Sierra Club Northeast Florida Group

St. Johns County Parks and Recreation and the Sierra Club have partnered to provide military veterans with all abilities the opportunity to paddleboard our unique waterways in SJC.

We will get you in hard-to-reach areas to fish without the hassle of a boat. All gear and bait provided.

Come and see the oldest homestead in Flagler County located in this 1500 acre off-the-beaten path location. We will explore 5 miles of trails along the Pellicer Creek and through the saltwater marsh. The hunting lodge, with a wrap-around porch, overlooks the saltwater marsh and has several rocking chairs to enjoy the view. The lodge is available to tour on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 pm, but on a limited basis. We will also see the first in-ground artesian fed swimming pool in Florida. Princess Place Preserve offers camping sites, a canoe/kayak launch, 3 cabin rentals, equestrian trails, walking trails and plenty of room for families to enjoy the day. There will be an opportunity to enjoy a picnic lunch after the hike.

The terrain is flat and mostly hard packed dirt. One trail has a sidewalk and will lead us to a small observation area. Another trail has some muddy areas and we will need to walk close along the edge of the trail. Each of the trails has minimal tripping hazards. Young children are welcome as long as they are able and willing to walk the distance. For the safety and comfort of the group pets will not be able to join on this hike. Bring sunscreen, repellent, snack, and water. Restrooms are located close to the Ranger Office.

DIRECTIONS AND MEETING LOCATION: The preserve is located at 2500 Princess Place Road, Palm Coast. From Jacksonville take 95 south to exit 298. Take a right, then travel 1.5 miles until you enter a traffic circle and follow to Old Kings Road. Pass a Pellicer Creek sign and continue for another 1.5 miles until you see the sign for Princess Place Preserve on the left. Continue down the dirt road (bypassing the equestrian trail parking lot on the left). Continue straight, pass through a metal gate, over a wooden bridge and follow signs for the Ranger Office. We will meet in the parking area. There’s a large grassy area between the parking lot and Ranger Office that’s located at the hunting lodge.

This is a Sierra Club Military Outdoors event - a joint Sierra Club Northeast Florida and YMCA outing - FOR ACTIVE AND FORMER MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES ONLY.

We'll start at the famous Ribault Club on Ft. George Island and hike to Kingsley Plantation. Along the way, we'll:

• Learn about the local Timucuan settlements
• Learn about the Ribault Club heydays
• Climb Mount Cornelia (elevation 64 feet), the highest point in this coastal region
• Talk about the mysterious "Oddball" discovered nearby by the Betz Family (see the WJCT podcast on "Oddball")
• Visit the once-busy port of Point Isabel.

We'll spend an hour or so visiting historic Kingsley Plantation, then return. Total distance is about four miles of flat, easy trails.

Join your Sierra Club and UNF’s Rhonda Gracie for an unforgettable botanical adventure starting with a guided garden tour of the UNF native gardens. After the tour, we will help Rhonda rejuvenate the natural areas by eliminating the invasive plants, like Coral Ardisia, that threaten native habitats and wildlife. UNF will provide lunch for all participants with optional kayaking available for those who are interested.

We'll hike about 8 miles on the Florida Trail from the Ranger Station at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park through the west end of the Park, then cross over into Camp Blanding, where we will pass by several beautiful lakes and visit historic (and now inactive) Lake Magnolia State Park - one of Florida's last African-American parks during the ugly period of segregation. The terrain is flat and fairly smooth through pine flatwoods. This hike is the first of several hikes we will be leading on the Florida Trail over the next few months. Stay in touch for more as they are scheduled.

We will meet at the Treat Road trailhead at 8:45 am, then combine in cars and drive to our starting point at the Ranger Station on Gold Head Branch State Park, then hike back to Treat Road.

It is hunting season in the Camp Blanding area which covers half of our hike route. Please wear an item of blaze orange clothing for your safety. I will have a limited supply of orange hats and vests with me if you need.

Bring sunscreen, bug spray, and plenty of water. No pets. Restrooms at the Gold Head Branch ranger station.

The Theodore Roosevelt Area of the Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve is a 600-acre natural treasure of hardwood forest, wetlands, and scrub vegetation. Please join us for a 4-mile hike beginning at Spanish Pond in which we will traverse several of the trails. Named for the pre-Columbian Timucua Indians, the Preserve encompasses a 46,000-acre area that represents 6,000 years of human history in the area. It is primarily natural acreage with hiking trails and vast grassland supporting both water and land animals.

No pets or children on this hike. At 8:45 am, we will meet in the parking lot at the Spanish Pond Trail located directly ACROSS THE STREET from the Fort Caroline National Memorial (National Park Service) which is at 12713 Fort Caroline Road, Jacksonville, FL 32225. Please note there are rest rooms at the Memorial, but none at the parking lot across the street from which we will commence our hike. Please note the second picture I posted, you will see this sign on Ft. Caroline Rd, please turn right to Spanish Pond. You will know you are at the right place if you see the sign in the first picture 'Spanish Pond'.

We will complete our pre-hike activities and be on the trail by 9 am. During our hike, we will make brief stops at the ruins of Willie Browne’s cabin site, the newly gated gravesite, and the Observation Tower overlooking the marsh areas. The trails are relatively flat, with some slight elevations. Because of the deep roots on the trail, please be careful of your footing.

I would suggest hiking shoes, trail runners or running shoes with tread, water, sunscreen and bug repellent*.

Scott's number is 904-307-5916 if you have any questions.

Cancellation Policy: Event will be held rain or shine, but may be canceled if weather threatens safety such as in the case of lightning or high winds in the forecast. Also, if the heat index is forecast to be over 103, then the outing will be canceled. Participants are advised to check Meetup for current status before traveling to the event. Events may need to be canceled at short notice.