Winter adventure on the coast

I like to walk. During the cooler months, I like to walk nature trails. There are many choices in the area and personal preference is the only thing to consider when it comes to finding the perfect trail.

New Year’s Day, I ventured out Fort Morgan Road with a friend to walk the Pine Beach Trail in Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. It was a blustery, cool day and when we started the sky was overcast. The trailhead of Pine Beach Trail is in a parking area near Highway 180 and the trail meanders for two miles through forest, wetlands, dunes and scrub. The path is sand and gravel and easy to walk. As we exited the car, a glance around revealed stately live oaks with Spanish moss draped over almost every limb. The trees provide a lush canopy for the parking area.

This was my first time on the trail, so I was trying to take in all the sights, smells and sounds. The cool, gray morning must have kept most seeking adventure at home. We only encountered two joggers on our way in. The trail itself is a wonderful walk. If there have been recent rains, be prepared to get your feet a little wet.

The first section of the trail is through a maritime forest with magnolia trees, pine trees and Spanish moss-draped oaks. As we emerged from the forest, there was a clearing with a two-story observation tower. From the top of the tower we could see Little Lagoon and Gator Lake. The trail separated the two bodies of water and gave way to white sand dunes and scrub. We took a right at Gator Lake Trail taking us west through tall dunes skirting the lake. I wasn’t accustomed to climbing hills, so I worked a few new muscles on that mile of the journey. We exited the trail on Mobile Street and turned south to the beach.

When we reached the beach and headed east the sun finally came out. The warmth of the sun seemed to take some of the chill out of the wind. The beach was deserted with the exception of a man and two boys walking the tide line looking for shells. I made a mental note to come back and look for shells on a warmer day. The sand was firm and walking was easy. I was a little concerned about finding the Pine Beach Trail from the beach, but it was clearly marked. I was glad to see the post in the sand with the hiking man figure.

We entered the trail heading north and into the wind. The sugar-white sand dunes and scrub were beautiful in the bright January sun. The sky was clear and deep blue. But the wind was still cold. Near the junction of Centennial Trail, there is a clearing with a restroom. The clearing also has a bench facing south. Sitting on the bench with the sun on my face and the trees blocking the wind gave me a warm, peaceful feeling. My legs were also thankful for the rest.

The closer we were to the parking area, the more people we saw on the trail. I’m glad we got there early. Looking back at a map of the trails, we figured our journey covered approximately seven miles. We took the long way around and enjoyed it immensely.

post provided by Luanne Burnett