The Dune Hammock Trail

NORTH PALM BEACH — If you're headed to the beach at John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, we recommend taking a quick walk along the Dune Hammock Trail. It's only one-third-mile long and ends at a set of steps that will take you to the beach itself. The trail is bordered on the left (beach side) by a maritime hammock and on the right by mangroves and the Lake Worth Cove. There are signs along the way identifying some of the trees and shrubs making up the lush canopy and understory. Look carefully on the left and you'll spot a few rare triangle cactus plants, not exactly what you'd expect to find here. Spanish stopper, gumbo limbo trees, false mastic and wild lime are among the species you'll find there. Walk slowly and carefully and you might spot a few blue land crabs in the muck among the mangroves.

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