Apalachee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association

Leon Sinks Geological Area has two trails that connect to form a ~5-mile loop: the 3.6 mile Sinkhole Trail and the 2.8 mile Gum Swamp Trail. The Sinkhole Trail contains wet and dry sinks of various sizes and other geological features, and the Gum Swamp goes past some cypress domes. We will plan to do both trails, though attendees will have the option of finishing early after the Sinkhole Trail and taking the 0.5 Crossover Trail back to the parking lot. If you do that, please plan to comment here in Meetup to let me know you made it back safely. Children accompanied by a parent or guardian and dogs on a leash are welcome. We will meet in the parking area at 9:45 and start the hike at 10.

The Friends of Leon Sinks have been leading recurring hikes at this location since 2022. Hosting those hikes and joining us for this hike are Dylan Ryals-Hamilton and Alexander McKelvy. We will pause at several points for Dylan to share some fun facts about the local environment, and for Alex to hopefully share a snake or other reptile from the area, given that they are feeling social.

Bios:

• Hiking is a hobby that gives Dylan Ryals-Hamilton extra time to hone his skills as an ecology enthusiast, plant nerd, and budding wildlife tracker. He currently works for Florida Environmental & Land Services, Inc. (FELSI) as an environmental consultant specializing in wetland assessment and species surveys, and is an Associate Instructor with the Florida Master Naturalist Program.
• Alexander McKelvy is the director of Snake Evolution and Biogeography, a nonprofit that professionally mentors avocational naturalists with resources to advance snake science. SEB conducts and facilitates original research, provides training in field collection and museum science techniques and offers outreach and identification services to the public through /r/whatsthissnake.

All trails are wide and well-marked, which along with a few slight elevation changes, makes this an easy to moderate hike. Watch out for ticks, poison ivy, and the occasional root that might trip you. Bring water, sunscreen, bug spray, and a snack if you think you might get hungry.

Please bring $5 in cash for the Leon Sinks paybox.

The Stoney Bayou & Deep Creek Trail is an approximately 12.5 mile loop on a gravel forest road that begins in a slash pine forest and ends on a levee in the marshes. In addition to the changing landscape, we will certainly see some alligators and birds, and may see some other animals such as otters, armadillos, and deer. This is a wide, flat trail that is relatively easy to walk on. We will take periodic breaks and a longer break for lunch at the halfway point, so please bring a bag lunch. The trail is relatively open with little shade, so please also bring sunscreen, bug spray, and plenty of water. You may also want to have a pair of binoculars. Restrooms will likely not be open when we arrive at the Visitor Center, but there are some about three quarters of the way down the Lighthouse Road by the picnic area. Children accompanied by a parent or guardian and dogs on a leash are welcome.

Please bring $5 for the refuge entry fee.