Tails on Jacksonville Trails
Ed Austin Regional Park
Ed Austin Regional Park
One of my favorite paved paths in Jacksonville, Florida is the 1.75-mile walking path at Ed Austin Regional Park. It winds around a big lake surrounded by a lush forest with pine needles that stick to my paws. There are benches along the way, but who wants to sit during a game of disc golf? People take turns throwing colorful frisbees into metal containers, and depending on their aim, I get to chew on the flying discs for a moment! Kids shoot through hoops with the biggest ball I’ve ever seen. There are lots of other people biking, running, and skateboarding. Some even stop to say how cute I am and give me a pat on the head. In the distance, a loud microphone reveals baseball game scores. Sometimes we all go past the lake together for a good game of fetch. Other times we stop at the dog park to see my pals. Back along the walking path, we pass through a small forest where I make friends with turtles, rabbits, and cats while Mom breathes in the ferns and Dad takes photos of the sun setting through the trees.
Cami’s Park Tip…
There are separate dog parks for small and large dogs (free of charge).
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Losco Regional Park
Losco Regional Park
My boots are strapped, and my treats are packed to journey along the Red Loop Trail at Losco Regional Park. Red connects to white and white connects to blue and before you know it, we are all lost in the forest. Now I wish I packed more treats! I feel stringy pine needles and roots protruding as we hike through 3.1-miles of tall pines to the sky, magnolia trees, and sabal palm that I almost get a taste of. Off-road bikers zoom by us along the trail. Sometimes, we stay out of the woods because the trails get muddy when it rains, so we take the paved sidewalk instead around a pond where Dad captures photos of large birds and Mom wanders merrily through the live oaks draping with Spanish moss. The 0.5-mile paved loop surrounds picnic pavilions, a splash park, and a playground where kids splash and swing in the sun. My tail wags on and on.
Cami’s Park Tip…
Pack enough water and treats and transcend out of the city bustle on this 3.1-mile trail system.
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Cradle Creek Preserve
Cradle Creek Preserve
We set out for the loop around Cradle Creek Preserve, and I’m welcomed by loud woodpeckers, scurrying lizards, and smelly skunks. They’re all along our route as my snout takes me down a long wet wooden boardwalk through a canopy of wild live oaks, longleaf pines, and saw palmetto. We reach an overlook area where we view the creek running through marshy sea grass and tall barren palm tree stumps. In my excitement, I pull toward the next boardwalk. The wooden walls hinder my expedition, but the wind carries us along the 1.0-mile dirt trail that ends with a loop through cypress trees wrapped in Spanish moss. The bottomland swamps are surrounded by red maple, shrubs, and overgrown fern. Mom and Dad walk hand-in-hand and read some signs along the way. I leave some muddy paw prints behind on the last boardwalk that features a canoe/kayak landing along the Pablo Creek Estuary.
Cami’s Park Tip…
Slow down to read the interpretative signage along the trail to learn more about the preserve’s cultural history and local natural environment.
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Castaway Island Preserve
Castaway Island Preserve
I plant my paws on the painted animal footprints along the 1-mile Island Trail lined with loblolly pines. There are raccoon, deer, and snake tracks, but I only encounter a gopher tortoise along our route. We take the winding path together toward my favorite place in Castaway Island Preserve – a boardwalk that overlooks the salt marsh. With smells of cedar, palms, and picnic leftovers, the animal prints are the only thing that keeps me tracking our destination. My paws feel warm on the rough wooden planks that lead us above the wetland preserve. I look down at the marsh crabs scurrying beneath us. They’re so small and meticulous with their every move across the marsh. The bubbling tidal creek makes me thirsty in the hot Florida day. My ears flop a lot because my parents walk fast, but I can still hear sounds of herons, egrets, and wood storks. At the end of the boardwalk, we reach the swampy Intracoastal waterway. The tall black tipped sea grass blocks some of my view, but I finally feast my eyes on the green marsh for miles. We have the overlook to ourselves. Mom and Dad sit on the only wooden bench together. My paws are sturdy on the planks. They’ve guided me into the depths of another place where the yellow sun sets and white boats bob along the crisp blue tide in the evening breeze.
Cami’s Park Tip…
Next to the canoe/kayak launch, there is a private covered overlook of the estuary – bring your own seat!
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Tide Views Preserve
Tide Views Preserve
My four legs won’t carry me fast enough across a short boardwalk to reach the water at Tide Views Preserve. We hike through giant sprawling oak trees along the 0.7-mile loop trail. At the end of another long boardwalk with a canoe/kayak launch, we finally reach the view of the tide! My paws are hot on the planks basked by the sun, so Dad guides me into a nice shaded spot where we sit on wooden benches together under a small canopy. We admire salt marsh, long green sea grass, and the bright blue sky. The wind pushes ripples in the water. Mom and Dad seem relaxed here, so we stay for a while until the sun sets within a bright red sky and another day of adventure comes to an end.
Cami’s Park Tip…
This preserve is a photographer’s dream with expansive panoramic views of summer sunsets over the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.
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