A pretty patch of tropical hammock hides amid the bustle of suburbia in Parkland, a Broward County community, within the 20-acre Doris Davis Foreman Wilderness Preserve. The half-mile loop, mostly boardwalk, guides you through a cypress strand resplendent in unusual palms and more species of ferns that you’ll see on most longer hikes, including sword ferns more than eight feet tall. An easy walk for all ages, it’s an extremely beautiful hike.
Resources
Overview
Location: Parkland
Length: 0.5 mile
Lat-Long: 26.320982, -80.222619
Type: balloon
Fees / Permits: Free
Difficulty: easy
Bug factor: moderate to high
Restroom: none
Pets are not allowed. Hours are posted at the gate.
Directions
From US 441/SR 7, 1.7 miles north of the Sawgrass Expressway, turn west on Loxahatchee Rd. Drive 1.2 miles to Parkside Dr; turn south. Parking is just north of the trailhead in front of the elementary school.
Hike
From the parking area at the school, walk south down the sidewalk to the park entrance and turn left. Turn right at the beginning of the loop to follow the path counterclockwise. The pavement leads to a lengthy, winding boardwalk across a cypress stand. The trail loops back through pine flatwoods to its beginning point. The entire walk is a botanical delight—blooming bromeliads in the trees, pond apples and cocoplums along the trail, and numerous varieties of ferns amid the cypresses. As the boardwalk ends, you’ll pass a side trail to the elementary school and an outdoor amphitheater before completing the loop. Turn right to exit, and walk back up the sidewalk to the parking area.
Eagle Trail
There’s no parking for the Doris Davis foreman Wilderness trail
You must park along the street.