A spectacular reboot of the primary lengthy path constructed at Jennings State Forest greater than 20 years in the past, the Sandridge Path Advanced radiates from Outdated Jennings Recreation Space.
Clearly separated from the equestrian path now known as the Evans Horse Path, it replaces the unique North Fork Black Creek Path with devoted footpaths.
Path junctions are nicely markedExploring rolling hills on the east facet of North Fork Black Creek, it traverses wholesome pine savanna, sandhills, and hardwood forests within the deep folds between the hills.
Its 7-mile outer loop has many cross trails to tailor the size of your hike, and a spur path to the interpretive Fireplace and Water Path.
Junction with outer loop to campgroundA primitive campground is on the far northeast nook of the outer loop; it additionally has vehicular entry through forest roads.
Utilizing the Dome Swamp Crossover south of the wetter portion of the forest, this 4.1 mile route covers a scenic central loop largely on excessive floor.
Rolling sandhillsAssets
Overview
Location: MiddleburgLength: 4.1 milesTrailhead: 30.122308, -81.882527Address: 2 Reside Oak Ln, MiddleburgFees: $2 per personRestroom: On the trailheadLand 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; evaluation hunt dates prematurely and put on vivid orange in the event you plan to hike throughout searching season.
Instructions
Hike
Choose up a map on the large kiosk within the picnic space. Begin your hike on the pink-blazed signpost for the Sandridge Path to the best of the restrooms.
An indication lists distances to path connectors and the primitive campground close to the north finish of the loop. Sprinkled with pine needles, a sandy path begins into scrubby flatwoods.
Place to beginAt a Y junction at treeline, arrows level left. A signpost factors out the Chicken Blind Connector, a facet path to a viewing blind.
It’s a brief stroll into relict sandhill, ending at a wood platform below the oaks and pines with a cutout in it to look into the forest past.
Viewing blind at clearingReturn to the signposted path junction and proceed straight forward. Resume the pink-blazed footpath alongside the sting of the scrubby flatwoods.
Turkey oaks and a extra open understory beneath the oaks and longleaf pines mark a transition into sandhills.
Within the sandhillsAt a junction with a worn path at 0.7 miles, a hiker image factors ahead. Views all through the encircling open understory affirm an ascent to a ridge.
On this lovely sandhill habitat, the panorama drops off in all instructions from the ribbon of footpath by means of the wiregrass on the crest.
Climbing to the crestA signpost marks a four-way junction on the ridge at 0.9 mile. Straight forward, the trail is blazed yellow, as it’s to the left.
That’s the Wiregrass Connector, a part of the return route. Flip proper to proceed alongside the east perimeter of the loop alongside the Sandridge Path.
Descent from the path junctionThe immersive longleaf pine savanna yields to denser stands of pines after which a ribbon of oaks on the descent. Cross the Evans Horse Path, marked with yellow and blue bands.
Make a pointy flip and steeper descent right into a deep basin with a plank bridge over a transparent sand-bottomed stream. Gravel provides traction underfoot for the uphill climb.
Bridge crossingTender younger slash pines and noticed palmetto edge the path hall. Double pink blazes and an arrow information the path round a curve, paralleling the creek basin upstream.
A signposted sharp proper flip begins a gradual uphill by means of a nursery of small slash pines, the sandhills denser with turkey oak because the footpath turns into white sand.
Sand pine nurseryClumps of noticed palmetto break up an in any other case open understory. Stick to the pink blazes at a yellow-blazed junction at 1.4 miles, strolling deeper into the expanse of sandhills.
Meet a broad sand highway and be a part of it by means of a curve, resuming the footpath on its left.
Bear left at this cut upCross signposted Wheeler Department Rd at 1.6 miles, which leads east right into a rural subdivision barely seen by means of the forest.
From the crest of this ridge, the hillside drops off in the direction of a dense line of bushes, a big cypress dome inside a low basin within the sandhills.
Cypress dome at base of hillThe hole between the Sandridge Path and the cypresses lessens to the place water could also be seen within the swamp.
At a inexperienced bench 1.8 miles into the hike, the signposted path junction is the place our route veers off the Sandridge Path for a shorter loop. Do you have to select to do the longer loop, stick with the pink blazes.
There are not any extra crossover trails north of this junction, however there’s a spur to the Fireplace and Water Path and 4 extra water crossings.
Approaching the Dome Swamp ConnectorMaking a left on the bench, start the pink blazes of the Dome Swamp Connector.
A ribbon of white sand by means of the open panorama, it gives a pleasing panorama of pine savanna from the ridge above the cypress swamp.
It ends on the west facet of the Sandridge Path at a signposted junction with a inexperienced bench.
West junction of Dome Swamp and Sandridge TrailsAt 2.3 miles, flip left on the pink blazes to start out the return route in the direction of Outdated Jennings trailhead.
With the path surrounded by an undulating panorama of pine savanna, savor this stretch for its excellent surroundings.
Expansive forestInside the subsequent quarter mile, cross each Wheeler Department Rd and the Evans Horse Path. Alongside this a part of the loop, the forest feels big.
If no planes are overhead, it’s whisper-quiet apart from birdsong and the sound of the wind within the pines.
Path junctionCurving southeast, descend to a decrease plateau within the pines the place a despair cradles a sometimes-dry marsh.
Chinquepin oaks, which by no means develop tall, mass in dense patches a number of inches excessive, like pincushions throughout the forest ground.
Chinquepin oaks on despair marsh slopeOn the strategy to the Black Creek basin, the habitat shifts from sandhills to tall loblolly pines earlier than a descent into the hardwood forest.
A bench at 2.8 miles gives a relaxation cease earlier than a steep drop previous historic pines right into a swampy thicket. Tannic water collects in leafy basins below bay bushes.
Relaxation ceaseFed by many rivulets, a creek pours beneath a plank bridge. Comply with it upstream briefly earlier than a really steep climb out of the basin to the sandhills above.
Cross a leaf-strewn firebreak to renew the pink blazes at an arrow. Rising into pine savanna, meet a signposted path junction at 3 miles.
Plank bridge over creekDepart pink blazes for yellow to comply with the Wiregrass Connector into an attractive expanse of pine savanna on the prime of a ridge.
Younger longleaf pines give themselves away in bursts of inexperienced amid the encircling brownish-orange hues of wiregrass in winter.
On the Wiregrass ConnectorInside two tenths of a mile, a hiker image marks an equestrian path crossing by pointing in the direction of the subsequent yellow blaze.
Proceed an ascent alongside the ridge, reaching a scrubby spot with tall sand pines.
Path junctionhr/>Returning to the preliminary junction of the Sandridge and Wiregrass Trails, seal an higher loop at 3.3 miles.
Make a proper at this four-way junction to hitch the Longleaf Pine Connector heading to the west facet of the Sandridge Path.
Alongside the Longleaf Pine ConnectorDescending by means of the sandhills alongside pale blue blazes, spherical a marsh behind a rim of noticed palmetto.
With pines extra dense on this a part of the forest, the pine duff footpath makes for a pleasing stroll.
Amongst younger pinesAscend into extra relaxed sandhills, the trail turning into sandy on the strategy to a different crossing of the Evans Horse Path at 3.7 miles.
Alongside the blue blazes, the open understory and tufts of wiregrass as soon as once more encompass the descent.
Previous the Evans Horse Path junctionThis previous remnant of the previous North Fork Black Creek Path ends at a sandy T intersection with the Sandridge Path.
Make a left below the tall pines to renew the pink-blazed route. Cross a service highway and a slight despair by means of a drainage space.
On the double-pink blazes on a blue-ringed pine, flip proper to exit to the Outdated Jennings Trailhead, finishing this 4.1 mile loop.
Exit to the trailhead with a properPath 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 virtually 24,000 acres west of Jacksonville.Video
Mountain climbing the Sandridge Trails
Slideshow
See our pictures from the Sandridge Trails
Close by Adventures
Path Map (PDF) Hunt Dates Reserve Campsite Official Web site
Writer of over 40 books, Sandra Buddy 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 Out of doors Writers Affiliation.
