Georgia · National Seashore trail

River Trail Stop 8

in Georgia · centroid 32 mi from Jacksonville

Stop #8: Smilax (Smilax sp.) Look above the shrubs to find this vine. You can also see the smilax growing on the west side of the trail on top of Red Bay and up from the ground. It may be hard to identify in the winter months, as some species are deciduous.

Smilax is a genus that encompasses many species of woody vines. The common name of these vines, such as catbrier, greenbrier, and deer thorns, all indicate the thorny nature of the vine. The spikes are not actually thorns but are termed prickles.

Prickles are projections of the plant’s skin, while thorns are modified branches. These prickles help protect the plant from predation. Smilax grows well in a variety of habitats, such as dunes or under the canopy of the Maritime forest.

States: Georgia
Trail type: National Seashore trail
Centroid nearest city: Jacksonville, FL · 32 mi · ~55 min drive
Centroid coords: 30.7614°, -81.4711°

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/river-trail-stop-8.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 River Trail Stop 8 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 — 32 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.