I researched some areas to find old growth sabal palm forests and this trail in the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge came up often. There are two main access routes, one from the east the other from the west. The trail in notorious for bugs - ticks, chiggers, and mosquitoes, is often overgrown with flooded areas. I took the approach from the east (off Wakulla Beach Rd) and did the first part of the hike along part of the Florida Trail that is on an old rail bed, hoping to avoid the slough through the vegetation. It was hot and humid, but the trails were fairly clear and I managed to pick up only a few ticks.
Approaching the dense palm area was exciting, and I continually asked myself, “is this it?” You have to take some time to figure out exactly how you want to shoot the site. This takes spending some time taking it all in. At some point everything appears to be the same chaotic mess. But then some patterns and lines begin to organize the scene and you settle into the rhythm of the forest. What an incredible place to experience. The thrill of discovering a place for the first time is priceless.
