loops, the community of trails maintained by native volunteers burrows deep underneath a typically lush cover.
Whereas the forests have been dented by hurricanes, they’re largely in superb type. Our 2.8 mile loop begins within reach of the Pinellas Path and spans the breadth of the park.
The Fern Path crosses a bayhead swampSources
Overview
Location: DunedinLength: 2.8 milesTrailhead: 28.035204, -82.784409Address: 1900 San Mateo Dr, DunedinFees: FreeRestroom: On the predominant parking areaLand supervisor: Metropolis of DunedinPhone: 727-812-4530
Open dawn to sundown. Leashed canine permitted. The paved Osprey Loop and the boardwalks off of it are accessible. Cyclists welcome besides on the boardwalks together with the Fern Path.
Instructions
Hike
As each parking areas contact the Osprey Loop, it’s one of the best place to start. On the predominant parking space, use the path entrance throughout from the Butterfly Backyard.
Getting into the palm hammock on a paved pathway, bear left. Emerge at a picnic shelter on the fringe of the higher parking space inside a tenth of a mile.
Start line at predominant parking spaceGo away the paved loop for a boardwalk beginning close to the accessible parking areas, spanning tough floor into an oak hammock.
The boardwalk reaches a T with one alongside an arm of tidal Cedar Creek. Behind the mangroves throughout the water, cyclists whiz by on the Pinellas Path.
North finish of boardwalkDiscover each instructions on the boardwalk. On the south finish of the basin, crimson mangroves line what are clearly artifical earthen piles from creating this waterway.
Turning a nook after a tenth of a mile, the boardwalk ends at a paved path connecting the Pinellas Path and Hammock Park.
Boardwalk alongside Cedar CreekBacktrack alongside the boardwalks to the Osprey Loop and make a left on the paved path.
Tucked right into a mangrove-fringed curve of Cedar Creek, this grassy picnic space has benches within the shade of huge dwell oaks. A disc golf course weaves throughout the panorama.
Picnic spacePast a picnic shelter, a spur path leads left to an remark deck above the creek. Resume the loop, passing one other picnic shelter.
Go away the Osprey Path at a half mile by turning left onto a boardwalk adjoining an out of doors ampitheater.
Ampitheater junctionHeading into the mangroves, cross over sandy flats the place low-growing salt-loving species thrive.
At a T within the boardwalk, flip left to cross Cedar Creek on a bridge.
Low water reveals the prop roots of crimson mangroves intertwining alongside its muddy banks.
Cedar CreekTunnel into the mangrove forest, the boardwalk reaching an remark platform overlooking the creek.
Meet the junction with the Cedar Path, the tip level of accessible surfaces. Flip proper.
Commentary deck at Cedar CreekA linear footpath coming in from a walk-in entrance to the north, the Cedar Path weaves by way of a palm hammock the place wild espresso thrives within the understory.
A bridge spans a mangrove-lined tributary flowing in the direction of Cedar Creek. Cedar timber develop on barely elevated floor.
Bridge over tributaryCount on some mucky situations in low spots because the inky waters of the tributary glisten underneath close by mangroves.
Curving round a bench, stroll by way of a semi-tropical understory beneath the palms and a few massive dwell oaks as much as a metallic bridge.
Sturdy bridge throughout ditchCross a deep ditch that parallels the broad Skinner Path. At that T, 0.7 miles into the hike, make a left. A proper leads again to the principle parking space.
Heading east briefly alongside the Skinner Path, take a proper on the subsequent turn-in on the Oak Path, rapidly immersing within the hammock that defines Hammock Park.
Oak Path turnoffMature dwell oaks make up the excessive cover. Though their higher branches are considerably stripped by hurricane winds, they’ll fill out once more.
Marlberry dots the understory, shiny leaves gleaming underneath the cabbage palms. The skunky aroma of white stopper infuses the air.
Oak PathAssembly a T intersection with a bench, make a left on the Cline Path. Strolling underneath the dwell oaks, rapidly attain a T with the Palm Path.
Just like the Skinner Path and the Grant Path, it’s a spine for making loops throughout the path system. Flip proper to comply with it south.
Strolling in the direction of the Palm PathA well-defined hall within the shade of the hammock, it has interpretive signage at key spots and an ever-thickening understory surrounding it.
Move by the Fern Path boardwalk at 0.9 mile; that’ll be your return route for this loop. On the Kettles Path West signal, flip proper.
Kettles Path West turnoffA short horseshoe of a loop, it burrows deeper into the luxurious understory, with probably the most tropical really feel of any of the paths. Darkish earth is a heads-up the footpath can get muddy.
At a broad however unmarked junction, bear proper for a quick facet journey to a boardwalk over a bayhead drainage. Monumental bay timber rise above sword ferns and wild espresso.
Bayhead drainageBacktrack to Kettles Path West to renew its loop. Exit onto the Palm Path at 0.9 mile at an surprising nook of coastal pine flatwoods.
Make a proper, coming into a quick tunnel created by a low cover within the coastal hammock. It opens up into scrubby flatwoods with longleaf pines.
Island of scrubby flatwoodsForking off to the proper, the Highland Path enters the Hammock Park Growth, the place hickories becoming a member of a mixture of hardwoods on this drier a part of the hammock.
At 1.3 miles, it’s a little bit of a shock when this path emerges at a signpost behind a row of homes. Flip left on the Grant Path.
Hammock Park GrowthSlipping alongside the sting of a yard, this perimeter path takes a pointy nook to parallel a ditch northbound.
Previous a junction with the Gopher Path, bear left on the Palmetto Path to make one other inside loop.
Palmetto Path turnoffA spur path to the proper ends in a clearing with a bench beneath the regal unfold of a giant dwell oak.
Within the shade of this upland hammock, make a proper on the T with the Gopher Path.
Stay oak clearingAmble down the wooded hall, passing the Highland Path junction to backtrack into the flatwoods.
Passing Kettles Path West, make a proper onto Kettles Path East at 1.7 miles.
Palm Path earlier than Kettles Path turnoffsOne other shift in habitats happens alongside this footpath, a gradual segue from uplands with large oaks in the direction of the rim of a giant bayhead.
A sweetbay with a large trunk stands tall above the encompassing cover.
Because the earth underfoot darkens, a swampy thicket takes over the forest on the north facet of the trail.
Towering sweetbayPast a bench underneath a dwell oak, the fern-edged treadway could also be muddy. Views open up into the bayhead, residence to many towering bay timber.
The tallest of the oaks rising from the ocean of ferns alongside the sting of this forested wetland have flaring, fluted bases to their trunks, much like cypress timber.
Curve round a fallen treeGaining elevation, ascend into an oak hammock with a dense understory of noticed palmetto. Rising at a broad junction with the Grant Path, flip left.
Stroll previous a bridge carrying the Harris Path into one other stretch of hammock to a parking space for the park to the east.
View north from Harris Path bridgeNot trying like a ditch, the stream adjoining the Grant Path has a extra vigorous stream.
Thick-trunked bay timber stand tall throughout from it and past it, illuminating how this panorama has been reshaped previously.
Grant PathOn the subsequent bench, face the supply of the creek, a forested wetland.
It’s busy with wax myrtle and large leather-based ferns. The trail-paralleling channel continues as much as a weir.
Freshwater wetlandsWhereas clearly an oblong pond on satellite tv for pc maps, freshwater Lake Suemar appears very pure at its outflow level.
A bench overlooks this good spot for birding. Simply previous it, flip a pointy nook to affix the Skinner Path.
Outflow of Lake SuemarThe Skinner Path adjoins a ditch separating the park from ballfields at a college. At 2.1 miles, make a proper on the Fern Path.
A boardwalk, the Fern Path descends into the guts of the bayhead. Marsh ferns carpet the moist understory beneath the tall timber.
Fern PathMove by monumental rootballs of darkish earth the place bay timber tipped over in the course of the hurricanes.
Past a bench, zigzag by way of the bayhead to hover above a drier forest flooring.
Puddles underneath the timber draw consideration to the marsh between this path and Kettles Path East.
A herbaceous marsh spans between the pathsPalm fronds body a transition into the upland forest and the tip of the boardwalk.
Rising onto the Palm Path, flip proper onto a well-recognized passageway. Backtrack to the Cline Path, making a left at 2.4 miles.
Move straight by way of its junction with the Oak Path, winding by way of the hammock.
Palm Path to Cline Path junctionThe Cline Path attracts near the park boundary because it curves north to finish on the Skinner Path. Flip left to exit the path system.
Passing the Sugarberry Path, one other neighborhood connector, stroll by a trailhead kiosk right into a shady picnic space the place the playground and restrooms are situated.
Exit in the direction of playgroundIn case you’re parked on this lot, at 2.8 miles, you’ll see your car. In case you parked on the higher parking space and began there, it’s one other tenth of a mile through the Osprey Loop.
You may as well stroll out the doorway street previous the historic Andrews Memorial Chapel to return to it, understanding to the identical total distance.
Historic churchPath Map
Discover Extra!
Be taught extra concerning the Pinellas Path
Pinellas Path A paved ribbon stretching the size of Pinellas County from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs, the Fred Marquis Pinellas Path offers cyclists with almost 38 miles of low-stress cruising.Video
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Path Map (PDF) Buddies of the Hammock Official Web site
Creator of over 40 books, Sandra Good friend established FloridaHikes.com in 2006 to increase 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.
