Georgia · National Seashore trail

Nightingale Trail - Stop 13 Saw Palmetto

in Georgia · centroid 31 mi from Jacksonville

Saw Palmetto “Serenoa repens” The Saw Palmetto is a common plant in the understory. It’s trunk commonly grows along the ground so it is rarely more than eight feet in height. The Saw Palmetto’s leaflets fan out from a central point at the end of a saw-toothed stem.

Large clusters of creamy white flowers give rise to dark blue berries which are readily eaten by turkey, deer and raccoon. Sweetgrass baskets are sewn together using strips of the stem. Leaves were used to make small brooms and to cover huts to protect from the weather.

States: Georgia
Trail type: National Seashore trail
Centroid nearest city: Jacksonville, FL · 31 mi · ~55 min drive
Centroid coords: 30.7548°, -81.4659°

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-13-saw-palmetto.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 13 Saw Palmetto 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.