John
G. and Susan H. DuPuis, Jr. WEA consists of nearly 22,000 acres in
northwestern Palm Beach and southwestern Martin counties and
adjoins the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area to the east. A
visitor center is located at Gate 5 on SR 76. This property was
formerly the White Belt Ranch, a working livestock ranch owned by
the late John G. DuPuis. Once part of the Everglades ecosystem, the
hydrology of the area was altered through drainage. Today,
two-thirds of the area is pinelands, and one-third is cypress swamp
and freshwater marsh. In the rainy season, the pine flatwoods often
contain standing water and portions of the roads could be flooded.
This is a no-cost quota hunt area, and deer, hog, and turkey are
plentiful. During hunting seasons, with the exception of small game
season, access to the area is open only to quota hunt permit
holders and through-hikers on the Ocean to Lake Trail, an official
side trail of the Florida National Scenic Trail. The 35 miles of
hiking trails on the area include the Ocean to Lake Trail, which
traverses the width of the area, and 4 loops ranging from 5 to 15.6
miles. Parking for hikers is located at the trailhead at Gate 2. An
equestrian center at Gate 3 has horse barns, paddocks, campsites,
restrooms with showers, a dump station, and a trailhead marking the
beginning of 40 miles of equestrian trails. The DuPuis Auto Tour
winds 7.5 miles through a range of natural communities to the
fishing pier on Shell Lake. Camping is permitted at designated
campgrounds as well as at primitive campsites along the Ocean to
Lake Trail and biking is allowed on named roads. Alligators, river
otters, feral hogs, coyotes, white-tailed deer, and bald eagles are
some of the wildlife that make their home on this area.
Please bring water and snacks with you when doing this cache. You
will walk a couple of miles when doing this cache. The cache is a
ammo box and is starting out with a Personal footTRAX Geocoin #2 in
it. Have fun! -footTRAX