North Anclote River Nature Park and Trail RDF-14

North Anclote River Nature Park                                                                        Site #

555 Old Dixie Highway  Tarpon Springs Fl.                                                  Pinellas County

Two ADA observation decks over the Anclote River, and over a mile of crushed rock (not shell) trails through three different habitat types.

Nature Related Blog List

Morris Bridge Wilderness Park RDF-13

Morris Bridge Wilderness  Park                                                                 Site # 3811

13330 Morris Bridge Rd.  Thonotosassa, FL 33592                               Hillsborough County

Morris Bridge offers access to the most popular and extensive network of trails at the trailhead approximately 3 miles from the I-75 Fletcher Avenue off ramp, east on Morris Bridge Road. 

Amenities include 3 Boardwalks , Boat Ramp, 2 Fishing docks in the Hillsborough river, Picnic Tables, and Restrooms.

One of 8 parks linked by trails, walkways, or canoe trails.

Nature Blogs

Hammock Park Dunedin Fl. RDF-12

Dunedin’s Hammock Park                                                                                            Site #

1900 San Mateo Drive, Dunedin, Florida                                                                      Pinellas County

“The Hammock” is an ancient 90-acre mixed-hardwood forest filled with more than 300 native species of trees, shrubs, ferns, wildflowers and small animals. In addition, over 100 species of birds inhabit the preserve throughout the year.

Of the 90 acres, 75 acres are a “low” hardwood and palm hammock, with a dark, rich soil that supports a more varied and denser vegetation than the surrounding sandy uplands. One of the most conspicuous features of the hammock are large, 100-year-old hardwood trees, some upward to 3 feet in diameter.

 The tallest trees, reaching 80 to 90 feet, are Sweetbays. They are becoming rare as they succumb to age, drought and invasive vines. There are twelve trails, two boardwalks, 5 bridges, two picnic shelters, and an observation tower. Kiosks at the trail entrances hold a five page guide to the 36 point nature trail, which is rated superior for an interpretive self-guided tour.

Historical Perspectives

When Florida joined the Union in 1845, the U.S. Government sent a geodetic team to survey the entire state. The Dunedin Historical Society has a copy of the original 1846 survey map of the Dunedin area, with the park identified as “Wet Swamp.” The surveyors’ field notes referred to it as “a hammock.” Remarkably, the north-south boundaries of the park set by this 158-year old survey remain to this day.

Blog List

Brooker Creek Preserve -RDF-11

 This listing is From "Boardwalks and Long Walks" (c) 2012  used by permission.

Brooker Creek Preserve                                                                                                  Site #

3940 Keystone Road,  Tarpon Springs 34688                                                                 Pinellas County

At approximately 8,700 acres, Brooker Creek Preserve is a significant conservation area in the northeastern corner of Pinellas County, where the management of its natural resources  is a priority. The preserve was established in the early 1990s with almost 2,800 additional acres acquired since that time.  Nature and Environmental Education Center, Nature trails,  Boardwalks, abundant native wildlife, rest rooms, paved parking.

http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/managedlands/bcp.htm

http://www.brookercreekpreserve.org/

Photo- This is as close as I have ever come to "Go"ing in the woods 
without being IN the woods and GO-ing on a tree... Those are screens, not windows.

Blog Index

http://www.facebook.com/BoardwalksAndLongWalks?ref=hl

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Backwoods-Institute-for-Wilderness-Safety/152396741437530?ref=hl

http://www.facebook.com/WmGCenter?ref=hl

http://wmgcenter.blogspot.com/2012/05/can-you-find-wilderness.html


http://willwalkforfun.blogspot.com/2012/05/award-winning-trails.html

http://billyholcoutdoors.blogspot.com/2012/05/whose-garden-was-this.html

http://boardwalksandlongwalks.blogspot.com/2012/09/book-introduction.html

Free Book on Florida's Habitat Types

SIX MILE CYPRESS SLOUGH Boardwalk RDF-10

Photo- Three legs of the boardwalk come together in the SE corner of the slough.

SIX MILE CYPRESS SLOUGH PRESERVE                                                          Site #

7791 Penzance Blvd  Fort Myers, FL 33966                                                             Lee County

The Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve is over 3,400 acres of a wetland ecosystem. A myriad of animals like otters, alligators, turtles, wading birds, and more live at the Slough (pronounced "slew") year round. Others, like migrating birds and butterflies use the Slough as a feeding area or a winter home.  The Trail includes a 1.2 mile elevated, fully accessible boardwalk, 5 observation decks for wildlife viewing, a self-guiding trail brochure, a picnic area, restrooms, and an amphitheater. A parking fee is charged. Admittance to Boardwalk trail and Interpretive Center is included in the parking fee.

Photo- An amphitheater is built into the boardwalk and is an important part of

the educational programs and ranger walking tours.

This listing is an  EXCERPT from "Boardwalks and Long Walks" the Book-

http://www.facebook.com/BoardwalksAndLongWalks 

Photo- The deepwater side has a 4 foot railing, the dry side has a kick-curb.

The slough has refilled as the wet season arrived, and it looks like a swamp again.

Photo- Fabric covered observation deck at the cooter pond.

Even before the tree settles to the ground, ferns claim them as food.