Riverbanks Adventure Forum

Holly Hammock: The Hiker’s Delight – Trailwalker Journey Week 2

// November 8th, 2009 // Adventures, Florida Trailwalker, Hiking

 

Pretty Lily Pond by Riverbanksoutdoorstore

My second week and third Trailwalker hike was Holly Hammock in the Ross Prairie State Forest.  Hiking guru and author Sandra Friend was gracious enough to invite me up near Ocala on a summer Saturday to hike this with her for her new Edition of 50 Hikes of Central Florida. I was honored to lead clearing the path of giant banana spiders as Sandy trailed marking data points and taking video of the trail. A noble assignment indeed!
I found this trail cozy and inviting as it winds through the forest under fern covered oak branches. The forest floor covered with little gray fluffy spheres of deer moss. We were fortunate to see several Green fly Orchids still in bloom.

While we were enjoying the trek Sandy unveiled to me the history behind this hikers gem.   This trail was designed by master hikers for hikers and is truly an enjoyable trek. The Forest approached Kenneth Smith, Trail master for the Cross Florida Greenway trails, to see if he would mark out a hiking trail in the woods over at Ross Prairie State Forest. Ken was clever enough to enlist Florida Hikes webmaster and hiking guru, Sandra Friend, on his team to mark the proposed trail. With Ken’s acute trail sense and Sandra’s keene eyes, they set out to explore the forest. They flagged the route that deliberately leads you past tremendous sand oaks blanketed with resurrection fern and an occasional Green Fly Orchid, up a ridge into a pine forest, and out onto a wide open prairie. On the prairie, fresh deer and Florida panther prints in the moist packed sand are indicative of visitors who had roamed this path earlier. The trail twists and turns back through the forest under large oak arms and past spiny leafed holly bushes. One can only imagine the delightful scene of the holly festively laden with bright red berries during Christmas time.  This 2.8 mile trail is truly a hike for all seasons!

As we finished the trail, we could see a massive Florida thunderstorm quickly moving our way.  We decided reschedule our plans for other hikes to another time.

As I drove off with my yearning for adventure not completely satisfied, I took some backroads in hopes that I could fine another hike before calling it a day…..I found Lake McKethan my fourth Trailwalker hike…the adventure continues….

See more photos of Holly Hammock on Flickr

 Guide Books: 50 Hikes of Central Florida, Author Sandra Friend

Other Trailwalker Adventures Blogs: Goethe Week 1, Lake McKethan