Alongside the floodplain of Crescent Lake, Shell Bluff Park is a magnificence spot inside an enormous farming district west of Bunnell.
Historical reside oaks anchor a lush hammock above the floodplain forest surrounding Little Lake, a darkish pool plied by paddlers.
Picnic pavilions entrance this scenic spot throughout the woods. A playground adjoins the restrooms. But it surely’s the footpath that whisks you into the previous.
Major trailheadAssets
Overview
Location: BunnellLength: 0.7 milesTrailhead: 29.495371, -81.483472Address: 14331 W SR 100, BunnellFees: FreeRestroom: On the trailheadLand Supervisor: Flagler CountyPhone: 386-313-4020
Open daybreak to 11 PM. Leashed canines welcome. No alcohol permitted. Anticipate mosquitoes.
Instructions
Hike
From the parking space at Little Lake, begin by strolling by means of the hole within the fence dealing with the lake to benefit from the waterfront views.
Benches on the bluff face the floodplain forest on the far facet. Alligators float on the placid water, which is hydrologically related to Crescent Lake.
Little LakeFollowing the shoreline previous the pier, attain the beginning of the path. It’s marked with a posted map and directional signage, which you’ll encounter at every flip of this path.
Stroll into the hardwood hammock. Cedars, cabbage palms, and reside oaks edge the broad path. Noticed palmetto defines the understory, with some historical crops rising above the others.
Entrance to the climbing pathDwell oak trunks and limbs are swaddled in resurrection fern. The deeper the path progresses into the hammock, the taller the timber grow to be.
At 0.2 miles the loop begins, marked by a picnic desk in a small clearing and one other map kiosk. To observe it clockwise, proceed straight forward.
Historical hammockLined by noticed palmetto, the hall curves beneath a big reside oak and tall loblolly pines.
Cross a bridge over a deep, slender ditch within the hammock. Cabbage palms sprout among the many noticed palmetto; loblolly pines tower to unimaginable heights.
BridgeBroadening to the width of an previous highway, the grassy path rounds a slight curve right into a straightaway.
The understory opens because the habitat shifts to a drier xeric hammock. Aromatic Carolina jessamine drapes over younger oaks.
Xeric hammockThe again of a kiosk faces a parking space alongside the park highway to the boat ramp on Crescent Lake. The flip earlier than it isn’t marked, so we backtracked to it.
Coming into a palm hammock close by of that highway, cross a second bridge over the slender ditch. Dwell oaks make up the cover, however palms now dominate.
Northbound leg of the loopGently winding by means of the hammock, attain an extended straightaway. At its far finish is one other path entry level.
Rising on the map kiosk at 0.4 miles, face the park entrance at SR 100. Flip proper and stroll alongside the doorway highway beneath the traditional oaks.
Exit to entrance highwayOn the small parking space on the best, flip in on the map kiosk. Stroll by means of the immersive hardwood hammock, listening to birdsong.
Rounding a slight curve, face the picnic desk in the beginning of the loop at a half mile. Flip left to exit. Full this hike on the parking space by the picnic pavilions at 0.7 miles.
Approaching the loop junctionPath Map
Discover Extra!
Video
Climbing Shell Bluff Park
Slideshow
See our images from Shell Bluff Park
Close by Adventures
Official Web site
Creator of 45 books, Sandra Good friend established FloridaHikes.com in 2006 to broaden on the sphere analysis she’d accomplished for her first six climbing guides. She has been honored with lifetime achievement awards from the Florida Path Affiliation and the Florida Outside Writers Affiliation.
