This trail leads through a world inhabited by rare and tiny creatures—the colorful and endangered liguus tree snails of South Florida’s hammocks. Look for liguus snails grazing on algae on smooth-barked trees such as Spanish stopper and Jamaican dogwood.
Nearby, an outdoor classroom surrounds the remnants of a whiskey still circa 1881.
Resources
Overview
Location: Pinecrest
Length: 0.25 mile
Lat-Long: 25.746467, -80.947850
Type: loop
Fees / Permits: none
Good for: botanical wonders, wildlife
Difficulty: easy to moderate
Bug factor: annoying
Restroom: None
Across the road, the Everglades Environmental Center is open to youth groups and educators for specialized environmental programs.
Directions
From US 41 at the west end of the Miccosukee Reservation, turn south on Loop Rd and follow it through Pinecrest until you see the Everglades Environmental Center on the left. Park on the left. The trail starts across from the Center, on the north side of the road.
Hike
This loop leads through a tunnel of petite trees in this dense, dark tropical hammock. Walk slowly so you can spot the snails on the smooth-barked tropical trees. You’ll also find surface limestone outcrops along the trail, and sword ferns grow along the edge of a sluggish slough. A whisk fern perches in a strangler fig.
Yellow ropes delineate the footpath of this short, easy walk, which features several benches.