Woods and Lakes

The maritime forest

Cabbage palms tower overhead, while netted chain and bracken fern thrive in the damp cool soil. The trail crosses several bridges, including one made of cabbage palm logs. As you draw closer to the shore, small, gnarled yaupon hollies crowd the trail. At 0.7 mile, you emerge at a junction with several bicycle trails in front of the park’s boundary fence. Turn right, following the fenceline until you see a double-blazed tree and an “H”— turn right, following the footpath into dense forest. It emerges along a lake, where you can see the developed campground on the far shore. The trail continues around the lake. Be cautious of thick mats of poison ivy in several spots. After several more turns, you reach a junction of trails at a fence. Turn right. The next T intersection at 1.5 miles offers a place for a break at picnic table on the little island off to your right, just over the bridge. This is the Hanna Park Fish Management Area, stocked freshwater ponds ready for anglers to enjoy.