Georgia · National Seashore trail

Nightingale Trail - Stop 10 Wax Myrtle

in Georgia · centroid 31 mi from Jacksonville

Wax Myrtle “Myrica cerifera” This plant is located to the right of the marker. The toothed, evergreen leaves of this shrub are smaller near the tips of the twigs and are aromatic. In the forest, the leaves are thin but in the dune meadows where it is exposed to sun, wind, and salt spray, its leaves are smaller and leathery.

Also known as Bayberry, female plants have small bluish berries covered with wax which is used to make fragrant candles. The berries are eaten by over 30 species of songbirds. Twigs and foliage are browsed by deer.

Bracken Fern “Pteridium aquilinum” is seen throughout the ground level. It spreads by underground rhizomes and its dead fronds persist throughout the winter. The fiddleheads were gathered in the springtime and eaten.

States: Georgia
Trail type: National Seashore trail
Centroid nearest city: Jacksonville, FL · 31 mi · ~55 min drive
Centroid coords: 30.7541°, -81.4637°

About Cumberland Island National Seashore

National Seashore

This trail is inside Cumberland Island 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: $15 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/nightingale-trail-stop-10-wax-myrtle.htm

Park homepage: https://www.nps.gov/cuis/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 Nightingale Trail - Stop 10 Wax Myrtle and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.

Stay nearby

Affiliate · disclosed

Driving in? The nearest documented metro is Jacksonville, FL — 31 miles away (~55 min drive). See accommodation in Jacksonville 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.