Hiking a circuit of this enormous preserve in central Palm Beach County, its suburban surroundings quickly melt away.
Rounded wet prairies shimmer in the sun between scrub ridges and expanses of pine flatwoods where wildflowers flourish.
Prairie expanseCommon to all Palm Beach County natural lands, a core accessible path, the Blue Heron Nature Trail, ends at a beauty spot.
Leading from the trailhead to an observation deck on a depression marsh, this half mile round-trip intersects the Pine Lily Hiking Trail and the Torres Hiking Trail.
Trail junctionThe yellow-blazed Pine Lily Hiking Trail and red-blazed Torres Hiking Trail enable up to 4.3 miles of hiking if taken separately.
Our 3.6 mile loop blends them together on an excursion into the middle of the preserve.
Crossover point with equestrian trailsResources
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Overview
Location: Royal Palm Beach
Length: 3.6 miles
Trailhead: 26.730950, -80.249041
Address: 110 Nature’s Way, Royal Palm Beach
Fees: Free
Restroom: None
Land Manager: Palm Beach County
Phone: 561-233-2400
Open sunrise to sunset. No pets or bicycles.
Equestrians can access a separate dedicated entrance for their trail system. Visit the official website for details and an equestrian permit.
Directions
Exit Interstate 95 or Florida’s Turnpike at Okeechobee Blvd (SR 704) and head west. Crossing Jog Rd, continue another 5.4 miles to Crestwood Blvd in Royal Palm Beach. Turn right. Drive 1.5 miles to Saratoga Blvd. Turn left. Continue 0.7 miles through the neighborhood to Natures Way. Turn left after 0.2 miles to enter the trailhead.
Hike
Begin by checking the kiosk to grab a map and start along the Blue Heron Nature Trail, immediately crossing the Pine Lily Hiking Trail at a marked junction.
The sidewalk winds into an immersive landscape of pine flatwoods with a grassy understory, colored by wildflowers in spring and fall
TrailheadCurve around a cluster of saw palmetto and myrsine at the base of a pine before a straightaway.
Some of the saw palmetto clumps sport a silvery-blue hue. Pass a turnoff to the Torres Hiking Trail on the approach to a boardwalk.
The walkway stretches out over a corner of one of the many wet prairies protected by this preserve. Seasonally dry out, they become lush pools after summer rains.
Ferns along the prairie’s edgeAt 0.2 miles, the end of this accessible trail is a roofed observation deck surrounded by the prairie.
Sawgrass and Virginia willow occupy the cove; if dry, the greater basin may be carpeted with sheets of periphyton peeling away from the sand below.
Return to the Torres Trail and turn right. Posts with red squares flank the narrow footpath through the flatwoods.
Torres TrailDotted with yellow blossoms, St. John’s-wort rises from grassy patches between the pines. Topped with round white blooms, bog buttons rustle in a spring breeze.
Wind between clumps of saw palmetto, watching for tiny yellow bladderworts poking from this seasonally wet flatwoods.
St. John’s-wortCurve through a stand of pines where pennyroyal thrives amid the pine duff.
Intersect a broad forest road at 0.4 miles, the route of the Pine Lily Hiking Trail. Turn left to start the longer clockwise circuit around this preserve.
A right will make a shorter loop just around the wet prairie at the end of the accessible path.
Trail junctionImmediately, there’s a sense of vastness thanks to the sheer size of the open prairie on the right, its rim outlined by distant pines.
Young longleaf pines rise in candle stage under their forebearers. The two-track is easy to follow, although there are yellow circle blazed posts for confirmation
Two-trackAt 0.6 miles, a Y in the path isn’t marked. The left side returns to the parking area.
Bear right to rejoin the far end of the Torres Hiking Trail, now following red marker posts along a mowed two-track.
Its first marker is nearly hidden among tall, waving golden-hued chalky bluestem.
Torres Trail markerAnother post confirms the trail veers right at what feels like a junction. Equestrians share this trail, so there may be road apples to avoid.
Bright yellow blooms of tickseed peep out of pine straw. Curve past a swath of tall, waving grasses.
The path becomes soft white fine-grained sand. It will fill your shoes; expect to empty them later on.
Young longleafAscend through the pines past young longleaf in all stages of growth, some sporting furry arms. Low-bush blueberry thrives under the next stand of tall, skinny pines.
At 1.2 miles, reach clearly-marked trail junction D, where a spur trail heads east to an alternate entrance to the preserve. Continue along the red blazes.
Junction DNow edged by a sea of saw palmetto under sparse pines, the two-track becomes even more sandy, not just in the ruts.
Scattered cabbage palms appear on a shift in the understory to more woody vegetation.
Swoop along the south edge of the preserve below another immense prairie.
Sandy pathIt’s easy to miss the turnoff at 1.7 miles where the Torres Trail makes a sharp right off the two-track. The path straight ahead leads to the equestrian trailhead.
Watch for a faint two-track heading north, a red blazed post soon confirming the route.
Shifting from sand to grass, becoming almost indistinguishable from its surroundings, it passes a big hog plum.
Scout for the blaze postsContinue along the faint track amid prairie grasses through a narrows of flatwoods between prairies. Merge into a sandy road that floods.
Another post confirms the route. Shift to a well-defined footpath at the next blaze post, curving through seasonally wet flatwoods.
Emerge past the back side of a “No Horses” sign to another sandy road, joining the equestrian trail heading north.
ShelterAt 2.2 miles, a welcome roofed shelter with a picnic table and non-potable pitcher pump sits trailside.
Take the opportunity to empty the sand from your shoes. A kiosk here sports an overview map.
Keep right at this junctionExit this clearing in the direction of the East Parking Lot sign and red blaze post. Butterworts grow in soggy mats of grass.
Ascending on a grassy two-track through the pine flatwoods, shift into a drier understory with pennyroyal and hog plum.
Drop through a minor prairie drainage lined with St. John’s-wort.
Minor drainageAt 2.7 miles, meet the next trail junction at a kiosk across from your initial junction of the Torres and Pine Lily Trails.
A sign with a P points towards the trailhead via the route that brought you to this junction from the Blue Heron Trail sidewalk.
For the longer route, turn left to continue clockwise through its northerly arc.
Trail junctionNow following yellow blaze posts, ascend into a drier pine flatwoods. There are still boggy spots nearby, bog buttons and bladderworts signaling their presence.
The hard-packed two track continues north through tall pines.
An opening on the right shows open sky over the initial prairie visited by the Blue Heron Nature Trail.
Distant prairieMaking gentle curves through chalky bluestem grasses, continue to ascend. Blue-eyed grass beckons from the base of a bracken fern.
At 3.1 miles, bear right past a junction with a spur trail to the North Parking Lot, as your vehicle is at the East Parking Lot.
T junctionThe two-track becomes sandy again. Pass a gopher tortoise crossing sign; this northeast corner of the preserve is the most likely place to see them.
Scrubby oaks and poison ivy join the mix of understory plants beneath the pines.
Turning south, walk past masses of ferns before a clearing where the fence line and houses beyond are visible.
Northeast corner of the preserveCurve past the corner of the neighborhood, the trail sticking close to it to stay on high ground east of the initial wet prairie.
Becoming a broad path in an open understory, it clears the neighborhood by 3.4 miles. Head south along an isthmus of pine flatwoods between prairies.
Pine flatwoodsFacing a closed vehicle gate at the trailhead, bear right at the blaze post to follow the narrow footpath.
It reaches the Blue Heron Nature Trail sidewalk. Turn left to exit, finishing the hike after 3.6 miles.
Completing the circuitTrail Map
Explore More!
Video
Hiking Royal Palm Beach Pines
Slideshow
See our photos from Royal Palm Beach Pines
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