Pinelands Trail - 0.4 Miles Round-Trip

The .4 miles Pinelands Trail showcases one of the park's most diverse and resilient habitats. Once extending up the Atlantic coast of Florida, the Slash Pine forests of the Everglades now represent virtually all that is left of this habitat.

As the Miami area became more populated, heavy logging due to demand for the durable and hard pine wood devastated these once-thriving forests. Today, the 20,000 acres of Everglades pineland forest is now the most endangered pine community in North America.

The paved, handicap accessible trail starts out lined by rows of saw palmetto with tall slash pines in the background. Saw palmetto and other pineland under-plants possess special characteristics which make them resistant to wildfire, a regular threat in this area. Saw palmetto plants wrap their buds in a protective tissue which shields them from fire and allows for easy rebirth. The Coontie, a fern-like under-plant, grows deep root systems which enable quick sprouting after a fire. The pine trees themselves have special bark which takes the brunt of the fire, leaving their undersides healthy to re-grow.

As the trails loops through the pine forest, there are fine examples of solution holes. These solution holes are formed when acids from decaying plant life eats away at the limestone ground. These limestone holes retain water making them ideal places for wildlife viewing during the dry season.

Interpretive signs placed throughout the trail give general information about the flora and fauna of the pinelands ecosystem. The Pinelands Trail is a perfect family hike, providing a learning experience for all in ecological conservation.