Dupuis Reserve Trip Report

“Been lurking for a few weeks and then I asked for some advice. You guys were really helpful. Just thought I would give you a trip report.
Went on an overnighter in The Dupuis Reserve in South Florida.
http://floridaconservation.org/hunting/wmas/e-glades/dupuis.gif
That is a map of the reserve.
http://florida-trail.org/maps/sideTrails/mapSF7.htm
That is a little intro with some pictures.
South Florida is not the best place for backpacking. Only a few months that the weather is cool and the bugs aren't terrible. But you make due with what you have. I needed to get out and had some new equipment, so off I went.
Dupuis is on the site of an old cattle ranch/dairy. It was donated to the government a few years ago. It is a multi-purpose area. They are trying to restore it back to it's natural state.
When you leave the trailhead the first few miles go through what was imporved pasture. Mostly pines and palmetto. They are doing lots of restoration in this area, killing some of the palmetto so natural plants come back. Once you get back a few miles it is very pretty.
Walking in Florida is different than what most of you guys get to do. There are not any of those breath taking vistas from mountain tops. You have to observe the subtle changes in the land. You can go from open paire to dense cypress hammacks in just a few miles. Very beautiful piece of land in it's own way. Not much of this left in Florida.
Surprisingly the wildlife is aboundant in the reserve. I see deer everytime I hike it. I saw a doe and her fawn cross in front of me right on the trail this trip. I stopped before they saw me and got to watch them for about 15 minutes. I have seen alligators and bald eagles on prior trips. Of course, you always see some hogs. Nasty animals that really scar up the land.
Going in on Saturday it was cloudy and not too hot. Large thunderstorms off to the west and south. I was hopeing not to get caught in one. Then after a few hours of hiking, I was hopeing the rain would come my way. Went to the camp site in the back of the property. Nice little site, grassy and under some large pines. The soft ground slept well. The mosquitos were not too bad, since South Florida has been experiancing a drought. The no-see-ums were out in force. Now I have many nice little red spots even a week latter. The screen on my new tent is not a fine enough mesh to keep them out.
The trip out Sunday was nice, but very hot. Not a clound in the sky and temps in the high 80's. It was too hot to be backpacking. I was out of water by the time I reached to trailhead. Didn't want to filter any since it was all very stagnate. Also required wading into mud and tall under brush. I just carried what I needed since it was just an overnighter. Made the pack very heavy the first day, but not bad after that. Probably my last trip for the summer. It just gets too hot.
Think I will wait and go to North Carolina in September. Huff and Puff going up those mountains.
Dupuis is a nice piece of preserved (to some extent) old Florida. Makes a great day hike or overnight hike. It is really nice to hike in Dec-March. One of the best things I like about it is almost no people. I have almost never seen anyone more than about one mile from the trailhead. Almost everytime I have camped it has just been me.”

“thanks for the nice report.......as a fellow florida flatlander who has mostly left florida for backpacking in mountains...it is nice to hear about places to go backpacking here that are not crowded....and can do them in winter for a less buggy, muggy time..”

“Thanks for the great trip report. Where exactly in south Florida is the reserve, by what city? It sounds like hiking I did in South Carolina outside of Charleston - a whole nother ballgame for a Midwesterner! I like the sound of pine trees...love that smell. funny how you find pines all over the place..they must be very hardy to be able to stand different climates. I'll check out your link for more info..thanks, again!”

“I love the way the old oak trees and big fluffy pine trees in Florida spread out when they have room. The ground is a mixture of sand, pine needles and dried leaves. I've never hiked in Florida, just visited with all the relatives. We used to stay at Lake Weir near Ocala, and fish, swim, get sunburned and cut our feet on mullosk shells. I bet your hike would be great in the winter. Thanks for sharing.”

“i loooove hot, florida hiking.

thatnks for sharin', man.”

“Glad you guys enjoyed hearing about Fl hiking, it's not the mountains, but it has it's own special charms. Would be a great alternative if you need a break from the snow. The best times to hike in Fl are from Nov-Mar.

I-am-OM
Did you move out of Florida or just do your backpacking in other places?

Utahhiker
The Dupuis Reserve is about 40 minutes west of West Palm Beach. It's also about 15 minutes east of Lake Okeechobee. The levee around the lake is part of the Florida Trail, that would also be a good winter time hike.

Radagast
Which areas of Fl have you hiked? I am just getting into backpacking on a regular basis and am looking for some good weekend trips. I am going to North Carolina in Sept. for a week, but would like to do some weekend trips in Fl also.”

“i was born and raised in florida, but i spent all of my time at the beach.

now i live in georgia and i love to go back and hike ocala and osceola nat'l forests. cumberland island, though it's technically in georgia, is good, too.”

“flatlander....i lived out of florida in the smokies for 15 years, but moved back and now live in n/central florida.(the swamp)
do backpacking in the mountains and other places mostly, but interested in hearing about spots in florida for more weekend trips. Radagast has more experience with florida backpacking than i do., so, i look for his florida trip plans and try to make those......he likes it hot and muggy!....i dont mind hot and muggy if i have a spring or river or someplace to swim. i am open to trying more florida backpacking tho.”

“Ocala National Forest has some nice areas. Radagast and I did a trip there this past Fall. The Florida Trail has possibilities in many locations. I had an excellent hike around St Joseph Peninsula (West of Appilachicola in the panhandle) a few years back, but you need to carry all your water. I would suggest that you join the Florida Trail Association, Flatlander. That's a great place to meet folks in Florida that know the good places to go. You're more than welcome to come up to Gainesville and hike with me during the cool months. I always go to the mountains in the summer.”