Friday, April 12, 2013

Windley Key Fossil Reef Fossil Geologic State Park, Florida Keys, Florida



Distance: 1.5 miles (2.4 km)
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: Sea Level to 15 feet (4.5 meters)
Time of Year: December - April

Fossilized coral

Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park is located on Windley Key just a few miles west of Key Largo, at mile marker 84.9 of U.S. Highway 1. It is the site of the old quarry where Henry Flagler quarried limestone for the construction of his Overseas Railroad from mainland Florida to Key West in the early 1900's. Exposed in the quarry are beautiful fossilized coral heads from a time during the Pleistocene when sea levels were higher and this site was an active coral reef. You can see brain coral, finger coral, and star coral formations in the exposed rock.


There is a small visitor center which information about how the reef was formed, as well as, how Henry Flagler quarried the site. From the quarry, there are two loop trails that leave for exploring the 30 acres of preserved tropical hardwood hammock forest. This site was at risk for being converted into condominiums in the 1980's, before local residents stepped up to preserve the site.

Gumbo Limbo Tree

These hardwood hammocks contain a variety of plant and animal species unique to North America and more representative to the Caribbean and tropical Americas. Representative trees such as Gumbo Limbo, Jamaican dogwood, West Indian mahagony, Pigeon plum, willow bustic, Florida boxwood, wild mastic, poisonwood, and many others are very common. Harder to see are the white-crowned pigeons that live up in the canopy eating fruit. The hardwood hammocks of the Florida Keys are the only place in the United States that this species can be seen. But, they are very secretive,  so your best chance may be a brief glimpse of them flying from tree to tree.

The understory of the tropical hardwood hammock

The wide trail will take you through the hammock. The understory is more open than the hammocks within the Everglades. In the dry season, mosquitoes should not be all that noticeable. At 0.3 miles, the Sunset Trail heads to the left and descends slightly to the edge of the mangroves along the northern shore of the island. You may see wading birds along here, as well as, the elusive mangrove cuckoo. Returning the main loop, continue on the Hammock Trail as it loops through the forest.


Due to the ability for limestone to drain water so readily, the forest floor contains a number of cactus species including an unidentified tree cactus, prickly pears, and the triangle cactus (Acanthocereus tetragonus), also known by locals as the Dildo cactus or barbed-wire cactus.


After admiring this unique forest ecosystem full of amazing biodiversity, the trail will return you to the main quarry. Here you will see large blocks laid out in the center of the quarry where the coralline shapes are easily visible. Wander along the edge of the quarry to see the innumerable shapes and variety of corals in the rocks. But, just be aware of your head, as poisonwood leaves overhang spots along the site.


This is a quick place to stretch your legs and experience some fascinating history and even more amazing ecological diversity on the long journey to Key West from Miami. So, make a stop here, as these types of tropical hardwood hammocks are quickly disappearing from South Florida due to the constant progression of development.







19 comments:

Unknown said...

air max 90
tiffany and co
adidas outlet
cheap nhl jerseys
los angeles lakers jerseys
oakley sunglasses
ray ban sunglasses
ray ban sunglasses
calvin klein outlet
san francisco 49ers jerseys
vans shoes
toms shoes
louis vuitton outlet
true religion jeans, http://www.truereligionoutletstore.us.com
air jordan shoes
abercrombie and fitch
cheap football shirts
manchester united jersey
ray ban
tods outlet
swarovski crystal
nike outlet store
replica watches
cartier love bracelet
koby bryant shoes
beats headphones
cheap oakley sunglasses
ed hardy clothing
air jordan 11
kansas city chiefs jerseys
nike air max uk
supra shoes
thomas sabo uk
ugg uk
oakley outlet
north face jackets
tiffany jewelry
cheap jordans
adidas shoes
oakley sunglasses
0803maoqiuyun

xjd7410@gmail.com said...

20150908 junda
michael kors
louboutin pas cher
coach outlet
coach factory outlet
soccer jerseys wholesale
ray ban sunglass
prada handbags
ugg australia
adidas uk
nike blazer
fitflops sale clearance
air force 1
longchamp outlet
jordan shoes
michael kors outlet online
new balance outlet
prada outlet
ugg boots sale
kate spade handbags
ray bans
adidas gazelle trainers
polo ralph lauren outlet
barbour uk
north face uk
michael kors handbags
ray ban outlet
ray ban sunglasses
michael kors uk
uggs outlet
ralph lauren uk
michael kors handbag
nike free run 5.0
oakley sunglasses sale
canada goose uk
toms wedges
cheap soccer shoes
coach outlet online
adidas shoes
oakley sunglasses wholesale
coach factory outlet

Unknown said...

hogan,hogan outlet,scarpe hogan,hogan sito ufficiale,hogan interactive
oakley sunglasses
washington redskins
bottega veneta outlet
cheap jordan shoes
babyliss flat iron
true religion jeans
michael kors outlet online
mlb jerseys
michael kors uk
ugg outlet store
canada goose outelt
ferragamo outlet
ugg outlet uk
gucci outlet
karen millen uk
tiffany and co
tods outlet
giuseppe zanotti outlet
1024minko

Unknown said...

20160402 junda
instyler max
cheap uggs
toms wedges
fitflops outlet
michael kors outlet online
christian louboutin uk
valentino shoes
mont blanc pens
michael kors outlet online
ed hardy outlet
canada goose jacket
ralph lauren outlet
coach outlet online
burberry outlet
timberland outlet
coach factory outlet
longchamp outlet
ralph lauren outlet
michael kors purses
michael kors outlet
supra for sale
canada goose outlet
toms shoes
ghd hair straighteners
hollister clothing
chaussure louboutin
ray ban outlet
armani watches
stephen curry shoes
jordan pas cher
louboutin pas cher
salvatore ferragamo
basketball shoes
nike tn
valentino shoes on sale
designer bags
coach outlet online
polo ralph lauren
timberland boots
nike air max uk

John said...

supra for sale
nike free 5.0
air max 95
buy red bottoms
timberland shoes
louis vuitton outlet online
hollister clothing store
hermes uk
coach factory outlet
michael kors outlet online
rolex submariner
timberland uk
adidas shoes uk
gucci borse
pandora charms sale clearance
chi flat iron
michael kors handbags
nike free flyknit 5.0
yeezy boost 350 black
north face uk
coach outlet online
coach factory outlet online
michael kors outlet online
valentino shoes
nike cortez white
prada sunglasses
yeezy boost 350
louis vuitton outlet online
hollister uk
coach factory outlet
cartier watches
birkenstocks
2016628yuanyuan

xjd7410@gmail.com said...

20160909 junda
cheap mlb jerseys
coach outlet online
michael kors handbags wholesale
longchamp
soccer jerseys
ugg boots sale
ugg boots clearance
tory burch outlet
adidas nmd runner
ugg boots sale
prada handbags
louis vuitton uk
michael kors online
michael kors outlet
true religion jeans
tiffany and co jewelry
prada outlet online
louis vuitton handbags sale
tory burch outlet online
nike free run
longchamp outlet
cartier sunglasses for men
cheap jordan shoes
burberry outlet store
tiffany and co
mulberry outlet
air max 90
ugg outlet
cheap uggs
ugg boots

chenlina said...

chenlina20161107
nike air max 90
true religion jeans
ugg boots
gucci outlet
adidas shoes
uggs sale
coach outlet store online clearances
christian louboutin sale
cheap jordans
uggs on sale

chenmeinv0 said...

adidas originals tubular
birkenstock outlet
michael kors handbags
burberry outlet
longchamp outlet
oakley sunglasses canada
oakley sunglasses
hermes bags
oakley sunglasses
coach factory outlet
2017.3.18xukaimin

chenmeinv0 said...

michael kors outlet online
christian louboutin
ray ban wayfarer
adidas trainers men
prada bags
nike outlet
beats by dre
ray ban glasses
burberry handbags
nike air max uk
chenyingying20170406

Unknown said...

true religion outlet
longchamp bags
air jordan
stephen curry shoes
longchamp le pliage
pandora uk
fitflops clearance
brady jersey
longchamp handbags
roshe shoes

Unknown said...

شركة قمة الدقة للخدمات المنزلية
شركة المثالية لمكافحة الحشرات
شركة عزل خزانات بالخبر

Unknown said...

paul george shoes
golden goose
calvin klein underwear
russell westbrook shoes
nfl store
converse outlet
supreme clothing
adidas yeezy
golden goose sneakers
longchamp bags

Unknown said...

adidas superstar
yeezy boost 350
golden goose starter
yeezy shoes
calvin klein underwear
ysl handbags
adidas tubular
goyard
moncler jackets
birkin bag

QQQQQQQQQ said...

wholesale ray ban sunglasses
birkin bag
nike shox
adidas gazelle
retro jordans
zx flux
off white nike
jordan shoes
hermes belt
adidas nmd r1

SSSSSS said...

goyard
off white clothing
longchamp outlet
off white
fila shoes
curry 5
yeezy boost
longchamp handbags
links of london
hermes handbags

5689 said...

zzzzz2018.8.11
oakley sunglasses wholesale
ralph lauren outlet
moncler jackets
uggs outlet
off white nike
oakley sunglasses
cheap nba jerseys
nike shoes for men
ralph lauren uk
ultra boost

Unknown said...

www0906
louboutin shoes
pandora outlet
true religion jeans
giuseppe zanotti
prada shoes
pandora charms
clarks shoes
moncler jackets
ray ban sunglasses
clarks outlet

Unknown said...

www1013

canada goose jackets
james harden shoes
christian louboutin shoes
mlb jerseys
moncler outlet
coach factory outlet
nike clothing
canada goose
off white outlet
moncler jacket




Unknown said...

gucci belts
nike air force 1
cheap nfl jerseys
nike polo
michael kors uk
jordan shoes
longchamp handbags
red bottom heels
cheap nba jerseys
air jordan 4

Just Giving Back For All To Enjoy

Why pay money to buy hiking books? Why pay fees to view trail websites? By searching my archives and checking back often to see new posts, we are sure you will be able to find the hike that is right for you ... and for free!

In addition, we provide fascinating ecological and geological information to make the hikes informative and fun. As former National Park Rangers, we know how to find the right hike for you. So, if you are on vacation, we will provide you with the hike you absolutely MUST do while in an area. Do not go on vacation without checking out this site!