Walk in the Park goes to Princess Place Preserve

Published on October 29, 2025

Walk in the park Hominy Branch

October 28, 2025 – Flagler County Land Management is in its third year hosting its limited guided tour series called a “A Walk in the Park in the Woods.” The next walk will be held at Princess Place Preserve – specifically along the Hominy Branch.

This tour begins at 9:15 a.m. sharp on November 5 at Princess Place Preserve, 2500 Princess Place Road, in Palm Coast. It is limited to eight (8) registrants, and participants are asked to arrive a little early for the safety briefing, and additional details about the two-hour hike – which is described as “easy” – on flat, level terrain with wide and well-maintained trails.

Forestry Supervisor Ralph Risch will guide the walk.

“On this hike we will look at overgrown sandhill habitat that has become upland hardwood hammock, as well as some in the process of restoration,” Risch said. “Sandhill is a unique and increasingly rare Florida habitat due to fire suppression and conversion to citrus.  We will examine the plant species typical of sandhill, such as wiregrass and turkey oak and longleaf pine, and discuss some of the animals that can be found there.”

One of those creatures is the striped newt, for which Princess Place Preserve and the adjacent Pellicer Conservation area are the third largest population in the world based on the number of breeding ponds these threatened amphibians use.

“We will also look at the floodplain swamp forest of Hominy Branch creek,” Risch said. “Many autumn migrant birds will be there as they stop to forage on their way north.”

The bonus: there are three species of carnivorous plants that can be found during this walk.

Participants who register (an account must be created) – and sign the two waivers: liability and photo/video release – will meet at 9:00 a.m.

Those who are participating should:

  • Expect a two-hour hike
  • Bring a water bottle
  • Wear long pants and closed-toe shoes
  • Use sunscreen and insect repellent as preferred
  • Bring binoculars for enhanced bird watching
  • Dress for weather – could be cold and rainy or warm and sunny

Directions:

  • Take U.S. 1 to Old Kings and turn there. Or, take the Matanzas Woods Parkway east from U.S. 1 and then head north on Old Kings Road.
  • At the Princess Place Preserve sign, turn east into the preserve.
  • Drive east about one mile to the open gate through the wooden fence, but DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH. On the right, there will be a wooden sign pointing to the Hominy Branch trail head to the right – which is south.
  • Turn right at the sign and drive 2/10 of a mile to the parking area.

 

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