THE GREAT OUTDOORS: STATE PARKS & PRESERVES

The First Coast is home to beautiful untouched wetlands, vast marshes, expansive forests and the largest park system in the country. Gorgeous gardens, nature preserves, an arboretum and intricate water systems grace our area with natural beauty. With more than 80,000 acres of parks including a national wildlife refuge, a national forest, nine state parks and more than 400 urban parks, amazing adventures are in store for outdoor enthusiasts.

John

M. Bethea State Forest

Tucked away in northern Baker County on more than 37,000 acres of beautiful land, this state forest is home to a variety of species including black bears, river otters and bobcats. The forest also provides a wildlife corridor between the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Osceola National Forest.

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

Located just over the state line in Georgia, with a portion spilling over into Baker County, this national wildlife refuge encompasses more than 400,000 acres of land including the Okefenokee Swamp. The refuge is full of more than 400 wildlife species including black bears, alligators, sandhill cranes and the threatened gopher tortoise. The wildlife refuge

Osceola National Forest

Located west of Jacksonville, this national forest is a sprawling natural gem with swamps and flatwoods. The 237,000-acre forest has several wildlife corridors that lead toward the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. The forest is perfect for those looking to bird-watch, fish, hunt, hike, swim and camp.

Clay County

Jennings State Forest

Jennings State Forest in north Clay County spans more than 25,300 acres. The forest comprises many different ecosystems including flatwoods, swamps, marshes, sandhills and a blackwater stream. Various activities are available to visitors including hiking, biking, camping, fishing and horseback riding.

Mike Roess

Gold Head Branch

State Park

Developed on a 600-acre site in the 1930s, this state park is one of Florida’s first. Visitors can enjoy more than 2,000 acres of marshes, lakes, sandhills, flatwoods and scrub. The Florida National Scenic Trail offers wildlife viewing and hiking with a 5.44 mile stretch of exploration.

DUVAL-BEACHES

Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park

This 500-acre oceanfront park is located between Atlantic Beach and Mayport with 1.5 miles of beautiful beaches. With a 60-acre lake available for use, visitors can fish, kayak, canoe or even use pedal boats. Bike trails, campgrounds, hiking and ecotours are also popular activities in the park.

DUVAL-NORTH Amelia Island State Park

This nature lover’s dream is home to beautiful beaches, maritime forests and salt marshes. The beachside park is a perfect place for horseback riding, and the white sandy beach is a popular place to search for seashells and shark’s teeth.

Big Talbot Island State Park

Visitors to this state park can hike several different trails leading to the shoreline, marsh or maritime forest. Boneyard Beach is famous for skeletons of live oak and cedar trees that once grew on the shoreline. The Timucuan Trail runs parallel to A1A with a 3.9-mile paved path perfect for biking, walking or running. The park is a migratory home to many shorebirds like the Least Tern and Little Blue Heron.

Fort George Island Cultural State Park

This state park was named after a 1736 fort originally built on the grounds to defend the area when it was a colony. The park is also home to the Ribault Club which was built in the 1920s as a resort. It is now used as a visitor center and special events space. Visitors can enjoy this cultural gem by boating, fishing, kayaking and hiking around the island.

George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park

This pedestrian-only, mile-long bridge in Jacksonville is a fisherman’s dream. Depending on the season, anglers can find a variety of species in the water including tarpon, redfish, whiting and jack.

Little Talbot Island State Park

As one of the last remaining barrier islands on the First Coast, Little Talbot Island has beautiful sprawling white beaches, salt marshes and coastal ecosystems. Both migratory and native wildlife can be found in the park including many birds, otters, raccoons, opossums, bobcats and more. Visitors can rent kayaks, visit campsites and enjoy guided paddle tours.

Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park

This state park is home to expansive longleaf pine flatwoods that protect the region’s water quality, allowing aquatic plants and animals to prosper. Several threatened species can be found in the park, including the American alligator. With more than 15 miles of trails, hikers and equestrians can enjoy the trails and salt marsh.

Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve

The Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve is full of history, originally inhabited by the Timucua people for thousands of years. The preserve includes Fort Caroline and Kingsley Plantation, two national historic sites. With more than 46,000 acres, the preserve encompasses the St. Johns River as well as multiple tributaries that draw a variety of plant and animal life to this ecological treasure. Full of coastal dunes, wetlands, salt marshes and hardwood hammocks, the environment is varied with hiking trails of different experience levels as well as monuments and structures outlining the history of the area.

Nassau County

Cary State Forest

Located northwest of Jacksonville, Cary State Forest was established in 1937 as the state’s second forest. Eleven ecosystems make up the forest, including flatwoods, marshes, sandhills, swamps and cypress. Keep your binoculars handy to see if you can spot some endangered and threatened wildlife like the Sherman’s fox squirrel, gopher tortoise and wood stork. Camping, horseback riding, hunting and hiking are available for visitors.

Four Creeks State Forest

Named after the four water systems located within more than 10,000 acres, this state forest is home to Boggy Creek, Plummer Creek, Thomas Creek and Alligator (Mills) Creek. With the abundance of water, fishing and kayaking are popular activities. Visitors can also hike the trails and bike throughout the area.

ST. JOHNS COUNTY

Anastasia State Park

Those looking for the perfect getaway in St. Johns County can take a quick trip to Anastasia State Park, with more than 1,600 acres of tidal marshes, sand dunes, hammocks and beaches. The area offers campsites, biking, fishing, bird watching and more. Various hiking areas like the Ancient Dunes Nature Trail and Cape Francis Beach Walk can also be found in the park.

Faver-Dykes State Park

Situated on the edge of St. Augustine, Faver-Dykes is the perfect place to camp, fish, kayak and canoe on the tranquil Pellicer Creek. With more than 100 species of native and migratory birds found in the forest, tidal marshes and creeks, and native wildlife like deer, raccoons, opossums, otters and hawks, the park is the perfect place for nature lovers.

Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve

More than 76,700 acres of natural land can be found in this estuary. As one of 29 in the nation, the estuary is a connection for freshwater and saltwater to mix, creating a diverse habitat for many species. More than nine miles of nature trails, fishing and kayaking are available for visitors.

Matanzas State Forest

Protected by the Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, this area is home to the last remaining undisturbed salt marshes within the reserve. The forest includes a

20-acre connection linked to Moses Creek Conservation Area and covers 4,699 acres. This conservation corridor crosses into Moses Creek, Faver-Dykes State Park and Pellicer

Creek. Visitors can spend the day hiking through the forest uplands and enjoy the beauty of the wetlands including an expansive cypress swamp.

Jogging Paths & Yoga Spots

While our many parks and preserves are great places for joggers and yoga enthusiasts, there are also many spots to visit throughout the First Coast for a peaceful run or relaxing yoga session.

Jogging Paths Baker County

Osceola Trails - 23 miles

Clay County

Black Creek Trail - 16 miles roundtrip

River Road Resolution Run 5K Course - 3.1 miles

St. Johns River Loop - 6-7 miles

The Doctor’s Lake Drive & Moody Road Loop - 9 miles

The Plainsfield Loop - 4.5 miles

Duval County

Jacksonville-Baldwin Trail - 14.5 miles

Main Street Bridge & Acosta Bridge Loop - 1.7 miles

Perfect 10 Loop - 10 miles

Robert W. Loftin Nature Trails

• Big Cyprus Trail - .47 miles

• Blueberry Trail - 1.44 miles

• Goldenrod Trail - 2.85 miles

• Gopher Tortoise Ridge - .78 miles

• Red Maple Boardwalk - .31 miles

Nassau County

Amelia Island Trail - 5.7 miles

Egan’s Creek Greenway Trail - 3.5 miles

ST. JOHNS COUNTY

Greenway Trails

• Egret Trail - 1 mile

• Heron Trail - 5.5 miles

• Osprey Trail - 6.4 miles

• Pelican Trail - 2.15 miles

• Treaty Park - 1 mile

• Twelve Mile Swamp Conservation Area - 2.2 miles

Outdoor Yoga

CLAY COUNTY

Spring Park Pavilion

Green Cove Springs

DUVAL COUNTY

Riverside Arts Market

Jacksonville

Yoga in the Gardens

Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

ST. JOHNS COUNTY

Beach Yoga by Pilates Yoga Loft

Vilano Beach

In 1513, Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León stepped foot onto the banks of Northeast Florida, claiming the land for Spain. The lush landscape of the area inspired Ponce de León to name the area La Florida.