The Grassy Waters Natural Area is a remnant of what was once the vast Everglades ecosystem of South Florida.  The City of West Palm Beach preserves this wetland as the freshwater supply for the city and surrounding communities.  Parts of the Preserve look so pristine, and so full of wildlife, as to make one forget that this whole area is surrounded by the South Florida megalopolis.  We will start our hike by a visit to the Nature Center, followed by a short "warm up" 1 mile hike on the Cypress Boardwalk by the Center.  We will then carpool and drive over to the Hog Hammock Trailhead (.5 mile west of the Center on the north side of Northlake Blvd.), where we will do the full 4.23 mile loop of the combined Hog Hammock and Promontory Trails.  There is no potable water on the trails, so bring at least a liter of water with you.  There are water fountains and bathrooms at the Nature Center, so you can fill up (and empty out) there.  We are going to be in the open for a fair amount of time, so bring sun and insect protection.  Also, wear comfortable shoes and bring some snacks, as there are a number of chickee huts on the trails where we can stop for short breaks.  After the hike we can go have lunch at a nearby restaurant if there is a consensus to do so.  In the unlikely event of heavy rains I will cancel the hike.

The address for the Nature Center is:  8264 Northlake Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL  33412.  The Northlake entrance is a couple of miles west of the Florida Turnpike, and I-95 (on the southern side of Northlake), and is easily accessible from both, or more directly from the Beeline Highway.  The Preserve has a website with detailed maps and photos:  www.wpb.org/grassywaters.  We will meet at the entrance to the Center.