Pine Island Ridge Natural Area EarthCache EarthCache

Welcome to Pine Island Ridge. 

Would you believe that 100,000 years ago, this site was at the edge of the ocean. As the sea level has fluctuated over the millenia, slowly the Atlantic ocean, now approximately 10 miles away, created sand dunes instead, hence why it is referred to as a ridge.

As you walk down the trails notice the tender tendrils of Spanish Moss hanging from the large, bending branches of the huge Live Oaks lining the path on either side of the trail, forming a deeply layered shady canopy, shielding you from the hot sun. This is a humble description for what can only be described as the majestic landscape of Pine Island Ridge Trail. A rare gem in the middle of urbanity not to be missed, this 101 acres is dominated by magnificent Live Oaks and scattered Slash Pines and boasts the highest natural elevation in Broward County- 29 feet above sea level.

Aerial view of Pine Island Ridge in 1982

A Little History of Pine Island Ridge: 

This 102.2-acre natural area, located in the Town of Davie, opened to the public in February 1990. The ridge can be described as a crescent-shaped sandy ridge rising above former Everglades flatlands. At its highest elevation, 29 feet above sea level, it is also the highest natural point in Broward County.

Only in the past 4 million years have our soils been deposited, as sand migrated south and filled in around an ancient barrier reef. Piney uplands, such as Davie's Pine Island Ridge area, are remnants of that ancient reef system. Inside that reef were lagoons that became the Everglades.

The gently undulating topography of the ridge serves as a reminder that, although the Atlantic Ocean is now roughly 10 miles away, it once deposited fine sands and created dunes here 100,000 years ago. Sea levels fluctuated greatly during the most recent ice age, approximately 20,000 years ago, but eventually the Florida peninsula emerged and the ancient barrier island that is now Pine Island Ridge became a sandy inland ridge. That ridge became an island once again approximately 5,000 years ago when the Everglades formed – not an island at the edge of the ocean, but an island surrounded by an inland freshwater river of sawgrass.

Rising and falling ocean levels complicate the geologic picture. The coast has shifted several times, which is why shells can be found far inland, and why an ancient Indian sites have been discovered approximately 10 miles west of the ocean.

Archaeological surveys have confirmed sites within Pine Island Ridge as the locations of hunting camps of the ancient Tequesta Indians. More recently, in the 1800s the Pine Island complex was probably one of the first permanent habitation sites occupied by the Seminole in southeastern Florida.

During the Second Seminole War [1835-1842], Pine Island became known as the legendary refuge for the Seminole. The Island was in the uncharted Everglades where the military had never set foot, and appeared to be secure. Sam Jones, the Miccosukee war chief also known as Abiaka, was closely linked to the series of islands that included Pine Island Ridge and nearby Long Key. One of his primary residences was on Long Key, and Pine Island Ridge is where he was repeatedly besieged by U.S. government forces that wanted to corner and capture him. (The warrior is commemorated with a statue in Tree Tops Park, adjacent to Pine Island Ridge.) 

Navigation to the cache:

You can access the Pine Island Trail from Tree Tops Park. At the end of the main drive, there is a large area dedicated to equestrian use with off-road parking, tie outs, and a wash stand. While in the area at Tree Tops Park, visit Dennis the Menace2's Sam Jones multi-cache.

The paved trail originating in Tree Tops Park leads to an interpretive shelter in Pine Island Ridge. Start following the Trail to the east of the watertrough, bearing to the left until it crosses the pavement of the bike path. At the next right turn, follow the trail north through the fence and onto the Pine Island Ridge Trail. You will note the increase in elevation as you approach the ridge. 

Geological and Ecological Significance of the Ridge:

It is the elevation that brings the ridge its geological, ecological and archaeological uniqueness. Because of its higher elevation within the vastness of the Everglades, the ridge was inhabited by the Tequesta Indians over 5,000 years ago. It was later occupied by both the Miccosukee and Seminole Indian Tribes. It has many archaeological sites which helped to obtain State funding for the Ridge’s preservation back in the late 1980’s. The trail follows what was once a dirt road that was used to move equipment along the edge of large citrus groves. Houses have replaced the groves, but the ridge has remained intact with lush native landscape. Malachite butterflies and gopher tortoise are among its more notable inhabitants

Aerial view of Pine Island Ridge today

Size: 101.2 acres

Habitat: High hammock forest dominated by live oaks and slash pines. At an elevation of 29 feet above sea level, Pine Island Ridge has the highest natural elevation in Broward County.

Vegetation: Live oak, slash pine, hackberry, marlberry, wild coffee, beautyberry, swamp fern, and giant sword fern.

Wildlife: Gopher tortoises, great horned owls, migratory warblers, red-bellied and pileated woodpeckers, Cooper’s hawks, and atala butterflies. Pine Island Ridge is part of the Great Florida Birding and WildlifeTrail, which is a network of nearly 500 sites throughout Florida selected for their excellent bird-watching and/or bird-education opportunities.

What is a Ridge?

A ridge is a geological feature consisting of a chain of mountains or hills that form a continuous elevated crest for some distance. Ridges are usually termed hills or mountains as well, depending on size. There are several main types of ridges:

• Dendritic ridge: In typical dissected plateau terrain, the stream drainage valleys will leave intervening ridges. These are by far the most common ridges. These ridges usually represent slightly more erosion resistant rock, but not always – they often remain because there were more joints where the valleys formed, or other chance occurrences. This type of ridge is generally somewhat random in orientation, often changing direction frequently, often with knobs at intervals on the ridge top.
• Stratigraphic ridge: In places such as the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians, long, even, straight ridges are formed because they are the uneroded remaining edges of the more resistant strata that were folded laterally. Similar ridges have formed in places such as the Black Hills, where the ridges form concentric circles around the igneous core. Sometimes these ridges are called "hogback ridges".
• Oceanic spreading ridge: In tectonic spreading zones around the world, such as at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the volcanic activity forming new plate boundary forms volcanic ridges at the spreading zone. Isostatic settling and erosion gradually reduce the elevations moving away from the zone.
• Crater ridges: Large meteorite strikes typically form large impact craters bordered by circular ridges.
• Volcanic caldera ridges: Large volcanoes often leave collapsed central calderas that are bordered by circular ridges.
• Fault ridges: Faults often form escarpments. Sometimes the tops of the escarpments form not plateaus, but slope back so that the edges of the escarpments form ridges.
• Dune ridges: In areas of large-scale dune activity, certain types of dunes result in sand ridges.
• Moraines and eskers: Glacial activity may leave ridges in the form of moraines and eskers. An arête is a thin ridge of rock that is formed by glacial erosion.
• Volcanic subglacial ridges: Many subglacial volcanoes create ridgelike formations when lava erupts through a thick glacier or ice sheet.
• Shutter ridges: A Shutter ridge is a ridge which has moved along a fault line, blocking or diverting drainage. Typically, a shutter ridge creates a valley corresponding to the alignment of the fault that produces it.

To claim credit for this cache

1. What kind of ridge is Pine Island Ridge?

2. At the cache's posted coordinates, at the interpretive shelter, what is your elevation? 

3. What evidence can you find on the ground, particularly in the sandy areas, as you walk the ridge that this was once the edge of the ocean?

4. Take an enjoyable walk to N 26° 04.726 W 080° 16.473. What is your elevation at these coordinates?

5. Who were the first inhabitants of this area? When did they live here? Why did they settle here?

November through March 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
March through November 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Admission is charged to enter Tree Tops Park on weekends and holidays only.