Bulow Woods. It’s a chunk of old Florida, before the swamps were drained and the houses built. We’re fortunate it is part of a Florida State Park. The woods shelter some of the largest Southern Live Oaks in Florida, along with beautiful Magnolias, Sweetgum, Red Maple, Red Bay, Hickory, several deciduous oak species, native hollies (American and Yaupon), Sabal Palm, Wax Myrtle, Saw Palmetto, and assorted other herbs, grasses, and perennials.
I hiked the Woods on two different days. On Tuesday the 21st, I hiked from the southern terminus located at Fairchild Oak State Park. This area has picnic tables, a restroom, picnic shelter, parking and access to two separate trails.
When I arrived at Cedar Creek, I found the trail flooded again, like last autumn. We’ve experienced some recent heavy rains, plus there have been some high tides. I didn’t feel like wading through the swampy water.
Since my way was blocked at Cedar Creek, I returned to the trailhead and then moved my car to the tiny parking area located right off Walter Boardman Lane. This narrow road frequently floods during heavy rains and hurricanes. It was open to travel both days I visited the woods.
On Thursday, the 23rd, I headed back to the Woods, starting this time at the tiny parking area on Walter Boardman Lane. I hiked north to Cisco Ditch and the “beach” on Bulow Creek. The tide was still high and partially flooded the beach.
Along the way, I encountered an older couple who were looking for snakes to photograph. Besides the coral snake I came across months ago, I never see snakes. I know they’re there. We have coral snakes, cottonmouths, Eastern Diamondback, pygmy rattlers, and copperheads, besides a large assortment of non-venomous snakes and lizards. I’ve been around rattlesnakes (Timber Rattlesnake) in the Pacific Northwest and am not afraid of them, giving the beasties a wide berth. And I don’t go barging off into the forest off the trails.
After completing the two mile walk north to Cisco Ditch, I crossed Boardman Lane and headed south to Cedar Creek. Then I hiked through the woods on the 1.4 mile loop called Red Trail and to the little peninsula. At a trail junction, I encountered a group of park workers who were clearing trail, hacking back the boisterous saw palmetto and widening the lane in preparation for fire season. I had a few questions and found out that the Woods has two forest teams, one for Plantation Ruins State Park and the other for Fairchild Oak State Park. I did find out that a boardwalk trail is being planned for the northern loop, which right now (or in the past) has proven to be a very swampy place. I hiked it once back in 2017. The northern loop has been closed off to the public ever since the last hurricane (Lee?) in 2022 to hit the area.
Resources:
If you haven’t guessed so far, I really love Bulow Woods. I completed over four miles of walking today and had a couple of nice chats with the foresters, and a few other people.
Bulow Woods isn’t a place you’re going to see a lot of wild flowers, but there are some beautiful trees.
Come prepared with bug spray as the weather continues to warm and get more humid. I swatted a few mosquitos today but it wasn’t too bad. They were fierce last autumn after a humid and damp summer season.
Have a great weekend, everyone.
In Joy,
Eliza Ayres
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I’ve got to say that the folks who keep the trails open do an amazing job, which must facilitate and add immensely to your pleasure in your hikes. Snakes and I do not see eye-to-eye (my humour) and I run the other way when I see one. Thanks, Eliza, for your photo journal reports. I may not have the energy to do the same, but I like going along with you. Much love, Altea
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