Parking 1 LOT
This location is the main parking lot for the CREW Flint Pen Trail. There are other two parking lots around the area. The location points are numbers 6 and 7, but I suggest only using those if you have a Jeep or a Truck because the roads are bumpy; a smaller vehicle can be a hustle. The trails are sandy and wet so make sure to use the appropriate shoes and don't forget to apply sunscreen. I suggest wearing a hat and sunglasses and most importantly take a water bottle and a friend. Yes, a friend because it is always more fun to explore with a friend!The location above leads to two trails: Yellow Trail South and Red Trail. We will use the Yellow trail to connect to the orange trail, that's where we will explore. In case you would like to explore more trails makes sure to grab some flyers on the central resource stand located near the entrance to the trails. Once you begin the trail the first thing you will notice is the trees, grass, and wildflowers. If you are lucky enough you might start encountering some wildlife. The trails are well marked so you cannot get lost. I love how clear the trail is from the beginning until the end with post markers for directions.
Yellow Trail
This location point lets you admire the nature of open land as if you're in the grassland biome. The breeze is amazing here. The animals that you might encounter are deers, rabbits, birds, dragonflies, butterflies, grasshoppers, etc.Can you find the grasshopper?This type of grasshopper uses camouflage. Organisms mask their location by camouflaging to escape from predators or to sneak up on prey.The type of plants that you will find in this trail is Slash Pine Tree, green grass, and some wildflowers. You will also find horses' tracks and notice the rich soil trail.
Three Tails
This location point splits into three trails going left is the Yellow Trail South, straight (North) is the Red Trail, and the right trail is the starting point of the Orange Trail.View the pictures taken near this location. Can you find the bird and can you guess the type?This type of bird is known as the Red-Headed Woodpecker. This picture was taken in the evening that is why it is sort of dark. The appearance of this woodpecker is striking with a bright red head, black back with white wing patches, and a white belly/chest. Typically, this species will eat bugs such as crickets and spiders, but they will also eat a considerable amount of fruits and nuts. Red-headed Woodpecker lives in pine savannahs no wonder they live here in this wetland. Source: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-headed_Woodpecker/id
Entrance to Pinewood orange trail
This location point is the main entrance of the Orange Trail of Pinewood. It seems intimidating at first so be aware of the surroundings you might stumble upon snakes or tree roots. So, watch your steps!The ecosystem of this location is the Pine Flatwoods. This area is dominated by slash pine, saw palmetto, sabal palm, and mixed grasses. The first sight you will see is the burnt color of some barks of these pines due to prescribed fire. This is done to control woody vegetation that is overcrowding the pines. [1]Pine flatwood provides important habitat for many wildlife species such as birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals (deers, squirrels, rabbits, etc). The pine trees are very important to the environment as well because they help absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.The Slash Pine Tree can be seen all over this wetland and a cool fact is that it can grow up to 120 feet tall and is part of the coniferous group of trees. Coniferous trees keep their leaves all year long and only shed the oldest leaves when new needles take their place. The pine's needles can grow 8-12 inches long, produce cones that are 2-6 inches in length, and have deep root systems [2]. These roots help clean the soil and water from pollutants.Source:[1] https://www.google.com/amp/s/mercury.postlight.com/amp%3furl=https://corkscrew.audubon.org/conservation/pine-flatwoods[2] https://www.ourwetlandsfla.com/slash-pine-tree-sw-florida/
Flatwoods
This location point is one of my favorite rest spot to admire the pine trees because they are so tall and beautiful to look at and listen to surrounding sounds such as the cicada's mating sound and birds chirping. Also, stop and feel the breeze. I love it when the wind clashes through the needle leaves of the pine trees because it creates a relaxing soothing sound. So, just breathe in and exhale as many times possible. Relax and enjoy nature! :)
Lakes Parking Lot
This location point is near the Lakes Parking Lot which leads to the lakes. Also, this spot is one longest open area so make sure to reapply more sunscreen. If you decide to get off the trail to see the lakes you might see some alligators, birds, and fishes near the shore.What is a watershed and why is it important? First of all, you are standing in a watershed area. This unique watershed allows water to slowly travel over the landscape and soak into the aquifer. This helps prevent flooding in surrounding neighborhoods and filters pollutants from the water. So basically, a watershed is an area of land where rainwater drains and is collected and stored. It’s a three-step process, according to the board located near the entrance to the lakes (see the pictures for this location point). First, it all starts with rain. Second, the water droplets slowly travel downhill through plants and soil, which helps clean the water and filter out pollutants. Third, the water droplet soaks into the ground and fills the aquifer. The soil also plays a major role in filtering the water that's because the soil is filled with tiny microbes/bacteria that help breakdown contaminants. It's important to understand the importance of this watershed because this land helps protect and preserve our most valuable natural resource--water. Wildlife, plants, and people need water to survive so keep that in mind and respect nature!Source: https://crewtrust.org/visit-crew/
Pinewoods Parking Lot
This location point is near the Pinewood Parking Lot and also it is my second favorite rest area. It has a small pond with nice shade to cool down and you can admire the small lilies and fishes near the shore. The picture for this pin location shows water lilies and a bunch of sawgrasses. You can also see the road to the parking lot and as I mention earlier small vehicles can be a hustle to get in here due to uneven road. The next location point is off the trail but it will be worth the walk :)
Kehl Canal
This location point is off the orange trail but is a must-see because you get to glance at the Kehl Canal. The water is clear and it is just a beautiful view to enjoy and walk along the canal. In the picture, you can notice sawgrass marshes. Do you know what is sawgrass marshes?The sawgrass is a wetland plant that belongs to the genus Cladium jamaicense, it has a grasslike appearance but it's actually a member of the sedge family. Sawgrass is named for the sharp-toothed on the leaf margin and they can grow to a height of 9 feet (2.7 m) tall [1].Sawgrass has adapted to this type of environment, it can withstand long periods of inundation and also droughts and periodic fire. Sawgrass leaves are not used as food for local wildlife, however, the seeds are eaten by several birds. Sawgrass is the most common plant in wetlands, providing wildlife species habitat, water filtration, and soil erosion prevention. It fosters plenty of life, including snails, fishes eggs, turtles, and frogs, and even alligators who often nest in these areas. [2]Source:[1] https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/southflorida/habitats/freshwater-marshes/sawgrass-marshes/[2] https://sciencing.com/sawgrass-5382252.html
Pond/lake
This location point is off the trail as well, but it is a beautiful view. The pond is filled with water lilies and it can be another rest area to cool down. There's plenty of shade here to enjoy the view.What are white water-lily?White water lilies are wetland plants commonly found in quiet waters of marshes and slow-moving streams, as well as along the shallow edges of lakes and ponds. Its circular floating leaves are green on top and purple on the underside. The white water lily is an aquatic wildflower that produces beautiful white flowers in early summer. View the pictures for this pin location as you can tell this aquatic plant can form dense colonies covering the surface of the water. These aquatic plants can grow in water depths up to about five or six feet. These plants are of significant value to wetland wildlife species, both directly as a food source and indirectly as an important part of wetlands ecology. The abundant pollen of the flowers attracts a wide variety of insects, including bees, flies, and beetles. It also provides a resting platform for dragonflies and other insects. The seeds of white lilies provide a food source for several bird species. Mammals, too, feed on these plants for example the white-tailed Deer (the ones we saw in location point # 2). I hope that this virtual trail of CREW lands help you gain more knowledge of the ecosystem in Southwest Florida. The orange trail is about 2.9 miles but because we went off-trail a couple of times it probably was more than 3 miles.Thank you!Source: https://wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-wildflowers-white-water-lily-nymphaea-odorata.html#habitat
