Georgia · National Seashore trail

Nightingale Trail - Stop 12 Red Bay

in Georgia · centroid 31 mi from Jacksonville

Red Bay “Persea borbonia” This evergreen shrub overhangs the marker. It has shiny leaves and is easily identified by its aromatic scent when the leaves are crushed. These bay leaves can be used in spiced food products and soups.

It is also good deer browse. This species is impacted by “Laurel wilt”, a deadly disease caused by an exotic insect called an Ambrosia Beetle, who burrows into the bark of the tree and introduces a fungal disease. Current outlook for control of this disease is poor.

States: Georgia
Trail type: National Seashore trail
Centroid nearest city: Jacksonville, FL · 31 mi · ~55 min drive
Centroid coords: 30.7548°, -81.4650°

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-12-red-bay.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 12 Red Bay 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 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.