Three-in-One Trail

Three-in-One is an easy loop from Long Pine Key Picnic Area through pine rockland, tropical hardwood hammock and an open wetland, then beside Long Pine Key Lake on the return. The full walk is about 0.6 mile and takes around 30 minutes; published figures range from 0.5 to 0.8 mile, so treat the distance as approximate. It is a good short stop for seeing how a few feet of elevation change the plants here, or for a much shorter outing than the separate Long Pine Key Trail. The path is not wheelchair accessible.

The first stretch crosses sunny pine rockland among tall pines and palmettos. Around 0.2 mile in, a right-hand connector leads toward Long Pine Key Nature Trail; step a little way along it for the open wetland view, then return to the fork and keep left on this loop. The trail moves into a denser hardwood hammock, where exposed roots and patches of limestone make the dirt tread rougher. Look for gumbo-limbo trees with red, peeling bark, sometimes nicknamed “tourist trees.”

The route comes back through pine rockland to Long Pine Key Lake, then follows the shore past picnic tables and on to the road opposite the trailhead. The small island in the lake is Long Pine Key; the campground sits across the water. It is a nice finish for a short walk, especially if you have time to pause by the shore.

The trailhead is beside the picnic area, where there are picnic tables, drinking water, a flush toilet and an information board. Food service was not found. The hammock is the roughest part underfoot, and mosquitoes were mentioned by both reviewers of the trail listing, especially in that section. Pets are not allowed on park trails.