Georgia · Hiking

River Trail Stop 9

River Trail Stop 9Photo: NPS Photo
0.6 mi
round trip
30 ft
climb
19 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Sep–May
best months

Is River Trail Stop 9 open right now?

Alert in the area

The National Park Service lists an alert for Cumberland Island National Seashore.

As of · Source: NPS · Cumberland Island National Seashore. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Stop #9: Wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera) Wax Myrtle is the small shrubby plant surrounding post number 9. Its leaves are light to dark green and are skinny, elongated leaves, with slight toothing near the edge. This evergreen shrub is found in the dunes as well as the forest. It is salt tolerant and can be found living in coastal environments that are relatively harsh such as the marsh-forest transition zone. Aromatic wax myrtle leaves and aromatic and when crushed the oils were rubbed on the skin as an insect repellent. To protect against the salt spray, the berries of the wax myrtle are coated with a layer of wax. Colonial Europeans gathered these berries and melted the wax layer off to make candles.

  • Nearby · River Trail Stop 8 · Parallel Trail · Sea Camp Trail
  • Best time to go · Sep–May

    Best time to visit River Trail Stop 9

    Best months: September–May. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      62° / 43°

      8 wet

    2. Feb

      65° / 45°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      70° / 51°

      8 wet

    4. Apr

      76° / 57°

      7 wet

    5. May

      82° / 65°

      8 wet

    6. Jun

      86° / 71°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      89° / 74°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      88° / 74°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      85° / 71°

      11 wet

    10. Oct

      79° / 62°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      71° / 52°

      7 wet

    12. Dec

      65° / 46°

      8 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Brunswick 23 S, GA, 3.2 mi away at 25 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Stop #6: Red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) When facing post number 6, the red cedar is the large tree with flakey bark to the right of the post. The eastern red cedar is actually in the juniper family. Cedar trees, such as the one to the left, are an aromatic evergreen. They…

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Stop #3: Red bay (Persea borbonia) When facing post number three, the red bay can be found just to the right of the post. It may have brown leaves and look dead. Smaller, younger red bay trees can also be seen further to the left and right of the post. They have large dark…

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River Trail Stop 2

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Stop #2: Cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto) Cabbage palms are native to our area and provided many uses to native peoples. When facing post number two, a cabbage palm grows directly behind the post, and another to the right of the post. They grow vertically into the typical palm…

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Stop #1: Pine (Pinus sp) Yellow pine is a generic term for several species of pine trees that are found in the Southeastern United States. When facing post number one, look east and slightly south. The Pine tree towers into the canopy above Red Bay and shrubs. Vines climb…