Most folks who have followed my Panhandle adventures already know that one thing I really love is a carnivorous plant. I will drive hours out of my way if someone tells me there’s a pitcher plant to be seen . . . so when Sharol and I visited Bald Point State Park and one of the brochures mentioned Sundew Trail, I knew that I’d have to hike that trail!
I set off on a clear morning the day before Hurricane Zeta was to make landfall somewhere on the Gulf Coast. The half hour trip from Ochlockonee State Park to Bald Point State Park is a beautiful drive through rural pine flatwoods with wildflowers aplenty. I drove to the parking lot where I believed the trailhead to be. I took a short hike to a gorgeous deck that overlooks a tidal marsh, but it was a very short trail and there was no sundew habitat. When I looked at the map, it was apparent that the Sundew Trail is outside of the park gate. This is great news for folks who do not hold a State Park pass . . . you can park outside the gate and not pay an entrance fee! I found the parking area for the trail easily (it is the last gate on the right as you are headed OUT of the State Park onto Alligator Point).
A short walk let me to an informational kiosk where I took a photo of the trail map, and then it was on to the short — less than 2 miles — loop of the Sundew Trail. Immediately, I was able to see evidence of lots of deer activity on the trail. Just a few steps from the information kiosk, I was in a pine flatwood that felt nothing like as close to the Gulf as it was. Although I was right on the coast, it felt very much like Central Florida.
Evidently, the deer enjoy this trail as much as I did! 
Just steps from the kiosk and in another world. . .
At about half a mile in, I began to think that, while I was enjoying a beautiful walk on a beautiful morning, I would not find my little sundews, even though the terrain was looking favorable. And then, at last, there was one. And another. And you know how that story goes…all of a sudden, they were everywhere. I noticed that along the very edge of the trail, they were somewhat larger, although for some reason I didn’t get pictures of the big ones.
These sundews seemed to have very long stems between the center of the plant and the rounded leaf. At first I thought I might have encountered a spoonleaf sundew, but no. . .this is not that. So it may just be variation between different populations of sundew, or it may just differ from the plants I usually see. At any rate, once I saw the first one, I saw them everywhere and soon had my fill of these tiny little sunbursts.
But that doesn’t mean there wasn’t more to see!
Bald Point State Park has much to offer, even if you are not looking for carnivorous plants. The beaches feel very remote. There are WWII historical sites. There is lots of hiking and a surprising amount of history here! Here’s a trail map from Florida Nature Coast. Get on out there and have some fun!
