Hiking at Dutton Island Preserve
Park Overview
Welcome to Mayport, Florida – one of the oldest fishing villages in the region. Home to the Naval Station and St. John’s River Ferry. Known for Florida’s best fresh caught shrimp. In this small military town lined with strip plazas of mom and pop joints and other small businesses, Dutton Island Preserve is shrouded amongst suburban neighborhoods in the middle of the San Pablo River waiting to be explored.
The largest park in Atlantic Beach, Dutton Island Preserve contains two islands made up of pine flatwoods and a salt marsh ecosystem that spans over 100 acres. The islands are two Timucuan Trail parks connected by a paved bridge. On your way into the park, you may find fishermen, bicyclists, and other outdoor enthusiasts along Dutton Island Road.
Great Egret near the Marsh Observation at East side of Dutton Island
Park History
Don Bartolome de Castro y Ferrar was the island’s original owner in 1826. He worked in St. Augustine for 24 years to earn a Land Grant which included the northwest corner of what is now Atlantic Beach. At that time, the area was called “Pine Island.”
100 years later, the island was planned for single family home development during the real estate boom of 1925. This effort was thwarted in 1998 when the City of Atlantic Beach purchased the island and named it after Walton Dutton. Dutton was the island’s last private owner who used the area to conduct shrimp breeding experiments.
The city initiated preservation efforts with the help of state and conservation organizations, and Dutton Island Preserve was officially opened to the public in October 2002 with new amenities.
Kayak Launch at South end of Dutton Island
Our Adventure
At the trailhead on Dutton Island II, there are two trails – a driving path that takes you into the heart of the island to access the park’s features and a hiking / biking trail that outlines the exterior perimeter of the island. Along the hiking / biking trail, you can learn more about the island’s history and the natural flora that you’ll encounter along your journey.
We surrender to the wide open dirt shell trail on a grey, overcast morning with the smell of salt air and sounds of wildlife leading the way. We traverse muddy furrows and lob over longleaf pine and oak, ending up at the first primitive campsite in a circle of cabbage palms.
“Look, it’s a game!” a young boy shouts. It sure is. I marvel at the maze of live oak hammocks we’ve found ourselves in at the south end of the island. Meandering around loops of wiregrass and wildflowers, there’s a faint scurry of unidentifiable island creatures while we capture magnificent views of the salt marsh.
Intracoastal Waterway Marsh Observation at West side of Dutton Island
The island is surrounded by the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. At the first marsh observation viewing deck, a wooden pier leads to expansive views of the Intracoastal along the western shoreline. Cordgrass blows in the gentle breeze. Ships glide along the shimmering creek. Jagged oak limbs burst out of the tide. Small splashes and loud chirps amidst the otherwise serene horizon. Kayakers follow along the marked paddle trail through 350 acres of marsh.
Our excitement grows as we continue our hike through a forest of red cedar. A white heron slinks through the long green cordgrass. Small wooden bridges take us over drainage ditches. Rerouting due to high tide washouts, I halt us dead in our tracks, yielding to the marsh crabs by the million, quickly crawling into their frenzy of home crevices throughout the terrain.
We take a brief pause at the Lyman’s Point pier, where we watch fishermen bob in boats through creeks and marshes at the north tip of the island. We revel in one more overlook area as the wind picks up over the serene marsh landscape and brackish waters. Exiting the trail, there’s one more pillar of history, and we emerge from the sinking sands of Dutton Island.
Boardwalk at Lyman’s Point (North End) of Dutton Island
More Things to Do
Multi-use (hiking / biking) Trail – 1.6 miles
Nature Trail – 1.15 miles
Kayak / Canoe Launch – Put in at the south tip of the island, and you’ll be swept into the Intracoastal Waterway with a marked paddle trail through the marsh lands.
*Plan your trip around the tides. Many parts of the trail are not traversable during high tide, and many of Jacksonville’s other nature preserves are not accessible during low tide via kayak / canoe.
*At the kayak / canoe launch point, there is a parking area and picnic pavilion where you can relax and view a variety of birds such as herons, wood storks, egrets, spoonbills, and osprey.
Lyman’s Point – At the North End of the island, you’ll find a parking area and a wooden boardwalk out to a boat ramp, fishing pier, and observation deck.
Five Primitive Campsites – The sites do not have water or electricity. Hike or drive for access. Each has a fire pit, picnic pavilion, and a vast area to accommodate group camping. The campsites are secluded, surrounded by forests of tall slash pines and sandy earth covered in their needles. There is a restroom in the middle of the island.
The park is dog-friendly.
Hours – Sunrise to Sunset.
Explore More:
Looking for something to do on a sunny day?
Check out Jacksonville’s other nature preserves – Tide Views Preserve, Castaway Island Preserve, and Cradle Creek Preserve. These preserves are part of the Preservation Project Jacksonville started by former mayor John Delaney to protect historic and sensitive environments.
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