To the Beach!

Mangrove-lined lagoon, great for birding

At 1.3 miles, you come to a tannic pond—a natural freshwater spring, the largest source of water on the island, with the remnants of a historic homestead nearby. The trail rises through the hammock back up into the pine flatwoods, passing through a seasonally wet area, before it completes the Hammock Loop. Turn right at the “Nature Trail” sign, and make an immediate left onto the Beach Trail.

A sign at the 2-mile mark indicates the marina is off to the left, back along the Shortcut Trail. Continue straight. The trail veers left, crossing over a bridge over a mangrove-lined canal and lagoon. Examine the mangroves closely for Louisiana heron, reddish egret, snowy egrets, and the rare but beautiful roseate spoonbill. Continue down the trail to the beach, walking between the windswept sea oats atop tall sand dunes. Turn right. Walk 0.5 mile up the beach until you reach a boardwalk, which leads you back to the beginning of the Island Trail.