Hike at Doris Leeper Preserve New Smyrna Beach. 3 Miles with option for 3 more

Let’s hike Doris Leeper Preserve near New Smyrna Beach.
Location is Martins Dairy Road/Doris Leeper trailhead in New Smyrna Beach/Port Orange - (the western entrance off Turnbull Bay Rd closest to Pioneer Trail - if you are on a long sandy road then you are heading to the correct trailhead).

We will hike about 3 miles with an option for 8 miles and be done around 11 to 1 PM.
Please bring at least 1 Liter of water and bug spray, although the bugs did not seem to be that bad.

Also bring a sandwich or bite to eat as we will stop at the overlook at the Creek for ten minutes to snack.

Here is a link (below) to the Parking area where the western trail head starts. Note that this is a sand road that does have a few ruts at times. Do not fear though as I am able to get my Nissan Maxima down here with no problem.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=martins+dairy+road+port+orange+fl&hl=en&ll=29.06536,-80.998034&spn=0.020143,0.042272&sll=29.065698,-80.997949&sspn=0.020143,0.042272&gl=us&hnear=Martins+Dairy+Rd,+Port+Orange,+Volusia,+Florida+32128&t=m&z=15

This scenic preserve is on 1,637 acres in New Smyrna Beach/Port Orange. Its 536-foot boardwalk begins more than nine miles of nature trails leading to the 15-foot observation tower and continues to Rose Bay. The tower overlooks the marsh area near Spruce Creek.

There are overlooks/cliffs along the trail looking down on Spruce Creek as well as overlooking an unnamed large lake in this new section of Doris Leeper Preserve.

Please follow FTA guidelines as per https://www.floridatrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FTA-COVID-19-Operating-Procedures-Revision-2-7-30-2020.pdf For Covid related concerns.

No Dogs and no Monkeys allowed on this hike please.