Shoreline Park appears as a significant bit of greenspace on Google Maps as we drive to Pensacola during our frequent visits to the Florida Panhandle. Located on a peninsula that is surrounded by Pensacola Bay and Santa Rosa Sound, I thought that it held a promise of wetlands. It was Earth Day and we were looking to celebrate it out in nature.
On line articles suggested that the park had a variety of habitats. While the photographer and I spend a lot of time in the Panhandle, I have primarily been seeking out hikes in Longleaf Pine forests and wet savannas. The opportunity to hike in a “coastal mixed hammock” was inviting. In addition, the articles noted both freshwater and saltwater marshes.
The peninsula and its surrounding waters have an interesting history. Starting in approximately 1560, due to the deep waters of Santa Rosa Sound in the area, the Spanish, who claimed the Pensacola region, identified the site as an ideal location for ship repair. The British controlled the area for a couple decades in the late 1700’s and the shipyard was called English Navy Cove. The Spanish recaptured the area in 1781 and controlled the waterway until 1818, when the U.S. Army, under the leadership of Andrew Jackson, expelled the Spanish from Northwest Florida, and took over the shipyard. In 1825, the U.S. Navy began developing the Pensacola Navy Yard, across Pensacola Bay from the peninsula, and the English Cove Yard began to play a less significant role in naval operations. In the post WWII period, housing subdivisions began developing nearby, and in 1962 the U.S. Bureau of Land Management transferred the title of the 153 acre property to the county, with the provision that it be developed as a public park.
We parked at the Dog Park, marked with a purple star on the map below, and crossed the road to the Nature Trail sign, marked with a red star.
From the sign, we entered onto the Bench Oak Trail and began a rather circuitous route across the park’s terrain. For point of reference, the yellow trail on the map is the Shoreline Loop Trail, that, along with the bike trail that runs along Shoreline Drive, is a well utilized, paved, all-persons loop trail. We would cross the pavement several times on our route, and even walked it for a short distance.
The Bench Oak Trail, marked in white on the trail map, was wide, inviting, and blanketed with recently fallen Live Oak leaves. Live Oaks do not lose last seasons leaves in the fall, but rather retain them over the winter and drop them in the spring, after this year’s leaves have come out. Therefore, the trees are always covered with leaves – hence their name – Live Oak, because they are always green.
The arching branches of the Live Oaks created a tunnel effect on parts of the trail. Here the Bench Oak Trail crosses over the paved Shoreline Loop Trail.
The Bench Oak is actually a Live Oak that is growing at an awkward angle, almost parallel to the ground. It is an inviting curiosity, but we were too early in the hike to take a full rest.
In addition to the Live Oaks, the hammock had Tupelo, Sand Live Oak, Sand Pine, American Holly, Yaupon Holly, Saw Palmetto, Sweetbay Magnolia and Southern Magnolia.
After visiting the Bench Oak we again crossed the Shoreline Loop Trail to enter the Sand Pine Trail, where, indeed, we saw several isolated Sand Pine specimens. The Sand Pine is perhaps the least appreciated conifer of the Florida Panhandle. It lacks the height and grandeur of the Longleaf and Loblolly Pines, and the historical importance of Slash Pine, which was the foundation of the turpentine industry. On this trail we had several fun observations. The first was an inch worm swinging on a thread from the canopy. He was getting the ride of his life on this breezy day as he pendulated back and forth.
Shortly, the photographer noted this Scarlet Calamint some distance off the trail in the underbrush. It is a small shrub and it was the only time that we noted it flowering on this hike. As the shape and color suggests, it is a hummingbird favorite, flowering from spring until September. It is also called Red Basil.
This minuscule Partridge Berry was noted in a small grouping just alongside the trail. The small white flowers always look out of focus on photography.
That is because their intense hairiness, which is better appreciated on this magnified image, blurs the edges of the flower petals. The flowers will be followed by bright red, pea size berries that are an important wildlife food source.
After a short segment on the Sand Pine Trail we turned onto Winding Way, which is red on the earlier map, and then transitioned to the paved Shoreline Loop Trail for a short distance. Note the Spanish Moss drooping from the Live Oak’s branches in the upper right of the photo. It was a common feature in the canopy of this forest.
Here we came upon this massive Sparkleberry shrub, one of the native blueberries, that was perhaps 12 foot in height, and in full flower.
As we studied it we noted an iridescent Great Black Wasp visiting the blossoms. While they feed insects to their young, the adults largely feed on flower nectar, pollen, and honeydew.
Soon we exited to the Heritage Oak Trail, with the promise of visiting a stately Live Oak. It was battle worn and perhaps on its last legs, with a gaping opening in its trunk. Over the centuries of its life it has survived numerous hurricanes, but perhaps not the next one, given its current state.
Still it was an impressive specimen,
and was covered with mosses and Resurrection Fern.
Our next segment of trail was the Eagle Nest Trail. While we did not see any eagle nests, we did see some pine trees big enough to support one. Here the trail had a more rugged and remote feel to it, with a full understory and thick Saw Palmetto roots crossing the trail..
Leaving the Eagle’s Nest Trail we retraced our steps on the Sand Pine Trail before taking the second segment of the Winding Way, which took us back toward Shoreline Drive, the entry road to the park. I was eagerly anticipating the photographer’s response to a piece of public art that I had read about, a memorial sculpture to a late citizen who loved the panhandle’s history and outdoor lifestyle.
The detail of the art work was exceptional.
From here we crossed the entry drive to the trailhead for the Dog Park Alley Trail, which took us around the busy dog park to the boardwalk.
The one third mile boardwalk descends from the mixed tree hammock to a fresh water marsh, and then to a saltwater marsh and estuary.
From the first part of the boardwalk we noted this large Southern Magnolia bloom at eye level. Even in the breezy, seaside setting we could appreciate its citrusy scent.
Nearby was a large Blackhaw Viburnum. The pollinated flowers will be followed by a cluster of blue-black fruit this fall that will be consumed by birds and mammals.
On the opposite side of the boardwalk, in a more moist area, we noted Lizard’s Tail. This herbaceous perennial is a hallmark plant of shallow, freshwater marshes in the south and can even grow in standing water. The pollinated flower results in little nutlets that are a favorite food of Wood Ducks.
I have to be honest. I yelled snake when I saw this on the marsh floor below the boardwalk. Unfortunately, its head was already hidden in the vegetation. But, in fact, it is not a snake, but rather the Eastern Glass Lizard, a legless lizard that is common in freshwater marshes. Legless lizards are differentiated from snakes by the presence of a moveable eyelid, external ear openings, un-forked tongues, and a less flexible jaw. They get their name “Glass Lizards” because their tails will break into small pieces, like glass, to allow them to escape from a predator. This specimen was about four foot long. I was surprised to learn that there are nine species of legless lizards in the U.S., and eighty species worldwide.
Amongst the flora of the wetland we noted many flowering species:
Herb-of-grace, Heavenly Trumpets, Arrowhead.
As we progressed down the boardwalk, standing water became more common. Given the grade of the terrain, I believe that this pool was part of the freshwater marsh habitat. On the horizon one can see the water of Santa Rosa Sound as well as some of the condo towers of Pensacola Beach, which is on a barrier island.
To the left we noted an Osprey Nest on a platform.
Raccoons used to regularly raid our garbage cans at night, but we have not seen one in years. We were surprised to see this one out foraging at about noon.
Several turtles, including this Yellow-bellied Slider, shared the shallow pond with the Racoon, but were unbothered.
As the boardwalk approached the coast of Santa Rosa Sound and entered the saltwater marsh estuary, we noted a large population of Gulf Coast Fiddler Crabs scurrying across the marsh soil.
In this same area we startled a Midland Watersnake. Note its forked tongue in the second photo.
The boardwalk ends at the shore of Santa Rosa Sound, with views onto Santa Rosa Island, a forty mile long barrier island that is home to three resort communities including Okaloosa Island to the east, Navarre Beach in the center, and Pensacola Beach at the western end. But the majority of the island is undeveloped, with a large section within the buffer of Eglin Air Force base, and three sections, totaling 25 miles, being part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, a truly remarkable place to visit.
In the photo below you can see the bridge that leads to Pensacola Beach. The viewed water was the home of the historic shipyard.
At the shoreline one can turn left, which leads to the mouth of the stream that drains the wetlands, and empties into the sound.
On our trek on the boardwalk we noted a couple of interesting lizards. The first was a Brown Anole. They, like chameleons, can change color quite quickly, but not to the same extent. Their color spectrum is more subdued, ranging from light brown, dark brown, grey, and nearly black. Their color change has more to do with temperature regulation rather than for camouflage.
The second was a Green Anole who proudly stood on the boardwalk railing. Like the Brown Anole, it too changes color for thermoregulation, but also for stress or social interaction. They have a broader range of colors, including bright green, brown, grey, or mottled shades, and can change in a matter of seconds to minutes. You can tell a brown phase Green Anole from a Brown Anole by the uniformity of the brown in the Green Anole. The Brown Anole will have some spots on his back as can be seen in the earlier photo.
Our presence caused it to display its dewlap, declaring its territory.
In summary, this Earth Day outing was a lot of fun. The three distinct habitats in close proximity allowed us to see a wide variety of plants and animals. Boardwalks are an excellent way to explore wetlands as the animals are less threatened and tend to hang around to be observed. Perhaps what pleased me the most about the park was the community engagement that we noted. From the eagle scouts and garden club who improved the facilities, to the school group who was picking up trash on this Wednesday, to the many folks who made the park part of their active lifestyle, it was clear that Shoreline Park is a cherished community resource. While state and national parks are extremely important for preserving ecologically and historically valuable sites, it is the community parks, and our quick access to them, that makes everyday a possible “Earth Day” – a day to celebrate nature.
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Photo credits to Peggy Juengling Burns with the exception of the estuary photo which was by Patrick Burns.
Overview
Location – 800 Shoreline Drive, Gulf Breeze, FL 32459.
Parking – gravel lot for 12 cars.
Facilities – formal restrooms at the boat ramp/public beach access which is just down the hill from the trailhead.
Trail Conditions – compacted sand for the majority of the trail, some sections of paved trail, and boardwalk.
Trail Map Link – https://www.gulfbreezeparksandrecreation.com/_files/ugd/9ec9ac_3f934628a9c54f4da83183762e963563.pdf
Benches – yes, spread throughout the campus.
Kids – kids 4 and over should do fine.
Dogs – Welcomed on a leash.
Suggested Paired Hikes – none.
Links: