What a lovely hike Buck Island Pond Trail offers. We are just beginning to learn about State Forests, and Goethe State Forest is a spot we definitely want to explore. On our first visit, we went to a trail recommended by my friend Sharol because she was able to find a small stand of pitcher plants, and I didn’t want Steve to have to wait another year to see them.
The drive from Eustis to Dunnellon is a pleasant one, especially if you take back roads and avoid the larger highways. Our route took us through many of the small towns that dot Central Florida, and we took note of several possibilities for future adventures, including the Pruitt Trailhead of the Florida Trail. The rural roads were cool and green, and although summer is near, we saw plenty of wildflower along the way.
We arrived at the parking area for Buck Island Pond Trail after being greeted by a spectacular pair of Sandhill Cranes. We suspect they had young in the area because they were pretending to be injured to lead us down the road. I did not know that Sandhill cranes use this tactic, but it is apparently common among crane species. We parked and followed a short boardwalk down the slope to Buck Island Pond. If we had packed a picnic and chairs, this would have been the perfect spot to spend an entire day! There is a large observation area overlooking the lake, and plenty to see. There are also picnic tables and a bbq grill in a shaded area near the informational kiosk at the entrance to the Buck Island Pond area. We spent a few minutes admiring the view and listening to frogs, cicadas, and birds before proceeding back up the boardwalk to the loop trail that circles Buck Island Pond.
The trail begins in an oak hammock punctuated with some pines. We noticed a pretty little crab spider on her web, and soon the oaks gave way to pines dominating the landscape on our left, while the lake made a comfortable home for many cypress on our right. In fact, there’s a sign on this part of the trail that warns about cypress knees. . .you’ll want to watch your step so you don’t trip!
We had packed insect repellent, but it made no impact on the yellow flies, which continually buzzed us (but did not bite, thank goodness). We noticed no mosquitoes or other nuisance insects.
The Buck Island Pond Trail showcases a variety of Florida habitats, from oak hammock to pine forest to swamp. . .and the plant life was diverse. In addition to several types of oaks and slash and longleaf pines, there were loblolly bay trees and others. Ferns and button bush were in evidence near the lake, and just when you think you have seen everything you can imagine . . . a short boardwalk leads off to the right to a tiny bog.
I do mean tiny. It appears to be about 20′ from the right to left sides and maybe 15′ from the boardwalk to the back side. But as tiny as it is, you’ll want to take the short trip along the boardwalk because this bog is home to a small stand of pitcher plants. When we were there, the bog was completely dry, but we noticed three little pitcher plants looking parched and brown. I am so glad that these small plants have not been collected! As cool as pitcher plants are, they have very specific growth requirements that are difficult to meet in a home garden. If you see them in the wild, know that you have received a gift and leave them for the next traveler to enjoy.
On our way home, we stopped at a roadside stand and picked up some melons. I dehydrated the cantaloupe and we are enjoying the watermelon cold from the fridge. While this was an unplanned, spur of the moment trip, it certainly paid huge dividends in terms of how much we enjoyed the day. Don’t deny yourself adventures because you don’t have a detailed plan . . . grab your water bottle and bug juice and go find the amazing things that surround us!
