Among ecologically rich estuaries and vast salt marshes between the St. Johns and Nassau Rivers, 7 Creeks Recreation Area interconnects miles of multi-use trails.
Protecting over 5,000 acres of sensitive habitats, this remarkable wildlife corridor is a collaborative effort between several land managers with neighboring properties.
7 Creeks Trail markerThe 7 Creeks Trail highlights this inter-agency cooperation, tracing a linear path across four of the parcels.
It connects Betz-Tiger Point Preserve, Pumpkin Hill Creek State Park, Cedar Point Preserve, and Timucuan Preserve.
At its southern end, trail connectivity was made possible by a large bridge spanning Pumpkin Hill Creek.
Pumpkin Hill CreekResources
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Overview
Location: Jacksonville
Length: 7.2 miles
Trailhead: 30.499000, -81.497944 (northern terminus), 30.444472, -81.463861 (southern terminus)
Address: 13990 Pumpkin Hill Rd, Jacksonville
Fees: Free
Restrooms: Near the northern terminus.
Land manager: City of Jacksonville, Florida State Parks, National Park Service
Phone: 904-374-1107
Open sunrise to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome. Cyclists and equestrians are permitted to use portions of the route as posted.
Directions
From the junction of Interstate 295 and Interstate 95 in north Jacksonville, head east on I-295 for 0.7 mile before taking the off ramp onto US 17 heading north. In 0.4 mile, turn right onto New Berlin Rd, continuing for 1.9 miles before taking a right to remain on New Berlin Rd. Stay straight in three miles where Cedar Point Rd begins and continue another 4.7 miles before turning left onto Pumpkin Hill Rd. Follow the road for 2.9 miles to the end. Parking for the trailhead is on the left side of the road. To reach the southern terminus, stay straight on Cedar Point Rd instead of turning left onto Pumpkin Hill Rd, continuing for 2.1 miles to the end. Parking is available on the road shoulder.
Hike
Starting at the Edwards Creek Trailhead in Betz-Tiger Point Preserve, cross the dirt road to follow a paved pathway into the woods.
In less than a hundred feet, a detailed map kiosk stands alongside the walkway where the 7 Creeks Trail makes a sharp turn to the south.
The paved path continues northward, ending in 0.2 mile at a pier overlooking Edwards Creek.
Picnic pavilion at the trailheadLeaving the pavement, fiberglass trail markers lead the way along a palmetto lined corridor dotted with young slash pines.
Turn left at a trail junction in 0.5 mile, following a narrow pathway through coastal hammock, catching an occasional view of expansive salt marshes beyond the dense vegetation.
Salt marsh viewAt 1.4 miles, a short side path heads out to a wooden overlook on Pumpkin Hill Creek.
Continue southward, crossing the dirt road once more before a map kiosk indicates the boundary of Pumpkin Hill State Park.
The preserve’s narrow path opens to a sandy access road as the landscape gradually transitions from a shady hammock to open flatwoods.
Map kioskThis section of trail is shared with equestrians, following a mostly straight route across pine savannas for another mile before veering eastward to cross paved Pumpkin Hill Road.
The trail weaves through a parcel of mixed oak and pine forest for 0.8 mile, eventually curving back and crossing the road once again.
Scrubby flatwoodsCross Cedar Point Road at 4.5 miles. Fiberglass markers guide visitors along the trail as it winds through a hammock and passes a hidden lake surrounded by mesic flatwoods.
The first of several side paths intersect the trail at 0.6 mile. Stay straight to remain on the main path, designated with a seven inside of a circle.
Mesic flatwoodsAfter passing through a stand of planted pines, enter a shady oak canopy where a pair of picnic benches provide resting spots at a four-way junction of trails.
In a quarter mile, turn left at a sign with a bridge symbol, following the trail eastward for another half mile to the salty shoreline of Pumpkin Hill Creek.
Cedar Point PreserveAn impressive bridge spans this tidal creek, complete with two sets of built-in benches near the midpoint.
Crossing to the other side, follow a grassy pathway into the Cedar Point unit of Timucuan Preserve, a national park.
Pumpkin Hill Creek BridgePines give way to grand live oaks draped with Spanish moss as the forest community shifts to a maritime hammock filled with cabbage palms and a variety of hardwood trees.
This wide, shaded pathway continues eastward for 0.9 mile, ending at the trail’s southern terminus alongside Cedar Point Road.
Maritime hammockTrail Map
Explore More!
Video
Hiking the 7 Creeks Trail
Nearby Adventures
Betz-Tiger Point Preserve On a peninsula where the Timucua used the surrounding estuary for sustenance, Betz-Tiger Point Preserve provides more than six miles of breezy trails.
Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve Trails With interconnections to adjoining public lands, the extensive trail network at Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park connects more than 15 miles of trails to many miles more. 
Cedar Point Preserve A well-marked system of multiuse paths lead to salt marsh overlooks and an impressive bridge over Pumpkin Hill Creek, connecting with adjacent Timucuan Preserve.
Bogey Creek Preserve A well-interpreted and easy loop hike honors the legacy of a Jacksonville author who left her waterfront homestead for future generations to enjoy.
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