|
SWA Greenway Trail System
Location
Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County
7501 North Jog Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33412
Size
~ 300 acres
Access & Hours
There are two entrance ways to the SWA
Greenway Trail System. The northern entrance is located at the SWA Administration
parking lot, 7501 North Jog Road. The southern entrance is located at
the end of the cross section between 45th street and North Jog Road.
Trail hours are from dawn to dusk, seven days a week. The SWA
conservation area is adjacent to the east of Grassy Waters Preserve and
can be accessed from their berm.
Directions
Take I-95 to 45th street exit and go west to
the end which is North Jog Road. The southern entrance way is straight
ahead. You can also take a right onto North Jog Road and make a left ~
1.5 miles down the road into the SWA Administration Building parking lot
(7501 North Jog Road) to access the northern entrance.
Take FL Turnpike to Exit 107 – Beeline HWY
(S.R. 710) Sun Pass Only. At the exit light, go straight through the
intersection onto North Jog Road. The northern entrance will be on your
right at the SWA Administration Building (7501 North Jog Road). You can
also access the southern entrance by taking North Jog Road to the end
(~1.5 mile). The trail way entrance will be on the right.
Click here for map image [small]
[large]
History
SWA set aside 300 acres of natural area
during the development of the NCRRF Landfill and Waste-to-Energy
Facility to serve as a Conservation Area. Tucked away in the SWA
Conservation Area is a large wading bird rookery that harbors thousands
of Florida wading birds, as well as two endangered species, the Snail
Kite and the Wood Stork.
Wildlife Viewing
The SWA Greenway Trail System attracts many birds,
including Snail Kites, Wood Storks, Little Blue Herons, Tricolor Herons,
Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Roseate Spoonbills, Sand Hill Cranes,
Glossy Ibis, Bald Eagles, Pileated Wood Peckers, and Snowy Egrets.
Visitors may see deer, otters, alligators, and bobcats. During nesting
season, the Rookery is closed to visitors from Feb 1st – Sept 30th.
Plant Life
The natural area contains mostly wetlands
with a few pine flatwoods. Common plants include saw palmetto, cypress
trees, pines, oaks, sawgrass, coco plum, and various wetland plants.
Nature Trails
Public use facilities include parking areas,
informational kiosks, benches, bicycle racks, hiking trails with chickee
huts and boardwalks made from recycled plastic lumber. The trails are
recycled crushed concrete and are designated for hiking, biking, bird
watching, & photography. Click on the following trail map for more
details.
Trail System Etiquette & Safety
-
Pack it In/Pack it Out - Help us keep
our trail system and conservation area clean. Our trails are not
equipped with trash cans. We ask that Visitors pack out what they
bring in and dispose of it properly at home.
-
Feed Yourself Not the Wildlife - Please
do not share your snacks with the wildlife. It is best for them and
your safety.
-
Stay on the Trails - The trails are
marked with signs and markers. We ask that you stay on the
designated nature trails as you go exploring. Going “off trail” can
damage plants and may lead to lost visitors.
-
Trail Safety – Be sure to keep your
distance from animals. There are solar powered emergency phones
located throughout the trails.
Prohibited on Site
No alcoholic beverages
No motor vehicles
No collecting plants or animals
No Trespassing – stay on trail
No fishing
No hunting
No swimming
No pets, No horses
No feeding or harassing the wildlife
Caution – For your safety and the safety of
pets, all pets are prohibited. Use only existing trails. Beware of
alligators, poisonous snakes, poison ivy, bobcats, and other wild
animals. No potable water at this site. Enter at your own risk.
|
