South Florida
Nature Trails
Palm Beach County
Okeeheelee
Nature Center
The Okeeheelee Nature Center has two and a half miles of nature trails with various names based on the surrounding habitat. They sit on 90 acres of native pine flatwoods and several marsh wetlands. Okeeheelee park was once a shellrock quarry. The area that is the sanctuary for the nature center is maintained by removal of exotic, invasive plants and by controlled burns. The word Okeeheelee means "Quiet Waters".
|
|
![]() Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) |
We will start our hike on the PINE TRAIL. This paved trail takes us through a slash pine forest. Slash Pine creats the canopy of most of Floridas pine flatwoods. Along this trail we see many ferns and saw palmetto.
|
The beginning of the WILDLIFE TRAIL is marked by an elevated blind overlooking a wildlife enclosure. This rest stop has a stationary binocular for better wildlife viewing. |
|
![]() Wildlife Trail |
The short, paved Wildlife Trail also weaves its way through a pine flatwood area.
|
|