First Day Hike along the Coastal Strand Trail at North Peninsula State Park
First Day Hike
Wading blue herons in the tidal marsh welcome us at North Peninsula State Park on the first day of 2022. We are a bit earlier than the guided hike led by park rangers and have the 2 ¼ -mile Coastal Strand Trail to ourselves.
Wading Little Blue Heron
Coastal Strand Trail
On this unseasonably warm winter morning, the canopied maritime hammock offers abundant shade. Signage along the way features flora and fauna of this diverse coastal ecosystem. Magnolia, red cedar, and sand live oak stretch to the sky with an understory of sparkleberry and cabbage palm. Myrtle oak limbs are angled from the salt spray and intertwine along our journey through the wide, damp habitat.
Canopy of Sand Live Oaks
Only stopping for a quick peek in a gopher tortoise burrow, we make our way toward the marshlands. About ½ -mile into the hike, we are met with the blazing sun overhead and open views of saw palmetto and American holly as we approach the coastal strand, once home to the Florida scrub jay. Cami chases great southern white butterflies as we trek the sandy terrain, dodging protruded roots, rocky hills, and low branches overhead.
There are multiple wooden seating areas along the trail, offering a shady reprieve, as well as a marked shortcut trail if the sun becomes too much to bear.
Coastal Strand Trail
Passing the powerlines intersection at ¾ -mile, we make our way toward the dunes, where wind has deposited sand covered in a dense thicket of garberia and oak scrub. Common animal sightings include the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, spotted skunk, and bald eagle. The thick sandy footpath narrows, and the shrubs are as tall as we are, forming maze-like walls through the dunes.
Dune Maze - Coastal Strand Trail
We take the spur trail north from the loop to grab a glimpse of the coastal wetlands and tidal creek habitats, restored in 2016 after decades of dredging. Then, we loop back down the same path through the coastal strand and maritime hammock to where it all began on the first day of a new year at Smith Creek Landing.
More Things to Do
3 miles of orange coquina sand beaches – shelling, surfing, fishing, crabbing, swimming
The nights of May through early September, marine turtles including the loggerhead, green, and occasionally the rare leatherback sea turtle, nest along the park’s shoreline.
Kayak/canoe rentals
30+ miles of biking – Ormond Scenic Loop & Trail (OSLT)
Bike repair station
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