Overview: Only two percent of Broward County's original scrub habitat remains in a natural state. Highlands Scrub Natural Area is 34.27 acres of that two percent. That makes it rare and precious land. Highlands Scrub sits on a coastal ridge that, once upon a time, was beachfront property, a former dune that ran along much of eastern coastal Florida.The land here is higher than its surroundings, and the soil is mostly sand. Rain hits the ground, and quickly percolates through to the rock substrate deep below the surface.
Thus it is dry, dry land. Hot land. Tough land, and only plants and animals adapted to these conditions survive here. And because scrub is so rare, so are the many of the plants and animals living within its bounds, Which is why Highlands Scrub and places like it need to be preserved.
Highlands Scrub Natural Area is a quick and easy hike. It has one hard-surface (concrete) trail that's only a quarter-mile long. While hardly a destination in and of itself, there are two other scrub sites within minutes of Highlands that are worth exploring. Details below. The Highlands Scrub Natural Area is owned and maintained by Broward County.
History: Decades ago, the area was known informally as The Jungle, and its original name of the preserve was The Jungle Natural Area. We presume the change was made to better reflect the site’s habitat. Broward County bought the site in 2007.
What You'll See: Highlands Scrub Natural Area is a small piece of nature in an otherwise heavily developed area. It is canopied by a scattering of sand pines and cabbage palms, with an understory of saw palmetto, scrub oaks, gopher apple, pawpaw , partridge pea, lesser Florida spurge, narrow-leaf silkgrass and Feay's palafox. The all-to-rare Curtis's milkweed may be found here during summer. The area west of the loop trail is mostly an open field with a few cabbage palms punctuating acres of sedges, grasses and wildflowers. When We first visited Highlands Scrub in early 2014, it had just undergone a prescribed burn. We returned in the summer of 2016 to find it pretty much returned to its natural self.
Amenities: Highlands Scrub Natural Area has a quarter-mile handicapped accessible hiking trail, pavilion, ample parking and benches. The trail, which loops through the site, is well marked with interpretive signs. There is no drinking water or restrooms present.
Nearby: Crystal Lake Sand Pine Scrub Natural Area is a few minutes drive to the south and west along Sample Road near the junction with I95. Deerfield Highlands Nature Preserve is a few blocks to the west. Tivoli Sand Pine Preserve is a bit farther away but still close at hand. Unfortunately, it was closed at last check. Deerfield Island Park is also nearby, but it was also closed the last we checked.
Links: The Institute for Regional Conservation's inventory of plants for Highlands Scrub Natural Area is here. The natual area is not a part of the Great Florida Birding Trail.
Of Note: Highlands Scrub Natural Area is open every day from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Admission is free.
Cover Photo: Both our primary photo at the top of the page and the secondary photo within the body of our narrative pretty much represent what you'll see when you visit Highlands Scrub Natural Area: land dominated by saw palmettos, scrub oaks and sand pines, plus acres of open land dotted with a few sabal palms with a carpet of grasses, sedges and wildflowers.
Thus it is dry, dry land. Hot land. Tough land, and only plants and animals adapted to these conditions survive here. And because scrub is so rare, so are the many of the plants and animals living within its bounds, Which is why Highlands Scrub and places like it need to be preserved.
Highlands Scrub Natural Area is a quick and easy hike. It has one hard-surface (concrete) trail that's only a quarter-mile long. While hardly a destination in and of itself, there are two other scrub sites within minutes of Highlands that are worth exploring. Details below. The Highlands Scrub Natural Area is owned and maintained by Broward County.
History: Decades ago, the area was known informally as The Jungle, and its original name of the preserve was The Jungle Natural Area. We presume the change was made to better reflect the site’s habitat. Broward County bought the site in 2007.
What You'll See: Highlands Scrub Natural Area is a small piece of nature in an otherwise heavily developed area. It is canopied by a scattering of sand pines and cabbage palms, with an understory of saw palmetto, scrub oaks, gopher apple, pawpaw , partridge pea, lesser Florida spurge, narrow-leaf silkgrass and Feay's palafox. The all-to-rare Curtis's milkweed may be found here during summer. The area west of the loop trail is mostly an open field with a few cabbage palms punctuating acres of sedges, grasses and wildflowers. When We first visited Highlands Scrub in early 2014, it had just undergone a prescribed burn. We returned in the summer of 2016 to find it pretty much returned to its natural self.
Amenities: Highlands Scrub Natural Area has a quarter-mile handicapped accessible hiking trail, pavilion, ample parking and benches. The trail, which loops through the site, is well marked with interpretive signs. There is no drinking water or restrooms present.
Nearby: Crystal Lake Sand Pine Scrub Natural Area is a few minutes drive to the south and west along Sample Road near the junction with I95. Deerfield Highlands Nature Preserve is a few blocks to the west. Tivoli Sand Pine Preserve is a bit farther away but still close at hand. Unfortunately, it was closed at last check. Deerfield Island Park is also nearby, but it was also closed the last we checked.
Links: The Institute for Regional Conservation's inventory of plants for Highlands Scrub Natural Area is here. The natual area is not a part of the Great Florida Birding Trail.
Of Note: Highlands Scrub Natural Area is open every day from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Admission is free.
Cover Photo: Both our primary photo at the top of the page and the secondary photo within the body of our narrative pretty much represent what you'll see when you visit Highlands Scrub Natural Area: land dominated by saw palmettos, scrub oaks and sand pines, plus acres of open land dotted with a few sabal palms with a carpet of grasses, sedges and wildflowers.
