3 Incredible State Parks to Visit Near Jacksonville, FL

The state parks in Jacksonville, FL, offer visitors pristine beaches, leisurely strolls, and breathtaking scenery. All have a wide range of exciting outdoor activities in unique and diverse habitats and an abundance of bird and animal life.

3 Incredible State Parks to Visit Near Jacksonville, FL

1. Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park

The pine Flatwoods in the park protect the water quality of the St. Johns and Nassau Rivers. The pines also create the perfect habitat for aquatic plants and animals. In winter, a pair of bald eagles nest in the pines, and egrets, wood storks, and roseate spoonbills fish in the salt marsh. Keep your eyes peeled for tortoises, foxes, and white-tailed deer.

The park has 15 miles of multi-purpose trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding that link to other preserves in the region. The connected trail system offers more than 30 miles of natural-surface trails.

2. Big Talbot Island State Park

The park is a natural preserve for bird watching and nature studies. White-tailed deer, bobcats, raccoons, tortoises, and opossums are often seen in the forest. At the beach, be on the lookout for Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, and from November to March, for the Northern Atlantic Right Whales.

Hiking and Biking

The park has miles of paved and natural surface trails that wind through the forests and down to the shoreline. The paved 3.9-mile multi-purpose Timucuan Trail has informative panels on the fauna and flora in the park.

Boating

The waters around the island and tidal creeks are great for canoes, kayaks, and powerboats. The boat ramp provides access to Nassau Sound and the Atlantic Ocean.

Birding

The birding pavilion along the elevated boardwalk at Spoonbill Pond offers excellent bird-watching opportunities. The marshes are home to ibis, herons, egrets, and the endangered wood stork. On the beaches, you might see black skimmers, terns, brown pelicans, piping plovers, and ospreys. Owls, pileated woodpeckers, doves, and buntings are spotted inland.

Fishing

The shoreline and creeks make the island a fisherman’s paradise. The waters abound with speckled sea trout, flounder, whiting, and redfish.

3. Amelia Island State Park

With 200 acres of breathtaking, pristine wilderness, it’s the ultimate island park getaway with glimpses of right whales during the winter and early spring. It is also the only state park in Florida that allows horseback riding on the beach.

Hiking and Biking

You can cycle from Big Talbot Island over the driving bridge that crosses the Nassau Sound to Amelia Island on the paved Timucuan Trail. The island offers an additional four miles of off-road biking.

Birding

Shorebirds on the island are plentiful, so be on the lookout for plovers, black skimmers, terns, willets, pelicans, and ospreys. During the winter, you will see bald eagles fishing.

Fishing

Nassau Sound is one of the best fishing spots in northeast Florida. The adjacent George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier over Nassau Sound is also a favorite spot. Anglers reel in tarpon, redfish, flounder, whiting, jacks, and speckled trout from the pier.

The parks above are just three of the parks that form part of the 5,600 acres Seven Creeks Recreation Area. The other four parks include George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park, Fort George Island Cultural State Park, Little Talbot Island State Park, and Yellow Bluff Fort Historic State Park. Visit Tom Bush Mini today for quality services, maintenance, and repairs.

Posted in Jacksonville Amenities, Jacksonville Parks | No Comments »