Pinelands Trail

Pinelands Trail is a 0.4-mile paved loop on Long Pine Key, through open pine rockland and a small patch of tropical trees. It’s a short, easy way to see a habitat you won’t get from the main road. Allow about 15 to 20 minutes, including a look at the trailhead panels; this is a brief nature walk, not a long hike.

Start by the rain shelter and turn right to walk the loop counterclockwise. Slender pines and saw palmettos line the first stretch. Farther on, the path slips into a denser pocket of tropical trees around holes in the limestone. The return opens across the low understory. The payoff is how quickly the vegetation changes, not a big overlook.

Pine rockland is a rare habitat limited to South Florida, the Keys and parts of the Bahamas. Here, shallow limestone has dissolved into crevices, pits and small caves. Some holes hold water and hide behind plants just beyond the pavement, so stay on the path. The shelter’s interpretation explains the role of fire in keeping this forest open and Hurricane Andrew’s effect on it.

Dade County pines are tall and slender; early settlers valued their resistance to insects and rot. After heavy rain, look on smooth trunks of gumbo limbo or Jamaican dogwood for colorful Liguus tree snails. They’re special when you find them, but not a sure thing. Poisonwood grows along the route, so don’t touch unfamiliar trees.

Park at the Pinelands Trail access on Main Park Road, about two miles west of the Long Pine Key turnoff. There are benches, a rain shelter and interpretive panels at the trailhead. The National Park Service describes the route as wheelchair accessible; some pavement can be narrow or uneven where roots have lifted it. There’s no restroom at the trailhead. Pets aren’t allowed on park trails.