An outdoor classroom for countless young people in the Palm Beach County school system, Pine Jog Pine Jog Environmental Center is also open to the public to explore the deeply forested 135-acre urban property on an array of short nature trails. The interpretive Wetland Hammock Trail showcases a pond not far from the environmental center. Walking around the pond on the boardwalk gives you great views across the water, and the opportunity to watch wading birds and frogs.
Resources
Overview
Location: West Palm Beach
Length: 0.5 mile loop
Lat-Long: 26.664083, -80.141100
Type: loop
Fees / Permits: none
Good for: kids, birding
Difficulty: easy
Bug factor: moderate
Restroom: at the environmental center, when open
The trails at Pine Jog are open to the public Monday-Friday 9am to 4pm. Saturdays from 9am to 2pm. Up to 3 miles of trails are available throughout the property. Some parts of the trail system may flood after a heavy rain.
Pine Jog Environmental Education Center, 6301 Summit Blvd, West Palm Beach FL 33415
Directions
From Florida’s Turnpike, take Southern Blvd east to Jog Rd. Turn right and drive south 1 mile to Summit Blvd. Turn left; the nature center entrance is on the left within 0.2 mile.
Hike
Directly across from the parking area, the trail starts by snaking past a birdhouse to a boardwalk loop around a large flatwoods pond. Keep to the right to walk around the distant edge of the pond, where the next side trail leads you into a side loop through pine flatwoods and oak hammocks at various stages of growth. The trail completes its loop by coming back along the edge of the pond to exit.
Trail Map
A map is shown on the back of the interpretive brochure available at the office or at the kiosk in front of the office of the environmental center; a rough map is available on their website.