Hike Little Talbot Island's Dune Ridge Trail

Starting in the parking, lot you are going to follow the road back to the ranger station and from there you can pick up the Dune Ridge trailhead. Once on the trail you can take a look at the sign with a map and small description of the trail. This hike is very straightforward and it is difficult to stray from the trail or get lost.

Once hiking, expect to see a large variety of trees, plants, and wildlife. The Dune Ridge trail is home to Live Oak, Southern Mangolia, Slash Pine, Ariel Gardens (Airplants), and a few different species of Palm Trees. While hiking you will see trees that grow in wild directions to reach the top of the canopy and absorb as much sunlight as possible.

While hiking, pay attention to the trail because there can be roots covered by leaves that are a tripping hazard. Although I said pay attention to the trail, also be aware that just off the trail in the forest you can spot wildlife roaming. I ran into two turtles, one crawled back into the forest away from me, and the other posed and modeled for me in the middle of the trail.

After making your way through most of the trail in the forest, you will come across a set of dunes that are great for photographs. Keep in mind that you are not allowed to climb or hike on the dunes. Shortly after the set of dunes, the trail opens up and you get your first glimpse of The Atlantic Ocean. This is my favorite part of the trail.

From here on out you are going to see an immense amount of beautiful driftwood brought in by the tides. The rest of the hike is only a mile and a half up the beach. Flying over the ocean and running along the water line you will see a few different species of birds. The one I followed and took photographs of was a sandpiper who just kept running along the beach being adorable. Once you get closer to the parking lot, you will probably run into more people chillin' and hanging out on the beach. I ran into one couple who built a driftwood fort for themselves on the beach. I snapped a picture and told them to have a wonderful day.

If you love forests, trees, plants, wildlife, the beach, and the ocean, this hike is perfect for you. The salty sea air will clear your mind and help you relax as you hike through beautiful landscapes. I loved this hike because it was a shorter distance but still had plenty of variety throughout the trail which made for a lot of great photos. I hope everyone enjoys this hike as much as I did.