Lower than a half mile lengthy, the interpretive Wahlin Path branches off begins nearby of the Fairchild Oak past a clearing the place a 1915 land workplace as soon as stood.
It leads alongside the excessive floor of the forest to its very edge, the place it drops off into the swamps.
Floodplain descentAlongside a pure ridge, a effervescent freshwater spring flows out of the hillside whereas the aroma of a sea breeze is throughout you.
A boardwalk curves alongside the place the spring feeds the floodplain to supply a greater perspective.
Spring runAssets
Overview
Location: Ormond BeachLength: 0.4 milesTrailhead: 29.388626, -81.131250Address: 3351 Previous Dixie Freeway, Ormond BeachFees: FreeLand Supervisor: Florida State ParksPhone: 386-676-4050
Open 8 AM to sundown. Leashed canines welcome; decide up after your pet.
Anticipate mud. Use insect repellent and a climbing stick.
Instructions
Hike
On the parking space, face the picnic shelter to get your bearings. On the treeline past it, giant brown indicators flank a clearing.
Go to the trailhead kiosk for an summary of the park earlier than heading in direction of the signal on the precise.
The Fairchild Oak Path is on the left, the Wahlin Path on the preciseSkip Wahlin was one of many native residents who helped preserve this forest as a part of the park. In his reminiscence, his household and buddies made this nature path occur.
Adjoining the signal, a broad footpath right into a palm hammock narrows, reaching the rim of a bluff.
Begin to the precise of this signalHuge earthen stairs lead downslope to a boardwalk. Hearken to the burble of water.
Fed by the peak of the water desk, seepage springs dot the forested slopes above Bulow Creek.
Runnels of water slice by means of the mud beneath, assembly the clear tannic outflow of a bigger spring hidden among the many palm fronds.
Boardwalk over seepage springLeaving the boardwalk, climb the bluff on earthen stairs, reaching a small clearing with a bench on the far aspect.
For many who solely needed to go to the spring basin, a left right here goes straight again to the picnic shelter. Make a proper to remain on the longer loop.
Keep proper at this junctionOaks and cedars present the excessive cover above the palms. After a curve the footpath narrows and turns into damp darkish earth edging a rivulet below the palms.
The slightest little bit of rainfall can flip the leaf and frond-strewn path to mud.
Muddy footpathMany species of ferns thrive within the always-damp earth alongside the shallow stream, together with younger sprouts of large leather-based fern.
Cedars and oaks tower to spectacular heights, as do the eldest of the cabbage palms. Native bamboo sprouts from darkish damp soil.
Towering bushesStroll between columns of palms, passing a bench at 0.2 mile earlier than a curve. Dwell oak limbs arch above.
Proceed the curve alongside a dense wall of palm fronds into an alley of palms.
A light ascent results in the sting of the pine flatwoods, skinny slash pines standing tall above the oaks.
Bench earlier than palm alleyNow on a sandy path between the oaks, attain the bench seen instantly after climbing up from the boardwalk.
Go that intersection by bearing proper, rising right into a clearing the place a land workplace from 1915 stood till current instances. The exit to the trailhead turns into apparent.
Exit in direction of trailheadGetting into the bigger clearing, the dimensions of the Fairchild Oak towards the tree line is attention-getting.
When you haven’t already stepped below its cover to marvel on the broad trunk and thick limbs, accomplish that now.
The Fairchild OakThe marker beneath it credit botanist David Fairchild for speaking the Portland Cement Firm into preserving it and the encompassing forest.
Return to the trailhead to finish this 0.4 mile tour into Bulow Hammock.
Commemorative plaquePath Map
Discover Extra!
Study extra about Bulow Creek State Park
Bulow Creek State Park At Bulow Creek State Park, stroll among the many ancients in Bulow Hammock, beginning with the imposing Fairchild Oak, one among Florida’s largest dwell oak bushes.Video
Mountain climbing the Wahlin Path
Slideshow
See our photographs from the Wahlin Path
Close by Adventures
Path Map (PDF) Official Web site
Writer of over 40 books, Sandra Pal 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.
