Defending over 25,000 acres of land within the St. Johns River watershed, Jennings State Forest presents a large number of outside recreation alternatives.
Over a dozen climbing and equestrian trails traverse the property, centered round North Fork Black Creek and its quite a few tributaries.
North Fork Black CreekFollowing the creek’s western aspect, the Pioneer Path was developed by Frank Burley and Dennis Chapman.
Their objective was to attach the prevailing landings and campgrounds with one linear pathway.
Pioneer Path bridgeWell-liked amongst paddlers and hikers alike, most of the primitive tenting zones alongside the route are accessible by land or water.
One of the vital widespread entry factors is the Dunn’s Farm Complicated, which serves as a hub for the Dunns Farm, Crosscut, and Sawyer Trails.
The narrative beneath follows the size of the Pioneer Path from the southern terminus at Indian Ford Recreation Space to the northern terminus at North Fork Recreation Space.
Pioneer Path alongside the creek (Ren Miller)Assets
Overview
Location: MiddleburgLength: 12.8 milesTrailhead: 30.111472, -81.906611Address: Indian Ford Rd, MiddleburgFees: $2 per personRestrooms: NoneLand supervisor: Florida Forest ServicePhone: 904-406-6390
Open dawn to sundown. Leashed canine welcome. Seasonal searching happens all through this forest. Test forward earlier than you make plans for outside recreation.
Camp zones are first come, first served, and are freed from cost for backpackers and paddlers. The one payment is the day use payment on the trailhead.
Hikers and paddlers can depart automobiles in a single day at any trailhead alongside the Pioneer Path.
Reaching the northern terminus of the path at North Fork Recreation Space at present requires wading throughout North Fork Black Creek.
Test water ranges earlier than climbing if planning to cross the creek. A bridge is deliberate sooner or later to attach the path to the recreation space.
Instructions
Hike
To start the hike, search for an data kiosk on the northwest nook of the Indian Ford Recreation Space, the place an indication designates the southern terminus of the Pioneer Path.
The kiosk presents paper maps and an in depth show of vital options on the subsequent few miles of path.
Indian Ford trailheadBegin alongside a grassy hall lined with oaks and dense clusters of noticed palmettos.
Meander throughout a patch of pine flatwoods earlier than a large bend into the North Fork Black Creek floodplain.
Path meandering by means of combined hardwood forest (Troy Lair)Blue-blazed bushes mark the trail because it dips out and in of sandhill habitat and combined hardwood hammock earlier than crossing McIntosh Department on the primary bridge at 1.2 miles.
In a tenth of a mile, indicators point out a aspect path to Bluff Camp Zone, a comfy spot with picnic tables and a fireplace ring beneath a shady stand of bushes.
Excessive Water Creek crossingAfter the subsequent crossing at Buddington Department, the path turns away from the creek.
Ascend into an upland group of longleaf pine and turkey oak, the place pawpaws and lupines bloom within the springtime.
Girl lupine in bloomStart climbing Mt. Regan close to the 4-mile mark, reaching a choice level close to the summit. Straight forward, the trail begins a gradual descent in the direction of Ellis Ford.
A aspect loop follows switchbacks all the way down to Chapmans Camp Zone, a gorgeous website perched on a sandy oxbow of the creek.
This detour is definitely worth the surroundings, and hikers can take the aspect path with no need to stroll by means of the camp zone.
Chapmans Camp ZoneAt 5 miles, comply with blue blazes previous Ellis Ford, a day use space with parking, picnic tables, and a canoe launch.
Persevering with westward, parallel the creek for 1 / 4 mile earlier than tracing across the contoured ravine carved out by Pagett Department, a transparent stream winding by means of the bottom.
Path adjoining to North Fork Black Creek (Ren Miller)Close to the tip of the gully, a powerful bridge aptly named the Many Seeps Walkway spans a exceptional pure function.
A number of seeps emerge from sandy soils, converging right into a single rivulet.
Many Seeps WalkwayUtilizing a switchback to ascend the opposite aspect of the ravine, comply with the path in the direction of the creek once more, reaching a spur to Dunns Cemetery at 7.1 miles.
A 0.2-mile spherical journey on this aspect path results in a cemetery plot for households that lived right here on the flip of the nineteenth century.
Dunn CemeteryVenturing one other tenth of a mile upstream, attain the Osteen Overlook. It presents a spectacular view of the watercourse beneath.
A set of stairs constructed into the steep financial institution enable entry to the creek, and a aspect path runs as much as Mule Touchdown Camp Zone close to the highest of the slope.
Osteen OverlookReaching a junction with the Dunns Farm Path at 7.8 miles, flip proper and cross Borden Department to stay on the Pioneer Path.
The subsequent part is shared with each trails, marked with pink and blue blazes.
As the trail rounds a nook to circumnavigate the subsequent ravine, a country bench sits subsequent to clear water streaming down the hill in a collection of small cascades, Prescott Falls.
Prescott FallsStairs and gravel stabilize the trail because it heads up an incline alongside a precipitous drop-off.
Go overlooks at Schoolhouse Falls and Duck Pond Falls on the way in which to a sturdy crossing over Philips Department.
Schoolhouse Falls (Ren Miller)On the opposite aspect of the ravine, drop again in the direction of the floodplain, turning westward the place Philips Department races down the ridge to empty into the creek.
The path shortly rises to the subsequent bluff the place Cole’s Overlook tops a scenic bend.
Cole’s OverlookAdditional down the path, the route diverges in a couple of spots the place excessive water bypasses present an possibility for staying above the creek the place the trail has excessive potential to flood.
An indication at one of many forks signifies an outdated development turpentine stump. A set of stairs descends to slightly valley the place a pine stump reveals catface marks on the water’s edge.
Previous-growth turpentine stumpClose to the 11 mile mark, the path weaves alongside a tall rise at Harris Overlook.
Attain a aspect path resulting in Neighbors Camp Zone, a small clearing at an ecotone with neighboring pine flatwoods.
At 11.8 miles, Powell Ford is the final path entry earlier than a required wade throughout the creek close to the northern terminus.
From this level, the inexperienced blazed Crosscut Path leads as much as the parking space and past, ultimately connecting with the Dunns Farm Path to the south.
Crosscut Path entranceKeep on the Pioneer Path. The terrain begins to degree out as the trail winds by means of mesic flatwoods.
Cross a couple of extra small streams earlier than turning in the direction of a large, seasonally flooded bottomland forest. One remaining bridge spans a slough at Johns Walkway.
A brief distance previous it’s the Pioneer Path northern terminus at 12.8 miles, designated by an indication on the south shore of North Fork Black Creek.
Relying on the time of yr and up to date rains, the water degree can be shin-high or require a swim to succeed in the North Fork Recreation Space on the opposite aspect.
Johns WalkwayPath 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
Climbing the Pioneer Path
Slideshow
See our images from the Pioneer Path
Close by Adventures
Path Map (PDF) Hunt Dates Reserve Campsite Official Web site
