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Helene Klein Pineland Preserve boardwalk

Helene Klein Pineland Preserve

In just 13 acres, Helene Klein Pineland Preserve packs in a nice walk through a variety of habitats within an urban forest along busy Hillsboro Blvd

Coconut Creek      ( 26.318152,-80.189526 )      0.5 miles

One of the smallest natural lands in Broward County, acquired in 2000, Helene Klein Pineland Preserve hides a secret at its heart, a relict patch of marl prairie.

According to the historic record, this woodland was once part of the headwaters of the Hillsboro River. Water from the Everglades trickled through here on its way to the Atlantic Ocean.

Uncommon now in this region, the marl prairie speaks to the amount of karst under its thin soil. Sticky marl mud precipitates from dissolved limestone.

Helene Klein Pineland Preserve John checking out the size of the wild coffee along the trail


It is a very biodiverse type of Florida grassland, known to host more than 100 plant species versus the typical 20 species in other freshwater marshes.

To find this hidden gem, you’ll need to walk the loop. Accessible paved pathways and boardwalks make this a pleasant immersion in nature for all ages and abilities.

Helene Klein Pineland Preserve Entrance to the loop trail


Resources

South Florida Explorers Guide book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover

Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.


Overview

Location: Coconut Creek​
Length: 0.5 mile loop
Trailhead: 26.318152,-80.189526
Address: 4701 W. Hillsboro Blvd, Coconut Creek​
Fees: Free
Restroom: None
Land manager: Broward County
Phone: 954-357-8109

Open 8 AM to 6 PM. No pets, bicycles, or skateboards permitted. Strollers welcome.

A water fountain and picnic table are at the trailhead. There are numerous interpretive signs and benches along the trail.

Guided naturalist walks are sometimes offered Oct-May, call the county for details.

Helene Klein Pineland Preserve


Directions

 
From Interstate 95, follow Hillsboro River Blvd west for 5.5 miles. The preserve is at the northwest corner of Hillsboro River Blvd and Lyons Rd. Go past Lyons Rd.
 
It’s easy to get confused as to where to turn, since there’s a pulloff right in front of the preserve but that’s not the parking area. Continue just past that pulloff to the first turn on the right, which looks like it goes into a storage unit business. Keep right after you turn in. The fenced area marks the trailhead parking.

Hike

Walk down to the kiosk at the edge of the parking area, where the trail starts.

The paved path leads you through a dense thicket of silver-tinged saw palmetto beneath tall slash pines.

Helene Klein Pineland Preserve Walkway between the saw palmetto


When you reach the T intersection for the Pine Flats Loop, turn right and continue beneath the pines.

Notice the thick growth of ferns in damp places and wild coffee growing as huge bushes in drier areas. Bromeliads cling to all of the trees, even the pines.

Helene Klein Pineland Preserve Bromeliad nestled in a catfaced pine trunk


Pass some small limestone chunks of limestone and tall wild coffee in the understory of the tropical hammock that edges the prairie.

The trail comes to a long boardwalk over the marl prairie. Limestone juts from the forest floor.

Helene Klein Pineland Preserve Boardwalk over tiny grassy prairie with cypress and dense vegetation


It’s a tiny patch of prairie but still amazing to see since it speaks to the Everglades sawgrass habitat that was once here before housing developments swallowed the region.

A cypress strand defines the edge of this marl prairie. Dozens of butterflies flutter around a showy firebush.

Helene Klein Pineland Preserve Interpretive sign facing rain shelter


As the trail loops back around, you pass a side trail to a rain shelter looking out into the forest.

The next boardwalk crosses a portion of another marl prairie, which mostly sits off to the right.

Helene Klein Pineland Preserve Second boardwalk on the loop


The side trail just beyond it leads to a back entrance to the preserve from an adjoining neighborhood.

Once you complete the Pine Flats Loop, turn right to exit.

Firebush in bloom
Firebush blooming along the small prairie

Explore More!

Slideshow

See our photos of Helene Klein Pineland Preserve


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Hillsboro Pineland Trail

Hillsboro Pineland Natural Area

A 44 acre remnant of forest that once spanned between the Atlantic Coastal Ridge and the Everglades, Hillsboro Pineland Natural Area offers gentle nature trails less than a mile long

Tropical hammock Parkland

Doris Davis Foreman Wilderness

A pretty patch of tropical hammock hides amid the bustle of suburbia in Parkland in Broward County on the half-mile loop through Doris Davis Foreman Wilderness Preserve

Pond apple tree

Daggerwing Nature Center

Behind Daggerwing Nature Center in busy South County Regional Park, an accessible boardwalk trail leads you into a remnant of tropical habitat with ancient trees.

Pondhawk Natural Area

Pondhawk Natural Area

Pondhawk Natural Area protects 79 acres of scrub habitats and wetlands, including a relict pond apple slough with some of the tallest pond apple trees in Florida.


Official Website

Category: Hikes, Loop Hikes, Natural Lands, Nature Trails, Southeast Florida, TrailsTag: Accessible, Boardwalks, Boca Raton, Botanical, Coconut Creek, Coral Springs, Easy Hikes, Family-Friendly, Fort Lauderdale, Observation Decks, Picnic, Wildlife Viewing

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