Hiking to Little Lake Johnson at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch

little lake johnson mike roess gold head branch florida state park

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park

Launching at Mill Site, an aluminum bridge leads to a wandering hike through a sandy soil scrub oak forest at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park. Approaching a decision to head north on the Ridge Trail or south on Loblolly Loop, the setting sun promotes our motive to tag along the Loblolly Loop Trail, as it swings around to Little Lake Johnson and returns to the Mill Site in under a mile.

My boots sink into the ground, as water bubbles below, and we press on for a shot at adventure before dark. Not your typical Florida flatland, the trail runs parallel to the Gold Head Branch springs, and listening closely enough, the inviting sound of the springs provokes the urge for a quick dip. The clear water rushes gently, and the wind blows my long hair into the evening sky. We spot white-tailed deer bouncing around in the woods beyond the trail. Trekking down narrow sandy paths lined by saw palmetto and brown cattail, we pass canopies of loblolly pines and live oak trees with branches bound by shimmering resurrection fern, eventually reaching Little Lake Johnson.

Little Lake Johnson

Not so little, the infinite stream of Lilli pads blankets Little Lake Johnson, and the wild forest stretches across the backdrop, catching rays of the setting sun. The air grows crisp and cooler as we continue our hike, reaching the pavilion areas constructed in 1935 by the original Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Rental canoes lay upon the grassy, sandy shoreline, providing a beach scene in all seasons, and majestic oaks strung with Spanish moss magnify a romantic scene of community and tranquil treasure. A small brown fence outlines the lake like a pastoral barrier to the finest fish and the slight chance of a swim. The lake fills from a seepage spring from the ravine.

Always more than meets the eye, a stairway leads to another CCC-constructed stone pavilion housing restrooms and a small gathering area. Benches circle the setting, providing opportunities to take pause by the marshy Little Lake. Shades of blue and pink compose the sky that horizontally reflects in the lake dividing the green forest and bouncy Lilli pads. We sit by the lake with Cami, watching fishermen cast their bait in the setting sun, looking out into the possibilities beyond.

A falling night takes us to the picnic area and recreation center, both of which are completely vacant and designed to offer pleasurable gatherings along the lake. Countless stone picnic benches are strewn across the parking lot area, and a variety of rustic park pavilions allow for multiple seating areas and group activities. This recreational area also features a playground and volleyball court. All the structures originally built by the CCC in less than four years, are preserved in their initial form, including our lunch spot, pavilion 18, overlooking Pebble Lake.

Pavilion 18 overlooking Pebble Lake at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch — Pavilion 18 overlooking Pebble Lake

After longing for a simpler time in one of the CCC’s naturalist buildings, we stride down the roadside, hand-in-hand, back to our campsite amongst hickory trees. Another day comes to an end, as we walk down the road, the evening dusk and thick fog settling in around us. This space that surrounds, designated as a land of its own, back in time, beyond recollection.