Hike the Florida Trail from Gold Head Branch State Park through Camp Blanding

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.

You will need to register and sign a liability waiver. Please REGISTER NOW at this link: https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=701Po00000USQw5IAH

DIRECTIONS: Meet at the trailhead at the intersection of SR 21 and Treat Rd near Keystone Heights, FL. From Jax, take Blanding Blvd/SR 21 south through Orange Park and Middleburg. Continue south on SR 21 past Goldhead State Park. Go approximately 3.5 miles past Gold Head State Park to Treat Rd. and turn right. Coordinates are 29.8131, -82.0045.

Cancellation Policy: Event may be cancelled in case of rain or if weather threatens safety. Check Meetup for current status before traveling to the event. Events may need to be cancelled at short notice.

Help the environment by following these tips:
- Bring your water in a reusable container instead of a single-use plastic bottle
- Use sunscreen free of oxybenzone and octinoxate. These chemicals are extremely harmful to coral reefs, as well as being hormone disruptors in humans.

Sierra Club maintains a safe space agreement between participants, leaders, volunteers, and staff. We want to support everyone in exploring, enjoying, and protecting our natural environment, and hateful and dangerous behavior will not be tolerated. We don’t want to deny participation in these outdoor programs and we will always say no to racism, sexism, ageism, homophobia, impairment, and disruption. We request that all participants cooperate with the outing leader's direction to ensure a safe and enjoyable outing for everyone.