Managed by the Village of Islamorada, Key Tree Cactus Protect was acquired with the intention of conserving uncommon ecosystems which might be residence to the protect’s namesake species.
Along with a small community of well-maintained paths inside the rockland hammock, an accessible 0.2-mile brick walkway and boardwalk lead out to a kayak launch among the many mangroves.
The protect is a welcome relaxation cease alongside the Abroad Heritage Path, a multi-use pathway operating over 100 miles from Key West to Key Largo.
A number of benches are situated alongside the pathways, and a water fountain / bottle filler offers contemporary, cool water on the trailhead.
Elevated path amongst karst optionsSources
Overview
Location: IslamoradaLength: 0.6 milesTrailhead: 24.908139, -80.647056Address: 80460 Abroad Hwy, IslamoradaFees: FreeRestrooms: On the trailheadLand supervisor: Village of IslamoradaPhone: 305-852-6933
Open 8 AM to sundown.
Instructions
Hike
Close to the doorway to the protect, a kiosk shows details about the property together with a map exhibiting areas of assorted facilities.
Start your hike at a gap within the woods to the correct of the kiosk, following a rocky pathway into the densely shaded hammock.
Tropical hardwood hammockLeaves and gravel crunch underfoot on a large hall surrounded with a formidable number of native vegetation, gumbo limbo recognizable as a consequence of its uncommon peeling bark.
Traversing a rugged forest ground, the path winds round craggy limestone options pitted with miniature caves, utilizing a fence to navigate round one markedly distinguished despair.
>> Uncovered limestoneReaching an intersection of trails in a tenth of a mile, keep straight because the land begins descending in the direction of a definite boundary between habitats.
Hammock provides approach to mangrove forest close to the excessive tide mark. A pair of benches sit on the finish of the path.
Be cautious of the poisonwood bushes close by and keep away from touching them or sitting beneath them whether it is raining.
Benches on the ecotoneHeading again into the hammock, test the underbrush alongside the trail, in search of small clearings on rocky surfaces the place the important thing tree cactus prefers to develop.
Flip proper on the path junction, following the hall to the tip the place it opens to a set of coated picnic tables subsequent to a paved walkway.
Key tree cactusObserve the brick path in the direction of Florida Bay because it traces the property line to a sturdy boardwalk main out over a dense stand of mangroves.
A built-in bench affords a spot to relaxation among the many dense vegetation of this salty tropical forest.
Boardwalk by the mangrovesOn the finish of the boardwalk, a floating dock drops right down to the kayak launch, located alongside a canal stuffed with cloudy azure water.
From this level, comply with the paved pathway for 0.2 miles to return to the parking space.
Kayak launchPath Map
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Video
Climbing Key Tree Cactus Protect
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