Blythe Island Regional Park Trails, GA

First off, an explanation for "SAND GNATS" in the description headliner is needed for most. Unless you live, work or play near coastal marshlands, the sand gnat may be a foreign term. Sand gnats are tiny flying insects which land on your skin and secret an "acid". This feels like a stinging burn and leaves the attacked area itching for hours! Very few repellants work, and they will get you without warning! FYI- They live in and near coastal marshes. You can beat the gnats , as long as you don't mind when it is really hot or cold. If the temp is good for you, it is good for the sandgnats! therefore, try during the extremes!


Now you have heard of the monster, let me tell you about the hike. For the most part, this is a very enjoyable hike, as long as you have plenty of time and don't mind getting lost. Trails are extremely poorly marked. Route finding is no problem for most of the trail, however determining which route is the trail you want can be. Several times we took a wrong turn, or kept going straight and ended up going the direction we did not want. The forest is very thick, so orienting with a distant landmark is virtually impossible.The trailhead is inside the Blythe Island Regional Park. Right on the marsh. Beautiful salt marsh views carry you down the first half of the trails. You can catch a view of the Turtle River, the Sydney Lanier Bridge (one of the largest cable stay bridges) and the Port of Brunswick. Along the trail you will encouter palm trees and giant live oaks. Several species of palmetto are also abundant. The maritime forest the trail wanders through is very thick with these and other flora, including vines galore. Be careful of tree roots. This is the ankle killer here. Once the trails exit the thick forest, you find yourself up and down and up and down small hills for quite a ways as you travel next to a manmade kayaking canal. The trail ends next to a lake by the park campground.

We did not see much wildlife on the hike, but spending a large amount of time in these forests, I am sure you chance to see deer, raccoons, rabbits, rattlesnakes (especially shading under palmettos), and of course, a bazillion squirrels. Spider webs are also frequently encountered, with a huge spider in them!! These spiders will sometimes spin a new web within minutes after one hiker removes it. In the marsh the trails stays close to, you can always find fiddler crabs and birds of numerous kind, including osprey, eagles, pelicans etc. Even alligators can be found in the marsh at high tides. (Yes, contrary to an unfounded belief, alligators to live in brackish and even higher salinity waters.)

All in all, this is a good hike as long as you don't mind getting lost once in a while. Peaceful and a decent workout. Also, once off the main trail and on the add on and side trails, you will not see many people.

2013-04-08 satillayakker