Hiking the Willie Browne Trail at Theodore Roosevelt Area
Park Overview
Jacksonville, Florida is home to Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, one of Florida’s National Parks, which contains 46,000 acres of hiking, biking, kayaking, and equestrian use trails. Today, coastal wetlands cover ¾ of the preserve. From paddling along the salt marsh and discovering a historic site to trekking through pine flatwoods, there is something for everyone.
Within the park, the Theodore Roosevelt Area is comprised of 600 acres of maritime hammock forest, mounds of shell midden, and tidal salt marsh. The area was donated by William “Willie” Henry Browne III, the land’s last private owner who lived his entire life on this property. Just before his death in 1970, Willie donated his land to the Nature Conservancy for preservation and requested that the land be named for his hero, Teddy Roosevelt. In 1990, this land became a part of the National Park Service.
Willie Browne
The Willie Browne Legacy
Willie’s parents moved to this remote location outside of Jacksonville around 1890 to protect him from the yellow fever epidemic that took the lives of their two earlier children. The Browne family lived here in an existing two-story home overlooking the marsh, where Willie and his brother Saxon were homeschooled and tended to vegetable gardens and farm animals.
A fire destroyed the Browne’s family home in the early 1900s, and Willie and Saxon decided to stay on the property and build their own one-room cabin where they would live the remainder of their lives. They farmed, fished, hunted, worked on a sawmill, and had other odd jobs to get by. Developers continually offered Willie millions of dollars for his property, but he refused to sell. Willie grew a deep connection and appreciation for nature and wanted to ensure the land was preserved for all to enjoy Old Florida.
Willie Browne Trailhead
Willie Browne Trail
Launching from Theodore Roosevelt parking area, hike or bike along the Willie Browne Trail, a 1.5-mile loop where you can learn more about Willie and immerse in native flora and fauna. Wander the path through canopies of oak wrapped in Spanish moss and bright purple beauty berries on the trail’s edges.
Follow the blue blazes of the present-day Willie Browne Trail over Hammock Creek and up to the old cabin site where only the foundations and door frame remain. View the Browne family cemetery along the return loop, where Willie, Saxon, and their parents are buried.
Willie Browne Cabin Site
The Willie Browne Trail connects to all other trails within the Theodore Roosevelt Area, and you can hop on the Timucuan Trail to reach the Round Marsh Observation Tower. Along the way, you’ll traverse pine flatwoods, oak hammock, and tidal marsh.
Approaching the Observation Tower, hike along hills of white sands, shell midden, and salt marsh. At the tip of the island, discover a vast view of the St. Johns River, tall cordgrass, and dozens of bird species such as the roseate spoonbill, wood stork, and snowy egret.
Round Marsh Observation Tower View
Willie donated the land to the public because he believed we all need “a place in the woods to go to.” Today, the land remains unspoiled just as Willie dreamed.
Browne Family Cemetery
“There’s a lot that’s disappearing (land), but people are waking up to the fact there’s not much left. Pretty soon there will come a day when there will be nothing but a concrete jungle from New York City to Jacksonville.”
- Willie Browne, 1969
Theodore Roosevelt Area Trail System
Willie Browne Trail – 1.5-mile loop (access from Theodore Roosevelt parking area) *biking allowed
Spanish Pond Trail – 1 mile (access across the street from Timucuan Preserve Visitor Center)
Timucuan Trail – 0.75 miles
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