Florida · National Seashore trail

CCC Spur Trail Stop 3: Bench

in Florida · centroid 82 mi from New Orleans

To the right of the trail is a bench for visitors to take a break on. While relaxing make sure to take in the surrounding wilderness. Across from the bench there is a Yaupon holly bush. This is a common shrub we see in the park that can grow 12-45 ft high.

This shrub has green serrated leaves, grey bark, and red berries. American Indians used the caffeinated leaves and twigs to prepare tea for ceremonies. But be careful; eating the berries can make you sick.

Other vegetation that can be seen from this spot are pines, live oaks, and magnolia trees.

States: Florida
Trail type: National Seashore trail
Centroid nearest city: New Orleans, LA · 82 mi · ~2.4 hr drive
Centroid coords: 30.3950°, -88.7893°

About Gulf Islands National Seashore

National Seashore

This trail is inside Gulf Islands National Seashore, a national seashore managed by the U.S. National Park Service. Conditions, road status, trail closures, and reservation requirements are published on the park's NPS page — check it before driving in, especially in winter or during major weather events.

Entrance fee: $25 per vehicle (verify current rate on the park page). An America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) covers entrance to all NPS units.

Official NPS trail page: https://www.nps.gov/places/ccc-overlook-trail-stop-3-bench.htm

Park homepage: https://www.nps.gov/guis/index.htm

Plan your hike

Practical notes

Maps + permits: long-distance trails like this often require permits for through-hiking, backcountry camping, or specific sections (especially in National Parks). Check with the maintaining organisation listed above and the relevant land manager before booking travel.

Water + supplies: water sources vary seasonally on most U.S. trails. Carry a filter and consult current trail-condition reports — through-hiker journals (PCT-L, AT Reddit, etc.) and the maintaining organisation publish regular updates.

When to go: hiking seasons vary widely with elevation, latitude, and snowpack. Through-hikers traditionally start the AT in March-April (Springer northbound) and the PCT in late April (Campo northbound). High-elevation western trails (CDT, JMT, Wonderland) generally aren't passable until July.

If you've hiked CCC Spur Trail Stop 3: Bench and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.

Stay nearby

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Driving in? The nearest documented metro is New Orleans, LA — 82 miles away (~2.4 hr drive). See accommodation in New Orleans on Booking.com → RoamFound earns a small commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you. How we handle affiliate links.