Originally published June 2010: What better way to spend a day off of work than with time on the trail? This week we decided to check out the trails at Tillie K Fowler Regional Park, which I mentioned last week. The entrance is south of the park, off of US-17, across from one of the main […]
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Walter Jones Historical Park
Originally published June 2010: Located on the banks of the St. John’s River in Mandarin, the Walter Jones Historical Park offers a quiet stroll through what the area was like in the 19th century. While hardly a hike through a completely natural setting, the easy, paved trails through lush surroundings provide a nice respite from […]
Castaway Island Preserve
On a recent visit to Castaway Island, there are now benches and a covered area with bathrooms. Roadwork and new construction are in full swing along San Pablo, so keep an eye out for the entrance to the park. At the moment, it’s a little more difficult to spot. Some photos prior to the afternoon […]
Spanish Pond
Originally published May 2011: After a grueling 40 mile march from St. Augustine through dense vegetation and in heavy rain, 500 Spanish troops found a freshwater pond a short distance from the French outpost, Ft. Caroline. They would camp here before they attacked the fort the next day. Nearly 450 years later, Spanish Pond is […]
Theodore Roosevelt Hiking Area
Originally published January 2011: On a windy, chilly day, we finally had the opportunity to take a look at the Theodore Roosevelt Hiking Area – the former homestead of William Browne. Located off of Mt. Pleasant Rd, the entrance was well marked but still somewhat difficult to find – it’s a a one lane dirt […]
Julington – Durbin Creek Preserve
It had been nearly 10 years since we last visited this park, and this neighborhood is nearly unrecognizable from what it was before. The dirt road at the entrance remains, but new townhomes and subdivisions border the park. The entrance has been re-arranged slightly and set back off the road, so drive carefully down Bartram […]
A Redesigned JaxHikes.com
After years of laying sadly undisturbed, this collection of trail reviews and various outdoor-related blog posts has been (hopefully) revived for now, during the age of COVID. Never before have we needed the therapy that comes from the fresh air and stillness that nature provides. I hope you’ll find the photos and information on this […]
UNF Wildlife Sanctuary
Originally published May 2010: For all the time I had spent on the UNF campus as a student, I feel rather ashamed that I never once took the opportunity to explore the nature trails I had heard about until now. Having imagined a rather shallow collection of nature walks frequented by bored or curious students, […]
Jacksonville Arboretum
February 2021: At long last, dry and mild weather has arrived to Jacksonville, if only for a few days – perfect for examining the upgrades to the Arboretum. The trail layout is the same as it has been in past years, but the area around the lake has been upgraded. New planting beds exhibiting a […]
Washington Oaks State Park
Originally published April 2012:It was a sunny and breezy Sunday – perfect for a trip to Washington Oaks. The park is about an hour south of Jacksonville. Taking I-95 to Palm Coast and then east towards the ocean is probably the quickest route, but you will have to pay the toll to cross the bridge […]