Hiking at Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park
Park OVerview
Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park is a diverse community of 4,000 acres of wetlands, salt marsh, pine flatwoods, and sandhills that help keep the St. Johns and Nassau Rivers clean. Pumpkin Hill features two tidal creeks with canoe/kayak access, fishing, and 15 miles of multi-use trails that connect to adjacent conservation areas. Travel on horseback or bicycle to access Betz-Tiger Preserve (north end) and Cedar Point Preserve (south end). Or begin your journey at the main parking lot and head west to nearby Jim Wingate Preserve and Bogey Creek Preserve.
Park History
The preserve was once home to the Timucua people who first met French explorer Jean Ribault nearby in 1562 and later Spanish missionaries until their mission was burned down by pirates and they relocated to St. Simons Island, Georgia. The land was also once conserved for a one-room schoolhouse, oyster processing plant, sawmills, and a hunting club. Today, prescribed burns are critical to this park’s preservation.
Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park is part of the 7 Creeks Recreation Area, one of Jacksonville’s infamous attractions for outdoor enthusiasts. This area contains 7 creeks, 7 parks and preserves, and 30+ miles of multi-use trails on 5,600 acres of contiguous conservation lands in northeast Jacksonville. Explore via hiking, biking, kayaking, boating, fishing, or horseback riding!
Our Adventure
Pine flatwoods and creeks with entwined estuaries await us. But first, we explore the Visitor Center, demonstration garden, and a small atrium greenhouse. Inside the Visitor Center are various animal and plant artifacts and outdoor informational brochures. Then, we hastily depart for our most desired activity – the park’s trails, where we seek scenic creek overlooks and official geocache. Our 1.5-mile hike loops us through the pine flatwoods to view the bald eagle nest at the edge of a cypress dome.
No matter which hiking path you choose, you’ll be engulfed in the pine uplands, scrubby flatwoods, vast and expansive white sand dunes, wild flowers, and estuarine marsh. You’ll find water moccasins, gopher tortoises, white-tailed deer, the American alligator, and numerous species of birds throughout this park.
Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve Trail System
Pumpkin Hill Creek North – 2.3 miles
Pumpkin Hill Creek South – 1.3 miles
Red Square Trail – 3.3 miles
Eagle Spur Trail – 0.15 miles
Blue Circle Trail – 6 miles
Orange Diamond Trail – 0.9 miles
Green Triangle Trail – 0.8 miles
South Creek Overlook Trail – 0.2 miles
North Creek Overlook Trail – 0.37 miles
East Loop – 1.5 miles
West Loop – 1.2 miles
Cedar Point Connector – 1 mile
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