Shaped during the Ice Age, an ancient sand dune ridge became a string of islands surrounded by the Everglades River of Grass once the glaciers receded.
The North Area of Grassy Waters Preserve takes advantage of these elevated uplands with the Hog Hammock Trail, a two mile loop along the chain.
South Florida pine flatwoodsExtend your hike another 2.2 miles with a round-trip along a palm-lined levee on the Promontory Trail at the northern edge of this loop.
We ventured out and back along it to its first shelter, making for a 2.2 mile overall hike.
The Promontory TrailResources
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Overview
Location: West Palm Beach
Length: 2.2 miles
Trailhead: 26.815086, -80.174231
Address: 8537 Northlake Blvd, West Palm Beach
Fees: Free
Restroom: At the trailhead
Land Manager: City of West Palm Beach
Phone: 561-804-4980
Open Mon-Sat 8 AM-4:30, Sun 8:30 AM-5 PM. No pets. Insect repellent advised. Trails may be flooded. Bicycles welcome. Numbered markers on signposts include phone numbers for assistance.
Directions
From the Interstate 95 exit for Northlake Blvd, drive 4.5 miles northwest to the entrance on the north side of Northlake Blvd, a mile or so west of the Beeline Expressway. Or access from Florida’s Turnpike via PGA Boulevard west to Beeline south to Northlake Blvd west.
Hike
Starting adjacent to the kiosk at the northeast edge of the parking area turnaround, the Hog Hammock Trail immediately tunnels into a corridor lined with palm fronds.
Opening into a straightaway through South Florida pine flatwoods with a thick understory of tropical hammock, it follows a compacted limestone path.
Tropical corridorContinue through a clearing mounded with Japanese climbing fern, an unfortunately persistent invasive species in this area.
Beneath cabbage palms and skinny slash pines, slip past the perimeter of a maintenance yard to a picnic area next to an airboat ramp along an open expanse of wet prairie.
Picnic areaGuided by a split-rail fence, pass a picnic table in a clearing under the oaks and continue through a pedestrian gate.
Adjoining a pond, the loop portion of this hike begins at a quarter mile. Per the signage, follow the east side of the loop first.
Start of the loopWalk into the tropical hammock. Widespread hog rooting through the forest floor has impacted the richness of the understory.
The footpath remains unscathed thanks to its limestone base, winding between columns of cabbage palms and slash pines.
Marsh ferns and hog plums join marlberry and myrsine in thickets.
Bench by the Ice Age signPast a bench with an interpretive sign on how the Ice Age shaped this vibrant tropical hammock, dark, damp earth becomes more commonplace.
The rootballs of the palms are more pronounced. Covered with pine duff and limestone pebbles, the footpath remains dry.
Pathway through the hammockA bench adjoins the beginning of a long, low boardwalk zigzagging over a marshy lowland along the east side of this ancient island.
Return to dry land by a half mile, the character of the forest shifting as cypress dominates the high canopy.
First boardwalkFrom the next boardwalk, catch glimpses of the grassy waters of Loxahatchee Slough between the trees.
A patch of sawgrass rises at a sharp turn before a straightaway under the palms.
Palm straightawayLeaving the second boardwalk, approach a roofed rain shelter in the hammock, with benches under cover for a break.
Pine duff and leaves blanket the footpath as it curves gently through the richly textured understory.
Rain shelterGrasses outline its edges on the approach to the Shortcut Trail turnoff at 0.7 mile. Taking it cuts almost a mile off the full loop.
Stay right to continue on the main loop, entering an arbor formed by hog plum. The canopy thins, offering more sky above tall, skinny slash pines.
Shortcut Trail turnoffCurve past mature saw palmetto, delving deeper into this patch of uniquely tropical pine flatwoods for the next two tenths of a mile.
Traffic noise filters in from the unseen Beeline Highway at the next boardwalk. Royal ferns compete for attention with patches of sawgrass along the zigzags.
Royal ferns along the boardwalkOn solid ground again, wind between the pine trunks to a second rain shelter a mile into the hike.
Gain a slight bit of elevation and the surrounding habitat becomes much drier, with live oaks sporting patches of red blanket lichen.
Rain shelterAt the top of the loop at 1.1 miles, emerge at a kiosk. It goes into great detail about how the Seminole Wars impacted this area.
A sign points north for the Promontory Trail, an optional 2.2 mile round-trip on a narrow palm-lined straightaway into the grassy waters.
Kiosk at trail junctionWith a storm brewing on the western horizon, we opted against going any further than the P1 rain shelter, a 0.2 mile round-trip.
Beyond it, the columns of palms outlining the remainder of the mile-long causeway marched into the distance.
First shelter of the Promontory TrailWalk past the Seminole Wars kiosk for the return trip back to the trailhead along the west side of the Hog Hammock Trail, which is broad enough for service vehicles.
The understory crowds right up to its edge, with cocoplums, saw palmetto, and wax myrtle dominating.
Shaded pathPass the H11 trail locator marker before the path narrows, becoming a scenic straightaway under the tall pines at 1.5 miles.
Within a tenth of a mile, the H12 marker on the Exit sign is where the Shortcut Trail joins in from the left.
Shortcut Trail junctionWhen the pathway curves, it draws close to the western shoreline of the island. Light filters in from the expanse of wet prairie beyond the palms and pines.
A sharp eastward curve at a marsh leads directly to the start of the loop. Reach it at 2 miles.
Marsh at the south end of the loopTurn right to exit, walking around the pond and past the two picnic areas by the gates to the maintenance yard.
Continue along the final straightaway with its clearing and tunnel through the hog plums to reach the trailhead at 2.2 miles.
Exit to the trailheadTrail Map
Explore More!
Learn more about Grassy Waters Preserve
Grassy Waters Preserve Protecting a sheet flow of rainfall moving steadily southward and parallel to the Atlantic Ocean, Grassy Waters Preserve bears a striking resemblance to the Everglades - because it is.Video
Hiking the Hog Hammock Trail
Slideshow
See our photos from the Hog Hammock Trail
Nearby Adventures
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