beach-dune system. Enjoy your walk through time. time. through walk your Enjoy system. beach-dune cause the dunes to grow higher. higher. grow to dunes the cause ranger station at (904) 251-2320. 251-2320. (904) at station ranger

successional stages of the ever-changing coastal coastal ever-changing the of stages successional their leaves trap wind-blown sand, which in time will will time in which sand, wind-blown trap leaves their maps on other Talbot Island trails contact the the contact trails Island Talbot other on maps

dune rid dune ou will observe all of the the of all observe will ou y trail e g the dunes together, while while together, dunes the hold to works which system ours. For information & & information For ours. t Segway® even and riding

forming a maritime hammock. As you hike the the hike you As hammock. maritime a forming hey have an extensive root root extensive an have hey T formation. their and dunes variety of uses from hiking to cycling to horseback horseback to cycling to hiking from uses of variety

over time they will become the dominate plants plants dominate the become will they time over These coastal dune plants provide the foundation for for foundation the provide plants dune coastal These Talbot Islands State Parks offers many trails with a a with trails many offers Parks State Islands Talbot

slash pine will begin to colonize the dunes, and and dunes, the colonize to begin will pine slash and railroad vines that we see on the foredunes today. today. foredunes the on see we that vines railroad and

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behind them. Eventually, trees such as live oak and and oak live as such trees Eventually, them. behind ation such as the sea oats oats sea the as such ation veget tolerant salt pioneering

buffer enabling less salt tolerant plants to grow grow to plants tolerant salt less enabling buffer while the ridge was forming, it was covered with with covered was it forming, was ridge the while

although affected, are able to survive and provide a a provide and survive to able are affected, although succession. During the earlier stages of succession, succession, of stages earlier the During succession.

major limiting factor for plant growth. These plants, plants, These growth. plant for factor limiting major forest which is the final stage of coastal forest forest coastal of stage final the is which forest

are pruned and flattened by salt spray which is a a is which spray salt by flattened and pruned are maritime hammock. The maritime hammock is a climax climax a is hammock maritime The hammock. maritime

shapes and growth patterns. This is because they they because is This patterns. growth and shapes canopy of live oaks, cedars and sable palms, in a lush lush a in palms, sable and cedars oaks, live of canopy

hike that some of these plants have distinctive distinctive have plants these of some that hike The trail meanders atop an ancient dune ridge, under a a under ridge, dune ancient an atop meanders trail The

palm begin to take hold. You may notice on your your on notice may You hold. take to begin palm

Changing Landscape Landscape Changing

layer, small plants such as scrub oak and cabbage cabbage and oak scrub as such plants small layer,

become more stabilized and form a hearty humus humus hearty a form and stabilized more become

embarking on your hike. hike. your on embarking ment such as this one. As the dunes age, they they age, dunes the As one. this as such ment

Remember to check in at the Ranger Station before before Station Ranger the at in check to Remember may take years for it to form in a coastal environ- coastal a in form to it for years take may Dune Ridge Trail Trail Ridge Dune

ation north of park drive. drive. park of north ation st ranger the of west located plants require this layer in order to survive and it it and survive to order in layer this require plants

scrub, dune, and beach habitats. The trailhead is is trailhead The habitats. beach and dune, scrub, organic soil layer called the humus layer. Most Most layer. humus the called layer soil organic

they contribute to the creation of a thin, fertile fertile thin, a of creation the to contribute they you through picturesque maritime hammock, coastal coastal hammock, maritime picturesque through you

The Dune Ridge Trail is a four mile long loop that takes takes that loop long mile four a is Trail Ridge Dune The When these pioneering plants die and decompose decompose and die plants pioneering these When

Welcome Welcome Changing Landscape Continued Continued Landscape Changing

Park Guidelines Talbot Islands State Parks 12157 Heckscher Drive Dune Ridge Trail  Hours are 8 a.m. until sunset, 365 days a year. Jacksonville, FL 32226 Little Talbot Island State Park  A park entrance fee and additional fees may be (904) 251—2320 required. FloridaStateParks.org  All plants, animals and park property are pro-

tected. The collection, destruction or disturbance Florida’s state parks are committed to providing equal of plants, animals or park property is prohibited. access to all facilities and programs. Should you need  Pets are permitted in designated areas only. assistance to enable your participation, please contact Pets must be kept on a leash no longer than 6 the ranger station at (904) 251-2320. feet long and must be well behaved. DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE BEACH.  Fishing, boating and fires are allowed in desig- nated areas only. Florida fishing license may be Alternate format required. Large available upon  Collection of firewood and driftwood are prohib- ited. Print Request at the  Fireworks and hunting are prohibited. Ranger Station ...the Real Floridasm  Alcoholic beverage consumption is allowed only in designated areas. National Gold Medal Winner ——————————————————————-- Florida State Parks—”America’s First Two—Time Winner” Leave No Trace

 Take only pictures, leave only foot prints. SM Caution Shoreline Changes Frequently Limited Beach Access At High Tide

Dune Ridge Trail Cross Slope Typical 1.2% Little Talbot Island State Park 6% of trail is 3% to 12% Roots 3 in Trail Loop Length 4 miles 896 ft section is 3% to 12% Warning: Trail conditions may have changed since Tread Width Typical 80 in this trail was assessed. Temporary obstructions (e.g. fallen trees or landslides) may not have been Minimum 47 in mapped. Maximum grades and cross slopes may Hiking Bicycling Pets Allowed vary. No Pets on Beach Ranges from 47 in to 138 in 8% grade is a standard ramp. Grade Typical 2.3% Surface Type Typical Duff Level surfaces can have up to a 2% cross slope.

4% of trail is 8% to 15% 85% of the trail is Firm or Better Trail Access 65 ft section is 12% to 15% 1959 ft of trail is soft or worse Information