Walk in a Maritime Forest

2601 Atlantic Ave,,Fernandina Beach FL 32034

20 May, 2023

Description

From the Ft Clinch State Park website: As you start your stroll down the path, you will pass through a magnificent forest of historic live oaks with their aerial gardens of resurrection fern, orchids and Spanish moss. This trail is one of the best wildlife viewing spots in the park. As you take a turn at the bottom of the slope, listen for the distinctive chirps of baby alligators calling out to their mothers. Arriving at a series of breaks in the trees, you suddenly come upon Willow Pond, which is actually a collection of coastal depression ponds. These small bodies of water were formed when the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) took out rocks and other materials to construct park roads in the 1930s. These small oases in the woods will encourage you to stop a moment and take in the peace and quiet around you. Crossing the bridge, you leave the lush green of the palm trees, duckweed and saw palmettos, trekking the steep incline of the ancient sand dunes until you are surrounded by more live oaks, magnolias and a myriad of holly trees.