Sandhills are the central function the Fireplace and Water Path circles because it stays on the ecotone between this excessive, dry forest and lowlying habitats.
Among the many water-dependent options are baygalls, bogs, and a slope forest descending right into a ravine. A slender plank bridge crossing over a creek is a spotlight.
One of many first trails created at Jennings State Forest greater than 20 years in the past, this interpretive Trailwalker Path now connects to the bigger Sandridge Path complicated.
One of many highlights of this hikeAssets
Overview
Location: MiddleburgLength: 1.9 milesTrailhead: 30.136294, -81.882306Address: 900 Dwell Oak Ln, MiddleburgFees: $2 per personRestroom: NoneLand Supervisor: Florida State ForestsPhone: 904-406-6390
Open dawn to sundown. Leashed canines welcome. No bicycles allowed. There are picnic tables on the trailhead. Reserve campsite on-line.
Searching is permitted within the forest; overview hunt dates upfront and put on shiny orange for those who plan to hike throughout searching season.
Instructions
Hike
Cease on the kiosk within the picnic space to choose up a map. Proceed straight forward alongside the lime inexperienced blazes, passing a pair of benches.
The path follows a forest highway into the sandhills. To the north, a ribbon of baygall parallels the trail.
Begin of the hikeThe primary massive interpretive marker explains the transition zone between these two habitats and the way hearth helps keep it.
Slash pines stand tall over a low floor cowl of brief noticed palmetto and patches of wiregrass with chinquapin oaks.
Transition zoneThe subsequent marker explains the results of fireplace within the baygall. Attain a junction for the loop at 0.2 miles, bearing proper to stroll it counterclockwise.
The pathway narrows, palm fronds and younger loblolly bay crowding in. At 1 / 4 mile, a turnoff is marked with a binoculars signal.
Signal for spur pathThis spur results in a wildlife viewing blind set in a stand of oaks. It was falling aside on our go to.
Returning to the paved path, comply with the straightaway because it positive factors a bit elevation.
Cut up within the pathA double blaze denotes bearing left the place the path splits in two because it enters sandhills with a really open understory.
This is likely one of the most immersive parts of the path, gently meandering previous Marker 3. At a half mile, spiky Spanish bayonets rise trailside.
The open understory allows a protracted view throughout the forest, making its rolling hills apparent.
Good view throughout the sandhillsA double blaze marks a curve downhill alongside a seepage slope, the place Marker 4 stands beside an indication on this distinctive habitat, which hosts pitcher crops.
The chance of seeing any varies with whether or not the habitat burned final season. The seepage coaleses right into a bathroom which the path circles.
Seepage slopeAfter rising right into a plateau of pines and low palmetto, the trail slips all the way down to the ecotone on its edge.
Beneath it, the forest is a dense tangle of oaks and bays; above, a hillside of sandhills.
Alongside the ecotoneTaller pines and deeper shade because of a transition to slope forest sign a sharper dropoff into slope a ravine carved by a blackwater stream.
At 0.9 miles, a fenced overlook above the ravine is adjoined by an interpretative signal.
Fence at dropoffStand up from this low level to skim alongside the sandhills once more, the apparent drop of the panorama nonetheless seen by way of the open understory.
This comparability of habitats persists on the stroll to Marker 6, the place the signal talks in regards to the longleaf pine at Jennings State Forest.
A downhill curveCurving downhill previous an previous worn monitor at 1.2 miles, descend right into a ravine to cross a plank bridge with a wire handhold.
It hovers over a tributary flowing vigorously in the direction of the far deeper ravine with the blackwater stream.
Plank bridgeAscend the leaf-strewn path into sandhills on its far aspect. Comply with the arrow and blazing at a junction of forest roads, coming to a marker a few former homestead.
The sandhills open up once more, with lengthy views throughout the understory. The subsequent interpretive signal talks in regards to the results of hurricanes on forests.
SandhillsReaching a T junction at 1.5 miles, bear left. We consider the trail to the suitable connects to the Sandridge Trails however no signage confirmed it.
A drainage throughout the forest highway requires a bit tough footwork to move it on the left. Native bamboo grows on this low spot.
Soggy spotAscend into the sandhills. A big turkey oak arches over the path. On the double blaze at 1.7 miles, full the loop.
Flip proper to exit alongside the straightaway again to the picnic space to complete up a 1.9 mile hike.
Last straightawayPath Map
Discover Extra!
Study extra about Jennings State Forest
Jennings State Forest Defending the headwaters of Black Creek, one of many northernmost freshwater tributaries of the St. Johns River, Jennings State Forest spans nearly 24,000 acres west of Jacksonville.Video
Mountain climbing the Fireplace and Water Path
Slideshow
See our images from the Fireplace and Water Path
Close by Adventures
Path Map (PDF) Hunt Dates Reserve Campsite Official Web site
Creator of over 40 books, Sandra Good friend established FloridaHikes.com in 2006 to increase on the sector analysis she’d accomplished for her first six mountaineering guides. She has been honored with lifetime achievement awards from the Florida Path Affiliation and the Florida Outside Writers Affiliation.
