Hello folks, Florida Trailblazer here checking in! I took some time off of the trails to sit down with my friend Venerina Conti for an interview on here morning radio show. It was a blast talking about the trails and beautiful Florida Wilderness. I hope everyone enjoys it and that it inspires others to get outside and explore nature! Click here to listen to the interview
While hiking recently we had a few magnificent wildlife sightings and wanted to write about them here. In Ocala National Forest if you are lucky you can sometimes spot a Florida Black Bear and in this case we were blessed with such a sighting of not just one, but two! Read on...
Long Leaf Pine Tree Forest
It was near Lake Delancy in The Ocala National Forest heading southward on the Florida Trail towards Grassy Pond. It was in here in the middle of this section where we spotted a larger bear and it's cub by it's side. This area of the forest is mostly upland pine forests with rolling hills and mixed with scrub habitats throughout, perfect for bears and they are known to be here.
Florida Scrub Habitat
It was just past the scrub habitat where we saw these two bears. As we entered this part of the forest I knew if we were going to see bears this would be the perfect place.
The trail began to narrow with thick hammock and shrub plants on either side. Perfect for animals to hide in and as we came around a bend it was just up ahead about 75 to 100 feet or so where we saw a little bear walking against the brush on the trail it must have came out of. Then a moment later a larger adult bear come out next to it, this most likely was the mama bear. The smaller bear huddled up against the larger bear and both starred at us from a distance.
The feelings of fear and excitement rushed over me have you ever felt so vulnerable in nature? I did in this case and felt a fear like none other as I knew at any moment the larger bear could rush us to protect it's cub. With the narrow trail backwards was the only escape. Though perhaps it sensed that we weren't a threat as we both kept our distance and peace.
Florida Black Bears on Trail
Just as we spotted both bears together we hurried to get our zoom lens ready for snap shot. It was just then that a coyote jumped out in front of us! It darted across the trail about 10 feet ahead into the surrounding woods. It happened so fast I just caught a glimpse. It was large with gray and white coloring. Was it following the bears? We weren't sure, but just after this we managed to get a picture of the bears right before they slipped off into the forest.
Florida Black Bears on Trail
I reflected back on the sightings and can't help but feel truly blessed by nature for this sighting even though it was scary, I feel it was a great and valuable experience.
The Florida black bear is the largest native land mammal in Florida. It is believed that at one time there were as many as 12,000 black bears living throughout Florida. Today only about
1,500 black bears remain.
Kiosk at Trailhead of Rice Creek Entrance (SR 100)
Rice Creek is named after the fields of rice and indigo harvested here in the 1780s, by British loyalists Thomas Forbes and William Panton. They fled from the American Revolution in Georgia to Florida, then a British colony. Applying for a land grant, they received land west of modern-day Palatka. Using servants to ditch dikes and build drainage canals, they established fields of rice and indigo here.
Wooden Trail Bridges
This forest extends south from State Road (SR) 100 to just south of SR 20 in Putnam County, approximately six miles west of Palatka, Florida. On this hike we began at the Trailhead off of (SR) 100, you turn into a side dirt road to access this trailhead. You'll notice a sign there as you enter. From the parking area as we began I noticed how beautiful the early morning skies were against the backdrop of the treeline. You'll notice a lot of pines here and it taints the air with a nice pine scent. They still have some areas here where they harvest the trees. The temperature was a nice 65 degrees or so and sunny skies, perfect for hiking! Winter time is known as our main hiking season here in Florida because the weather is so nice. In the beginning you'll notice a trail kiosk, here you can find out more about the history of the place and view a map of some of the trails as there are many here.
Florida Trail Kiosk
From the kiosk we hiked down the forest road to the split where the white trail is. You'll see a trailer here sitting on the trail to your right. That is the path we took and this leads you down along the white trail and eventually you will come to an intersection for the Florida Trail. You'll see a mailbox and kiosk where you can sign into the Florida Trail log book. Here you can hike north or south and this hike we traveled southward.
Rows of Long Leaf Pine Trees
You leave the pine forest area and enter a dense cypress swamp hammock. The trail is narrow and crosses by and over many creeks and ditches. Many areas have boardwalks and wooden trail bridges to help keep your feet dry. Along these areas take a look in the distance and notice the beautiful cypress trees, listen closely you may hear woodpeckers, hawks and owls in the distance. I remember the sun rays shining brilliantly through the trees, a slight cool breeze and the sounds of nature around me, quite peaceful.
Old Cypress Tree 8th Largest in Florida
On this section of trail we hiked about 2.5 miles or so until we came upon the boardwalk that leads you the 8th largest cypress tree in Florida. It may be ranked 7th currently but either way this massive tree is a sight to see! You will walk the boardwalk to the end where there is an observation deck with a couple benches. It is here where you'll see ahead of you the huge cypress tree off in the swamp a short distance. This tree measurements are 107 feet tall, 24 feet 9 inches in circumference, and a crown spread of 48 feet by 42 feet. You can't miss it, it is the one with the thickest trunk in the surrounding trees. This was just one of the highlights of this hike and this tree is amazing to glance at it. I pondered at it, wondering how old it was and how it survived here in this forest for so long. After all this area has been plundered and harvested for hundreds of years. Glad to know that actions have been taken to preserve this tree as their aren't many left here in Florida. If you go here please take care not to damage the tree.
Hoffman Crossing
From here we continued on the boardwalk into the swamp and eventually came upon "Hoffman Crossing". This is one of the longest boardwalks I've been on and it goes for a half mile or so and is very narrow but sturdy just be cautious. It is a beautiful part of the hike as you traverse above the swamp floor and experience a dense cypress swamp around you.
Raccoon in a Tree
It is hear where we saw some wildlife. I saw a big deer in the brush, but quickly ran off upon hearing us walk on the boardwalk. Make sure to look up in the trees, it was high above us on a nearby tree we saw a pretty raccoon just hanging out, literally. After snapping some pictures we continued on the boardwalk towards the end of it. At the end we saw some wild turkeys crossing the trail just ahead.
Rice Creek Hilton Camping Shelter
This trail takes you further on the Florida Trail but also branches off to a white blazed trail, we took this white trail as it loops back to the main trailhead. Along this white trail you'll notice a small blue spur trail with a camping sign hanging on a tree. We took this back to discover the Rice Creek Hilton camping shelter just a short ways back in the forest.The “Rice Creek Hilton” is a screened shelter popular with backpackers, with a non-potable pitcher pump adjoining it, with a fire ring and picnic tables. Such a nice shelter for to take a break at or set up camp!
From the shelter along the white trail it was a wider path and was lined with rows of long leaf pine trees, made for a pleasant hike back as the sun was setting and the air was cooling down. Eventually made it back to the trailhead and kept thinking of how much more there is to explore here! So many trails and forests to immerse yourself in. This place will have you coming back for more, this is just one hike I plan on many more visits here. I hope you get a chance to explore this place! I posted some videos below.
Little Big Econ State Forest get it's name from combining the names of the Little Econlockhatchee River and the larger Econlockhatchee River which flow through the forest. One of my favorite features here is the narrow, winding Econlockhatchee River. Little Big Econ State Forest is located in Seminole County, 3.3 miles east of the town of Oviedo on County Road 426.
Econlockhatchee River
Little Big Econ State Forest is historically significant since it contains the first means of crossing the Econlockhatchee River. The Old SR 13 railway and trestle was part of the Flagler Railroad System in the early 1900's and today is part of the Florida National Scenic Trail and is used by hikers to cross the Econlockhatchee River.
This hiking trip we began at the Barr Street Trailhead off of CR 426 and it starts you out on the Florida Trail next to the Econlockhatchee River. Just after the trailhead as you go onto the Orange trail we came to an intersection not that far where the Florida Trail splits two ways. You can keep going straight or like we did on this hike choose to go left instead. This lead us to the Econlockhatchee River as we passed through some camping sites in an open area. Continuing on the Florida Trail from here we had many great views of the white sandy beaches that make up the high river bluffs. I Noticed the tea colored water and how in some areas you can see right through to the river bottom. Look around you may see some turtles and alligators sun bathing!
Trail along Econlockhatchee River
The trail took us along the edge of the river bluffs for the next couple of miles, around side channels and sometimes using the wooden trail bridges to cross them. The trail takes you into a dense canopy of cabbage palms and oaks and cypresses, a river bluff landscape to behold! In the areas where the river bluffs aren't as steep you can walk down to the river bank, sit on the white sandy beach and enjoy the peace and quiet while taking in the beautiful scenery.
Remains of The Henry Flager Railroad at Flagler Trail
After hiking by the river for a few miles we began to break away from it as we neared the intersection where this trail meets the Flagler Trail. This is where Henry Flagler's Kissimmee Valley Line railroad used to cross the Econlockhatchee River. There you can still see the trestles from the bridge that was built back in the early 1900s.
The Flagler trail is a wide, straight unpaved path surrounded by woods and bike trails on both sides. Once we crossed the river onto the Flager trail we hiked this for several miles until it met up again with the Florida Trail and it cut back into the forest. We kept going here in this thick shaded hammock for just a little bit as it was getting late in the day and had to make sure we had enough time to head back before sunset.
White Sandy Bluffs along Econlockhatchee River
On the walk back I reflected upon the hike and thought of the features that stood out to me the most. These were The Econlockhatchee River and it's high bluffs, with white sandy beaches and tea colored water. The shaded floodplain forests and rugged hiking trails. We visited this place in the fall and it was great to the different colored foliage and wild flowers that are in bloom this time of year. If you are in the central Florida area near Oviedo be sure to not pass this place up. Besides hiking, you can camp and there are also multiple trails for bikes and horses. Another added bonus is you can find multiple geocaches here. I have posted photos and videos here to give you a glimpse of the experience. You can also view my hike from this trip on my Everytrail site.
Tea Colored Waters
Wooden Trail Bridge built by Florida Trail Volunteers
One of the most beautiful and unique State Parks in Florida that I have had the opportunity to explore is Torreya State Park in Florida's panhandle. The park is named for an extremely rare species of Torreya tree that only grows on the bluffs along the Apalachicola River. This magnificent place is located 15 miles south of Chattahoochee and 13 miles north of Bristol off of State Road 12 on County Road 1641. The High bluffs overlooking the Apalachicola River and Torreya trees are just a couple of the intriguing features there that you'll discover. The park sits on 12,000 acres of river swamps, high pinelands, extensive ravines and high bluffs along the Apalachicola river. This area has one of the most variable terrains of any in Florida.
Trailhead at Picnic Area
Once you enter the park, drive past the gate entrance and pay at the self pay station which is only $2. Now that you are in the park it's time to find some trails and begin exploring! You have some options here as to what trailhead to begin at, as there are a few. As soon as you enter there is a trailhead, however there is no parking available. Continue down the road to the picnic area on the right, or keep driving until you get to the historical Gregory House. On this particular hike we started at the picnic area trailhead for a blue connector trail.
Autumn Foliage in Florida
It was early morning, the skies were clear and the sun was shining through the trees. The temperature was a cool 45 degrees when we started out. It was autumn and we couldn't have picked a better time to see this place! It was a stunning array of colored foliage. I've never seen so many fall colors in Florida and when you combine that with the terrain, you don't feel like your in Florida at all!
The Stone Bridge
The trail starts off as a wide multi-use trail and you begin to traverse down in elevation as you near a ravine. We hiked down this part until we reached an old stone bridge that crosses a ravine. It is part of the main orange blazed trail on your left around the bend. The stone bridge was the first scenic feature of the hike. We couldn't resist to stop here for a break to take photos and videos. The stone bridge was built in the 1930's by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). This State Park is one of the first in Florida that the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped develop. Truly, this is a must see! It just has an old rustic feel and I felt transported to another time and place. The ravine, stones and hilly pine forest beside it gives you this impression. You can feel the history here. Walk down the side of the bridge by the water and notice the ravine and rugged terrain as you look up. The water levels were low when I was here, but I'm sure they are higher during the wet season. From the carved ravine you notice how high water levels have been in the past. Since the water levels were low, I took a walk under the bridge to get another perspective. I took this opportunity to take tons of photos and videos before moving on.
Taking Some Pictures
When leaving the stone bridge you begin to hike up in elevation. We were now on the main orange seven mile loop trail that meanders through the park and is maintained by The Florida Trail Association. Further along we ran into a blue blazed trail that connects to the "Torreya Challenge Trail". This part of the forest is extremely hilly so be prepared for climbing up and down as you cross over streams and ridges. I only got to explore a little part of the Torreya Challenge Trail on this trip so I am looking forward to checking more of it out on the next visit.
For this hike we continued on the main orange trail and this lead us south toward the front entrance gate. Upon entering, we were instantly surrounded by shaded hardwood hammocks. The trail is a single narrow path and is really well maintained. You'll hike up and down over bluffs as you cross several creeks and wooden bridges over the ravines. Notice the geography here as you look at the surrounding bluffs and ravines. You can clearly see how the land has been carved out here. I could see the land sloping down back into the Earth. The place will have you marveling in wonder as you observe the terrain.
Upland Pine Forest
After hiking through the bluffs, ravines and shaded forests we began to hike back up in elevation into the upland pine forest areas. What spectacular views here! We saw deer and plenty of birds in this part. This area of prairie is mixed with grasses and tall pine trees. It's here where you'll see cotton plants as well. An old cotton warehouse once stood along the river within the park - a reminder of the days when the cotton industry helped feed the area's economy. You'll mostly hike on flat level terrain through here and notice off into the distance the surrounding border of trees and forests where you just came out of. Since it's so open, it's nice to take in the fresh air and sunshine. It is so relaxing and quiet here. As you cross through this area the trail lead you out to a paved road. This is the park road you drove in on, notice the entry gate here as well. By this time the temperature had climbed up to around 70 degrees and the weather was absolutely perfect.
Rock Bluffs
After taking a small break we continued on the main orange trail which dipped back into the forest, heading southwest. Upon exiting the upland pine forest area, we were immediately confronted with tall rocky ledges. We took some time to explore the amazing structures and peer down from the high bluffs. The area reminded us of the US Southwest which includes desert and canyons. When I stood at the bottom of the bluff I couldn't help but think that it resembled a mini-canyon. We continued along the trail and eventually came upon the Rock Bluffs primitive camping area. Along this part of the trail it's very rigorous as you climb stairwells ascending into high rock bluffs. I was really taken back by this geography, it isn't very common in Florida. I remember feeling like I was hiking in a mountain wilderness. We encountered high cliffs and rock ledges overlooking rim swamps which is nothing I've encountered along other parts of the Florida Trail. Along the rim swamps we continued and peered down into a meadow of green grasses and cypress trees. It was breathtaking!
Along the high bluffs you begin to see the Apalachicola River, get ready for some truly amazing views! From this area you'll hike down from the surrounding bluffs toward the shoreline of the Apalachicola River. The trail will lead you along the river banks and I noticed the calm and beautiful water. The Apalachicola River starts high above Atlanta, GA in the Appalachian Mountains and flows all the way down and exits into the Gulf of Mexico.
Apalachicola River
As you hike down along the shore of the river, look up on the other side of the trail. You'll notice the high ridges that you just came down from. Look at the very top of the cliff and you will spot the Gregory House. The Gregory House, which originally sat across the river at Ocheesee Landing, was built around 1849 by planter Jason Gregory. After the Civil War and the abolition of slavery, the plantation fell into decline. The house was donated to the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1935. One of the many projects that the CCC tackled at Torreya Park was moving and rebuilding the Gregory House. We continued along the shore and began the strenuous hike back up, we couldn't wait to see this beautiful house up close. You'll see a blue blazed trail off of the Orange trail, but don't worry there is a sign and this will lead you to the house.
Gun Pit Area
As we hiked along the blue blazed trail, we came across some old Confederate gun pits. You won't find any weapons or guns here but simply markers indicating where they once were positioned. Some literature explains that this area provides high open views of the river, so during the Civil War this was a critical defense point. When Florida seceded from the Union in 1861, the Apalachicola River was a vital transportation artery. The river provided access to vital Southern industrial centers and one of the most prosperous plantation belts in the Confederacy. Part of the Union strategy was to blockade the Southern coastline, choking off commerce and slowly strangling the Confederacy to death. Rivers like Apalachicola could then be used to access the interior of Florida. The Confederates responded by fortifying streams and placing heavy cannons along their banks. Following their evacuation of the City of Apalachicola in 1862, Southern troops built a series of batteries for heavy artillery along the river. One of these was built in 1863, at Battery or Neal's Bluff in what is now Torreya State Park.
The Gregory House
After you pass this area you will come out to a trailhead and you see the the marvelous Gregory House. In 1935 the CCC moved the house to it's current location and restored it, thinking it could be used as a small hotel. It is no longer a hotel, but they do offer tours. The day we arrived they were renovating it, but we were able to peer into the windows and admire it's beauty. Be sure to take a break and enjoy the benches on the lawn, they overlook the river below. I remember sitting here and reflecting upon this place and taking in the spectacular view. I could imagine amazing sunsets here!
Amazing View Behind Gregory House
We walked back over to the blue trailhead and started our descent. We went back down into the ravines and onto the main orange trail once again. We hiked through a portion of the trail that is bottom-land swamp that consisted of vast shades of green foliage and had a tropical feel. We stumbled upon a blue blazed trail that leads to Rock Creek Primitive Camp and encountered a fellow hiker. We followed the trail back around to complete the main orange loop trail. At this point we knew we had limited daylight since it was Autumn and the sun sets around 5:30pm, but I really wanted to keep exploring! The park closes at sunset but another amazing fact is that the park borders the central and eastern time zones. As we were are hiking the trails, we had a chance to "go back in time". It was quite a unique experience, and fortunately my iPhone was able to keep updated by using it's GPS to sync the time.
Searching for the Geocache
We couldn't resist so we followed the main orange trail back to the blue connector that links to "Torreya Challenge". As an avid geo-cacher I wanted to locate the Torreya State Park geocache. There are 9 State Parks that have a hidden cache and if found, allows you to locate clues for a puzzle. I've located a majority of them and am looking forward to when I can complete the mission and earn my CCC Geo-coin. It took some time and patience but we were able to locate it and sign into it's log, another reminder that we were once here. We packed up and prepared for the drive out, but I couldn't help but feel like I had missed something and that I wasn't ready to leave. That tells me this was an excellent hiking experience because it leaves you with the feeling of wanting more. This park will keep you coming back because there is so much to see and explore. I am thankful for the opportunity to experience what this wonderful park has to offer . I would love to come back and camp at one of the sites. I am glad to have shared this experience and I hope it inspires you to go out and enjoy this park!
I couldn't resist! I just had to go back to hike and explore more of The Lake Eaton Trails in the Ocala National Forest. I recorded this episode of The Florida Trailblazer Podcast to reflect upon and share a little bit of my experiences there while hiking. I hope you enjoy and get inspired to go out and explore this place or a place nearby you!
