NATIONAL PARK SITES
FORT CAROLINE NATIONAL PARK
12713 Fort Caroline Road, Jacksonville, FL 32225
Visit a historic replica of the fort settled by French colonists in 1564, complete with cannons, flags and breathtaking views of the St. Johns River. Hike the 1.3-mile nature loop trail shaded by live oaks.
Accessibility: A brochure in braille is available at the Fort Caroline Visitor Center.
TIMUCUAN ECOLOGICAL AND HISTORIC PRESERVEJACKSONVILLE’S NORTHSIDE
At 46,000 acres this is Jacksonville’s largest park. Wetlands, marshes, unique wildlife, historic sites and sea islands make this area one of Jacksonville’s must-see spots. Hike, bike, fish, kayak, camp and more
Accessibility: An audio described version on the Timucuan Preserve park map and brochure is available through the Unidescription App.
KINGSLEY PLANTATION
11676 Palmetto Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32226
First built in 1798, this is one of the last remaining plantation homes in the state of Florida. Park Rangers provide guided tours, sharing the history and culture of the area.
Accessibility: An audio tour includes a captioned version and an audio describe version for hearing or visually impaired visitors. Large-print version of the Kingsley Plantation Grounds Tour brochures are available in the Kingsley Plantation Visitor Center.
At all three National Park Sites, dogs on a six-foot leash are permitted on trails and park grounds but not in historic buildings, park headquarters, visitor centers, or bathrooms.
STATE PARKS
PUMPKIN HILL CREEK PRESERVE STATE PARK
13802 Pumpkin Hill Road, Jacksonville, FL 32226
At 4,000 acres, this park offers 3 miles of hiking trails, nearly 13 miles of multi-use trails, canoeing, kayaking, rare bird watching, camping and equestrian trail riding. Visitors can connect to Cedar Point Preserve and Betz Tiger Point from this park.
Accessibility: Accessible amenities include an interpretive display at Visitor Center, picnic areas at canoe/kayak launch and main parking lot, creek overlook at canoe/kayak launch and UTAP trail information for trail network.
Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome on hiking trails, picnic areas, paved park roads, parking lots and multi-use trails, but not on the shoreline.
TALBOT ISLANDS STATE PARKS
State Road A1A North, Jacksonville, FL 32226
Little Talbot Island and Big Talbot Island offer a unique mix of beach environment and coastal woodlands with camp grounds, hiking trails, bike paths, kayak tours, fishing areas and more. Must-see spots include Blackrock Beach and Boneyard Beach.
Accessibility: Accessible amenities at Big Talbot Island State Park include elevated viewing platform deck at Bluffs, Mobi-Mat that allows access to the viewing platform, picnic facilities with tables and grills, restrooms and paved multi-use Timucuan pathway.
Accessible amenities at Little Talbot Island State Park include two beach wheelchairs, ten pavilions near beach with picnic tables and grills, beach-side outdoor showers, benches, information kiosks and interpretive panels, a wheelchair-friendly 2.5-mile segment of the paved Timucuan Trail multiuse pathway with covered bike pavilion, benches and interpretive displays and UTAP trail information for the Dune Ridge, Campground Nature Loop and Timucuan trails.
Pets are not permitted in buildings, on boardwalks or on the beach.
YELLOW BLUFF FORT HISTORIC STATE PARK
New Berlin Road, Jacksonville, FL 32226
This park preserves 1.3 acres of a former Civil War encampment near the mouth of the St. Johns River. Never an actual fort, the encampment was used by both Confederate and Union troops. It now features a short nature trail, replica cannon and picnic area. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome at hiking trails, pavilions, paved park roads, parking lots and multi-use trails.
FORT GEORGE ISLAND CULTURAL STATE PARK
11241 Fort George Road, Jacksonville, FL 32226
Named after a 1736 fort built in the area to defend the southern flank of Georgia when it was a colony. Today, visitors come for boating, fishing, off-road bicycling, and hiking. A key attraction is the restored Ribault Club, once an exclusive resort. This park offers a public boat launch.
Accessibility: Accessible amenities include buildings and an interpretive display at the Ribault Club Visitor Center, a self-guided CD audio-tour of the island along Fort George Road, UTAP trail information for the 3-mile Fairway Loop Trail and large-print formats of park information and brochures.
Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome at hiking trails, pavilions, paved park roads, parking lots and our multi-use trails. They are not allowed inside buildings or on shorelines.
GEORGE CRADY BRIDGE FISHING PIER STATE PARK
State Road A1A South, Jacksonville, FL 32226
This one-mile long, pedestrian-only bridge is one of Jacksonville’s best fishing spots where anglers can catch a variety of fish here, including whiting, jack, drum and tarpon.
Accessibility: The fishing bridge and nearby restroom are wheelchair accessible.
CITY PARKS
KATHRYN ABBEY HANNA PARK
500 Wonderwood Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32233
This park has 1.5 miles of public beach with one of the best surfing spots in the city, over 20 miles of hiking and biking trails with different levels of difficulty, camping grounds and cabins, and a 60-acre lake for paddleboarding and fishing.
Accessibility: The park includes an adaptive kayak launch and beach mats.
Dogs are allowed in all outdoor areas of park. They must be properly restrained and picked up after. No pets are permitted in Dolphin Plaza, shelters or cabins.
HUGUENOT MEMORIAL PARK
10980 Heckscher Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32226
Huguenot is the only beach in Jacksonville where you can drive your car onto the sand, seasonally. This park offers 70 campground sites, a playground, picnic areas, shore fishing and birdwatching as part of the Great Florida Birding Trail.
Accessibility: Accessible features include a playground, picnic table, trail, and camping areas.
CASTAWAY ISLAND PRESERVE
2885 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL 32225
Castaway features salt marshes and tidal creeks with a mile-long interactive boardwalk trail perfect for exploring local wildlife. There is also a public canoe/kayak launch.
Accessibility: The trail is wheelchair accessible.
DUTTON ISLAND PRESERVE
622 Dutton Island Rd W, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
Dutton Island offers nearly 2 miles of nature trails, a fishing and viewing pier, a canoe/kayak launch, picnic areas, pavilions and primitive camping areas. The preserve is a great spot for paddleboarding in the Intracoastal Waterway and sunset photos.
JACKSONVILLE ARBORETUM AND BOTANICAL GARDENS
1445 Millcoe Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32225
The Arboretum is one of the best hidden outdoors spots in Jacksonville, offering hiking trails, different ecosystems, local wildlife, natural streams, and a pond. It is pet-friendly, with paved and unpaved trails both with benches.
Accessibility: A handicap-accessible unisex restroom and water fountain are located at the entry next to the parking area. Paved walkways at the entry are handicap-accessible. There is also handicapaccessible access to the pavilion shelter from the Lake Loop at the east end of the lake. Information signs concerning the grades and slopes for the Lake Loop are posted near the entry.
LOSCO REGIONAL PARK
10931 Hood Road South, Jacksonville, FL 32257
This 210-acre park has scenic paved trails that wrap around the park, one multi-use field, soccer fields, two playgrounds, and a splash pad. The park is pet-friendly.
JAMES WELDON JOHNSON PARK
135 W Monroe St, Jacksonville, FL 32202
First established in 1857, this was Jacksonville’s first park. It includes performance stages, an outdoor dining area and several pieces of public art.
RIVERSIDE PARK
753 Park St, Jacksonville, FL 32204
This 11-acre park has a beautiful fountain, a playground for kids and a dog park. It also regularly hosts special events.
MEMORIAL PARK
1620 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32204
This 6-acre park features a World War I memorial with views of the St. Johns River, a large lawn ideal for relaxation, a picnic or play date with a dog, and a half-mile shaded loop around the park.
TILLIE K. FOWLER REGIONAL PARK
7000 Roosevelt Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32244
This park has several miles of hiking and biking trails, playgrounds, restroom facilities, amphitheater, picnic area with grills and a dog park. Stop in at the nature center at the Tower Trail trailhead and enjoy an overhead view of the marsh from the observation tower at the trail’s end.
WALTER JONES HISTORICAL PARK
12471 Mandarin Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32223
This park includes the Mandarin Museum, restored farmhouse, barn, outbuildings, sawmill, historic schoolhouse, nature trail along a riverfront boardwalk, picnic area and restrooms.
JESSIE BALL DUPONT PARK
1123 Prudential Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32207
This park is home to Treaty Oak, a massive live oak tree estimated to be more than 250 years old. The park is pet friendly.
LIFT EV’RY VOICE AND SING PARK
120 N Lee Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204
This park is named after the song written by John Rosamond Johnson and James Weldon Johnson in the late 1800s. The park features an infinity fountain, terrace seating, historic building footprints, a poet’s walk and a passive garden with seating.
FRIENDSHIP FOUNTAIN PARK
1015 Museum Cir, Jacksonville, FL 32207
The fountain is one of Jacksonville’s iconic landmarks along the Southbank Riverwalk. Each evening, the fountain regularly projects a light show, timed to music.
OCEANFRONT PARK
1st Street S Between 5th and 6th Avenues S, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250
The 2-acre oceanfront park includes sheltered picnic areas, sand volleyball court, children’s playground and a large open space. Accessibility: There is a handicap accessible ramp.