With more than 1,300 miles of coastline, Florida’s habitats include many communities adapted to life along the sea, where wind and salt spray shape the environment.
These brief descriptions of commonly-encountered natural communities include where you can find some of the best examples of these natural habitats along Florida’s trails.
Coastal Dunes
Coastal dunes are created by the wind. Tall deep-rooted grasses, providing stripes of shade for the burrows of crabs and mice, anchor the sparkling dunes.
American Beach Home to the largest dune system on the Atlantic Coast in Florida, American Beach has a rich history as a vacation destination that served the African-American community during the days of segregation in the South.
Florida Trail, UWF/SRIA Dunes Preserve 3.2 miles. At the UWF/SRIA Dunes Preserve on Santa Rosa Island, the Florida Trail traverses a series of coastal habitats cradled by the sweeping dunes, providing a one-of-a-kind hike.
Smyrna Dunes Park At Smyrna Dunes Park, this 2.4-mile hike scenic coastal hike is largely along an accessible boardwalk, with side trips off to the sea and inlet via more rugged approaches.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park With one of Florida's most beautiful sweeps of beach, Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is a linear preserve with tall dunes along three miles of shoreline.Coastal Grassland
Coastal grasslands occur between the dunes and the maritime forest as grasses get established in the sand, the first step in “settling down” the dunes from drifting away as the wind pushes them around.
Panicum and Spartina grasses are typical ground cover, with scattered wildflowers.
Anclote Key Preserve State Park A place to play Robinson Crusoe for a day or overnight, Anclote Key Preserve State Park is an offshore gem in the Gulf of Mexico made up of four islands within sight of Tarpon Springs
Big Lagoon State Park Explore a sweep of coastal forest and wetlands along one of Florida's largest lagoons, with panoramas that stretch to Perdido Key and the Gulf of Mexico.
Gasparilla Island State Park Protecting a string of beaches along the Gulf shore of Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island, this far-flung outpost of Lee County has one of Florida's most delightful lighthouse museums.
Gulf Islands National Seashore Stretching across three Gulf Coast states, Gulf Islands National Seashore protects portions of the barrier islands between Navarre Beach, Florida and Gulfport, Mississippi.Coastal Strand
Once vegetation larger than grasses gets a foothold in the dunes, it stabilizes them even more and prevents any ongoing movement of the dunes.
These shrub-covered dunes – frequently covered in a silvery-tinged variety of saw palmetto as well – are part of the coastal strand.
Cayo Costa State Park To spend a day or a weekend on your own deserted island? Heaven. This is one of the tougher and costlier state parks to get to, but well worth it. 
Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park With cool ocean breezes and a plunge in the surf after your hike, the 2.7-mile hiking loop at Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park in Jacksonville is a great choice for a summer outing
North Peninsula State Park Neatly accessed via a scenic drive extending north from Ormond Beach, North Peninsula State Park has two tantalizing miles of oceanfront along a palm-rimmed line of dunes.
Playalinda Beach At the south end of Canaveral National Seashore, Playalinda Beach is a popular destination for beachgoers along the Space Coast thanks to its natural beaches and views of Kennedy Space Center.Coastal Scrub
Mainly found along the Gulf Coast in Northwest Florida, this salt-tolerant scrub community also forms atop coastal dunes.
It tends to be very picturesque, with colorful wildflowers like Gulf Coast lupine and day-flower as well as prominent Florida rosemary bushes.
Henderson Beach Nature Trail Showcasing a ridge of dunes in Destin, the nature trail at Henderson Beach State Park leads you through bright sands in coastal scrub and maritime forest.
St. Andrews Gator Lake Trail At St. Andrews State Park, the Gator Lake Trail is only a half-mile but hits the park's high point with panoramic views in the scrub forest and great birding along an established rookery.
Topsail Hill Preserve Hiking Trails Along with views of three miles of protected coastline on the Gulf of Mexico, the extensive hiking trail system at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park delves into dozens of unique biomes around two coastal dune lakes.
Trout Point Nature Trail CLOSED TO VISITORS. Explore a fragile coastal scrub on a waterfront boardwalk inside NAS Pensacola. Coastal Dune Lakes
Only found in Northwest Florida and centered on Walton County’s coastline, coastal dune lakes are rare globally. These freshwater lakes adjoin the Gulf of Mexico.
They exchange their waters with the sea when water levels grow high enough for an “outfall” to occur, breaking across the beach to spill tannic waters into the Gulf. At the same time, waves push salt water into the lake.
Camp Helen North Trail Following the edge of Lake Powell for nearly half its distance, the North Trail at Camp Helen State Park offers an up-close look at natural shorelines along Florida's largest coastal dune lake.
Camp Helen South Trails Explore the bluffs and shoreline of Lake Powell on this trio of nature trails that tie to the interpretive loop around the historic lodge and cottages at Camp Helen State Park. 
Camp Helen State Park Haunted by a sea monster sighted in one of the largest ancient coastal dune lakes on Florida's coast, Camp Helen State Park offers seaside relaxation and historic interpretation. 
Deer Lake State Park Home to one of the less-visible coastal dune lakes along the South Walton coast, Deer Lake State Park provides the opportunity to see both ends of this coastal dune lake.
Deer Lake Trail Exploring one tiny corner of habitats preserved north of CR 30A, the Deer Lake Trail loops through sand pine scrub and offers views of the upper end of Deer Lake. 
Grayton Beach Flatwoods Trails The quieter side of Grayton Beach State Park is the perfect place for a walk in the woods to the north shore of Western Lake.
Grayton Beach Nature Trails A duo of interpretive trails explores windswept habitats sandwiched between Western Lake, a coastal dune lake on the South Walton coast, and the Gulf of Mexico.
Grayton Beach State Park Cradled in a cocoon of coastal dunes, Western Lake shimmers in the sun. At Grayton Beach State Park, it's the focus of both passive and active recreation.
Point Washington 30A Trail A pleasant connector to Eastern Lake within Point Washington State Forest, the 30A Trail leads through scrub and basin swamps to lakeside camping and the Eastern Lake Trail.
Timpoochee Trail Showcasing the beauty of the South Walton coastline, the Timpoochee Trail connects coastal communities while leading cyclists past Florida's renowned Coastal Dune Lakes. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park With one of Florida's most beautiful sweeps of beach, Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is a linear preserve with tall dunes along three miles of shoreline.Maritime Hammock
As trees sprout in the coastal strand and grow to provide a dense canopy, they change the habitat entirely.
In the maritime hammock, or coastal hammock, wind-swept live oaks create a canopy above lush thickets of saw palmetto. Some of the most dramatic maritime hammocks are along the Atlantic Coast.
Anastasia State Park Ancient Dunes Trail Scramble sharp inclines and woodland staircases beneath a canopy of ancient oaks and magnolias on the surprisingly rugged Ancient Dunes Trail at Anastasia State Park.
Fort Pierce Inlet Coastal Hammock Trail Contrast immersive habitats in a seaside tropical hammock with expansive views along Fort Pierce Inlet on this easy 1.3 mile loop centered on the Coastal Hammock Trail.
Eldora Hammock Trail Near the ghost town of Eldora, the Eldora Hammock Trail loops through the beauty of a lush coastal hammock, highlighting a semi-tropical understory in deep shade.
Maritime Hammock Sanctuary Protecting a strip of waterfront and maritime hammock along the Indian River Lagoon, Maritime Hammock Sanctuary showcases a parade of coastal habitats along its trails.
Naval Live Oaks Area Spanning from Santa Rosa Sound to Pensacola Bay, Naval Live Oaks Area is one of America's oldest federally protected forests, now part of Gulf Islands National Seashore.
Theodore Roosevelt Area Hike 3.1 miles looping around an ancient midden fronting the St. Johns River on this scenic hike honoring the conservation legacy of Willie Brown, who preserved his coastal forest for us to enjoy. Salt Marsh
Brittle grasses and succulent plants such as glasswort and sea purslane grow along the edges of salt flats and salt marshes, where herons, egrets, and ibises stride through the shallows.
Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge Preserving more than half of Sanibel Island for the sake of its bird life, Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge is one of the top places in the United States to view rare bird species. 
Florida Trail, Apalachee Bay 14.3 miles. Hugging the Big Bend coastline, this hike through Aucilla WMA and St. Marks NWR offers some of the most breathtaking panoramas you'll find along the Florida Trail, and a profusion of wildlife.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge With recreational activities ranging from hiking to biking, boating, fishing, and bioluminscent kayaking, Florida's top destination for birding is also home to Kennedy Space Center.
Robinson Preserve Edging Tampa Bay, the vast sweep of Robinson Preserve is a puzzle of natural and restored habitats circled by more than ten miles of mixed-use trails. Estuary
Estuaries and coastal savannas are extensive grassy salt marshes punctuated by islands of cabbage palms, typically found between barrier islands and the mainland.
Along the Gulf Coast from Tampa Bay to Pensacola, they may be edged by seasonally wet pine flatwoods. Florida’s largest and most remote estuaries stretch along the shallows of the Gulf of Mexico where the Panhandle and peninsula meet at the Big Bend.
Bayport-Linda Pedersen Paddling Trail Following the Bayport-Linda Pedersen Paddling Trail for 1.7 miles through mazes of needlerush along Florida's Adventure Coast, you're immersed in the sights and sounds of a coastal estuary.
GTM Reserve Trails Circling a peninsula between the Guana River and the Tolomato River, the extensive trail system at GTM Research Reserve is one of Florida's most beautiful hiking destinations. 
Tomoka State Park Walk in the footsteps of the Timucua beneath the ancient oaks at Tomoka State Park, where the village of Nocoroco was a thriving community on a bountiful set of rivers.
Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve Immerse in the beauty of an expansive coastal estuary at Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve in Yankeetown to take in the panoramic views.Mangroves
Mangroves grow particularly tall in South Florida, where in addition to mangrove swamps you’ll find dense mangrove forests along many coastlines.
Cruickshank Trail, Merritt Island NWR The longest hiking trail at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, the 4.8-mile Allan Cruickshank Memorial Trail makes a large loop off Black Point Wildlife Drive
Four Mile Cove Eco Preserve A forest of mangroves along the Caloosahatchee River, Four Mile Cove Eco Preserve is a rare find in Cape Coral, with a 1.2-mile loop hike partly on a boardwalk through the mangrove fringe.
Weedon Island Preserve Tunneling through mangrove forests and palm hammocks to overlooks on Tampa Bay, the trails of Weedon Island Preserve offer unique perspectives for birders while interpreting one of Florida's ancient settlements. 
West Lake Mangrove Trail At West Lake, the Mangrove Trail loops through a shady tunnel, showcasing the protector of Florida’s coastline, the mighty mangrove, along the shores of a brackish lake.Coastal Berm
In the Keys, a coastal berm develops between the mangroves and the shallow waters surrounding the islands, a sandy strand of low dunes and salt-tolerant vegetation.
Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park A botanical treasure rescued from developers, Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park has the highest concentration of National Champion trees in the United States
Long Key State Park A former coconut plantation and angler's destination, Long Key State Park is now a natural oceanfront outpost in the Florida Keys.
Golden Orb Trail Looping through some of the Florida Keys more rare and unusual habitats, the 1.2 mile Golden Orb Trail at Long Key State Park also provides access to a wild shoreline on the Atlantic Ocean.
National Key Deer Refuge Established in 1957 to prevent the extinction of the diminutive Key deer, National Key Deer Refuge spans 84,351 acres across 25 islands in the Lower Keys.Tidal Rock Barren
The unusual tidal rock barren of the Keys is a salt-tolerant plain, a flat landscape with white limestone slabs.
It supports low scrubby shrubs like the bay cedar, and its character reminds us of the alvars of the Great Lakes.
Bahia Honda State Park Long known for its beaches, Bahia Honda State Park provides a slender ribbon of Atlantic oceanfront amid a natural tropical setting in the lower Florida Keys.
Grassy Key Trail A pleasant piece of the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail that is entirely a paved bike path, the Grassy Key Trail runs 4.4 linear miles through Curry Hammock State Park.
Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park Wrapped in a dense blanket of mosquitoes, Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park is one of the United States' most significant botanical treasures, a virgin tropical forest home to more than a thousand lignum vitae trees. Golden Orb Trail Looping through some of the Florida Keys more rare and unusual habitats, the 1.2 mile Golden Orb Trail at Long Key State Park also provides access to a wild shoreline on the Atlantic Ocean.Coastal Prairie
The coastal prairie is shaped by the shallows of Florida Bay around the Everglades and Keys, creating stark salty wetlands supporting buttonwood on a base of sticky limestone marl.
Bayshore Loop A walk through the mangrove-lined edge of Florida Bay and the unique coastal prairie habitat of the Everglades, the Bayshore Loop explores the site of the former fishing village of Flamingo.
Coastal Prairie Trail Ready for a wilderness challenge? On the Coastal Prairie Trail, battle mosquitoes, unrelenting sun, and deep and sticky marl mud to camp at remote Clubhouse Beach.
Curry Hammock State Park Bring your binoculars for fall birding at Curry Hammock State Park, where migrating raptors cruise overhead by the hundreds following a major flyover route. 
Ten Thousand Islands Marsh Trail On the Marsh Trail, immerse yourself in the mangrove maze of the Ten Thousand Islands on a trail that takes you to places you'd normally only see from a boat. Limestone Outcrops
Florida’s bedrock is primarily limestone. The Atlantic Coastal Ridge, which is made up of Anastasia limestone, outcrops along the Atlantic Coast to form dramatic rocky shorelines in several counties.
There are even small sea caves along Jupiter Island. On the Gulf Coast, occasional limestone outcrops occur along barrier islands. While tidal pools are rare in Florida, you will find them where these outcrops occur.
Blowing Rocks Preserve At one of Florida's most dramatic shorelines, explore a limestone bluff battered by Atlantic Ocean and beaches along the Indian River Lagoon.
Coral Cove A spectacular example of a rare type of Florida coastline, Coral Cove features a dramatic rocky shoreline carved into unusual shapes by the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park Notable for its historic landscaped gardens under a canopy of ancient live oaks, Washington Oaks Gardens State Park is also the home of one of Florida's rare rocky shorelines.Shell Mounds
Coastal shell mounds, or middens, are not natural habitats, but were created by ancient peoples as waste heaps where they piled clam and oyster shells along Florida’s waterways.
However, the limestone in the shells helped enrich these areas so maritime hammocks took root atop most of them.
These are some of the more notable coastal shell mounds, which offer elevated views around the surrounding coastline.
Dennis Creek Trail At the Shell Mound Unit of Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge, the Dennis Creek Trail immerses you in classic habitats of the Gulf Coast along a 1-mile loop.
Mound Key Archaeological State Park Launch your kayak from either Koreshan Historic State Park or Lovers Key State Park for a paddle into Estero Bay to see Mound Key, a significant Calusa archaeological site.
Ponce Preserve Just south of Daytona Beach, Ponce Preserve protects a cross-section of barrier island habitats, with nearly 2 miles of trails connecting the beach and the Halifax River
Turtle Mound At Canaveral National Seashore, savor an outstanding Atlantic Coast panorama from atop 1.5 million bushels of oyster shells piled up more than a thousand years ago.Organic Features
While not habitats per se, there are unusual organic features to be found along some of Florida’s shorelines.
Along the Atlantic Coast barrier islands are occasional outcrops of rocky reefs that aren’t actually rock: they are living worm reefs.
These are created by reef-building tube worms (sabellariid) which can be found from Cape Canaveral south to Key Biscayne.
Typically, beaches with these reefs will post warning signs for you to not climb on the “rocks,” since they are actually tubes that contain the worms and are fragile.
They cement together grains of sand with their saliva. When you see odd-shaped rocks on an Atlantic beach that look like a splayed-out creature, that’s a live colony of reef worms. Don’t step on them.
Other organic features happen due to coastal erosion. When habitats are chewed into by wind and waves, unusual things can occur.
For instance, Blackrock Beach at Big Talbot Island State Park. The beach looks like it’s strewn with volcanic rocks – which are in turn covered in the sun-bleached trunks and limbs of fallen trees.
The “rocks” are actually compressed plant matter much like peat.
Big Talbot Black Rock Trail An unusual and picturesque geologic anomaly, Blackrock Beach at Big Talbot Island is covered with formations that look like black lava rocks but are made of sand.