• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Florida Hikes logo

Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

  • Trails
  • Maps
  • Guidebooks
  • Search
  • Hike
    • Scenic Hikes
    • Loop Trails
    • Dog-friendly Hikes
    • Hikes for Kids
    • National Parks in Florida
    • Florida State Parks
  • Bike
    • Major Bike Trails
    • Paved Bike Trails
    • Off Road Biking
    • Biking Articles
  • Paddle
    • Canoe & Kayak Rentals
    • Paddling Destinations
    • Paddling Articles
  • Camp
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Car Camping
    • Primitive Camping
  • Florida Trail
    • Plan your Hike
    • Best Scenic Hikes
    • Best Backpacking
    • Section Hiking
    • Thru-Hiking
    • Trail Updates
  • Travel
  • Hike
    • Scenic Hikes
    • Loop Trails
    • Dog-friendly Hikes
    • Hikes for Kids
    • National Parks in Florida
    • Florida State Parks
  • Bike
    • Major Bike Trails
    • Paved Bike Trails
    • Off Road Biking
    • Biking Articles
  • Paddle
    • Canoe & Kayak Rentals
    • Paddling Destinations
    • Paddling Articles
  • Camp
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Car Camping
    • Primitive Camping
  • Florida Trail
    • Plan your Hike
    • Best Scenic Hikes
    • Best Backpacking
    • Section Hiking
    • Thru-Hiking
    • Trail Updates
  • Travel
Bartram Gardens & Trail Stetson

Bartram Gardens & Trail

Along the St. Johns River at Lake Beresford, discover the river anew through William Bartram’s eyes as he recorded his observations of alligators, fish, and flora in 1774

Stetson University  |  DeLand
( 29.000718, -81.355957 )      

1.3Kshares

While participating in an Bartram Adventure Tour in Palatka, we heard that the efforts to interpret the Bartrams’ travels between 1765-1774 would extend up the St. Johns River.

That time has come. On May 14, 2020, Stetson University and the Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience announced that they have opened the Bartram Gardens & Trail in DeLand.

Much of the impetus behind the project came from Tony Abbott, PhD, professor of environmental science and studies at Stetson.

He’s a Bartram scholar who saw the need for mapping the natural landscape along the St. Johns to William Bartram’s descriptions.

Bartram Gardens Tony Abbott, PhD, professor of environmental science and studies at Stetson University, contributed his William Bartram expertise to the Bartram Gardens & Trail and created a Bartram paddle map for one of the large kiosks. Photo credit: Stetson University/Ciara Ocasio


Essential to that mapping are the sketches Bartram made along the St. Johns, which are used for interpretation on site.

Members of the Bartram Committee in Putnam County, including Dean Campbell and Sam Carr, who we met in 2018, told us how they were able to acquire the illustrations from the Natural History Museum in London.

Contributions from Bartram experts, naturalists, the Bartram Committee in Putnam County, and designers from Sailforth Productions also added to the landscape design and site interpretation by Stetson faculty, students, and staff.

Bartram Gardens This Bartram Gardens & Trail sign panel features pen-and-ink drawings of fish that William Bartram had drawn while traveling on the St. Johns River. Photo credit: Stetson University/Ciara Ocasio


Resources

Resources for exploring the area surrounding the Bartram Gardens & Trail

50 Hikes in Central Florida 5 Star Trails Orlando Orlando & Central Florida: An Explorer's Guide Exploring Florida's Botanical Wonders

Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.


Overview

Location: DeLand
Trailhead: 29.000718, -81.355957
Address: 2636 Alhambra Ave, DeLand, FL 32720
Fees: Free
Restroom: Across from the parking area
Land manager: Stetson University
Phone: 386-822-7300

Open daily from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. No smoking. Access may be restricted during special events.

Leashed pets welcome. You must pick up after them. Fishing is allowed on the pier or shore, FWC freshwater license required.

Do not swim or wade along the shore. Alligators and cottonmouths may be present. Children should not be left unsupervised.

Alcohol and glass containers are prohibited.


Directions

 
From Interstate 4, take exit 114. Drive towards DeLand on SR 472 for 3.5 miles to where it meets US 17/92 south. Exit towards DeLand and make the left onto SR 15 (DeLand bypass) after 1.6 miles. Turn left on W Beresford Ave after 1.8 miles. Turn right on S. Beresford Ave after 1.5 miles. In a quarter mile, make a sharp left on Old New York Ave. Drive 0.9 mile west to Hontoon Rd (CR 4125). Continue 0.9 mile to Alhambra Ave and follow it east until it ends. The parking area and entrance to the gardens is on the north end of the property after the road makes a sharp left turn past the Aquatic Center complex.

About the Gardens and Trail

Set along the shoreline of Lake Beresford at the Sandra Stetson Aquatic Center, the new Bartram Gardens & Trail offers a new perspective on the lake.

It features trails through the forested shoreline out to observation points on the lake, as well as a fishing pier and canoe and kayak launch.

Bartram Gardens The Bartram Gardens & Trail features a lush, tree-lined path that leads to Lake Beresford.
Photo credit: Stetson University/Ciara Ocasio


William Bartram paddled into Lake Beresford in 1774, describing it and other locations along the river in his Travels, published in 1779.

Along the pathways are informative kiosks about Bartram’s descriptions of the area as well as interpretive information about native plants mentioned by Bartram.

Bartram’s illustrations accompany the detailed information on plants and animals.

Bartram Gardens The Bartram Gardens & Trail sign panel features pen-and-ink drawings of fish that William Bartram had drawn while traveling on the St. Johns River. Photo credit: Stetson University/Ciara Ocasio


A wide open lawn under the grand live oaks showcases the beauty of Lake Beresford, which previously had no public access on its western shoreline.

A broad, accessible paved walkway leads to the overlook on Lake Beresford and to the large pavilion.

Bartram Gardens The Bartram Gardens & Trail includes six large, interpretive kiosks that feature literary descriptions and pen-and-ink drawings and paintings of the creatures, fauna and plants William Bartram encountered while exploring the DeLand area. Photo credit: Stetson University/Ciara Ocasio


Bark chip trails meander through the wooded hammock at the north end of the gardens.

An adjoining stormwater pond is being renovated to recreate a native pond with aquatic plants and a rain garden at the outfall.

A nearby pollinator garden that was Garden Club of DeLand’s Garden of the Month this past February is another campus beauty spot designed by faculty and maintained by students.

Paddlers can put in at the canoe and kayak launch to explore Lake Beresford sites mentioned by Bartram and noted on the paddling map.

This site is part of the River of Lakes Heritage Corridor in Volusia County.

Bartram Gardens The Bartram Gardens & Trail is situated on the shore of scenic Lake Beresford.
Photo credit: Stetson University/Ciara Ocasio


Gardens Map

Bartram Gardens The sign panel provides information about the Bartram Gardens & Trail.
Photo credit: Stetson University/Ciara Ocasio


Paddling Map

Bartram Gardens Stetson University students, history aficionados and water enthusiasts can canoe or kayak to areas where William Bartram traveled during his expedition along Lake Beresford and other waterways as well as visit the Bartram Gardens & Trail. Photo credit: Sailforth Productions


Related Articles

Bartram Adventure Tour

On a Bartram Adventure Tour

On a guided Bartram Adventure Tour, we hiked, biked, and paddled to follow the travels of William and John Bartram along the St. Johns River in Palatka, Florida

Bartram Trail Welaka

Paddling the Bartram Trail in Welaka

Learning how botanists William and John Bartram traveled along the St. Johns River in the 1700s, I followed an experienced river guide for a look at part of the Bartram National Recreation Trail from the water on our Bartram Adventure Tour in Palatka.

Explore More!

Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Boardwalk at Blue Spring

Blue Spring Boardwalk

If you’ve never seen manatees by the dozens, let alone a hundred or more at once, there is no better place in Florida to watch these gentle giants than the Blue Spring Boardwalk in the wintertime

Hontoon Island

Hontoon Island State Park

An island in the St. Johns River, Hontoon Island State Park is accessible to boaters thanks to a marina big enough to accommodate a houseboat and to everyday visitors by a free ferryboat. It’s worth the short trip to see the bounteous wildlife of the St. Johns River, from wading birds to manatees to turtles lying in the sun.

St Francis Trail

St. Francis Trail

One of Central Florida’s most scenic and easy-to-follow day hikes, the 7.9-mile St. Francis Trail traverses the southeastern corner of the Ocala National Forest

Clear spring water between palm trees

Gemini Springs Park

With nearly 5 miles of gentle woodland paths and paved trails, playgrounds, picnic area, paddling trail and a dog park, Gemini Springs Park is a popular, well-connected getaway

Bartram in Volusia River of Lakes Official Website

Category: Access by water, Campuses, Gardens, Hikes, Launch Points, Nature Trails, Paddling, Parks, TrailsTag: Accessible, Bartram Trail, Birding, Deland, Dog-friendly, Family-Friendly, Fishing, Historic Sites, Lakefront, St. Johns River, Wildflowers, Wildlife Viewing

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

CENTRAL FLORIDA

CENTRAL FLORIDA OVERVIEW
East Coast Greenway. Florida Trail

Brooksville. Coast to Coast Trail. Cocoa Beach. Cross Florida Greenway. Crystal River. Dade City. Daytona Beach. Kissimmee. Lakeland. Leesburg. Ocala. Ocala National Forest. Orlando. Sanford. St. Petersburg. Tampa.

Our Newest Books

Discovering the Florida Trail

Florida Trail mini coffee table book cover of trail into palm hammock

A visual journey the length of the Florida Trail, covering more than 1,500 miles from the Everglades to Pensacola Beach. Hardcover, 196 pages. $24.95 + tax and shipping.

Order Now

Florida Trail Hikes

Florida Trail HikesThe best day hikes, overnights, and weekend trips on the Florida Trail. Full hike descriptions and maps, full color. 376 pages. $24.95 + tax and shipping.

Order Now


50 Hikes in Central Florida
Explorers Guide North Florida Panhandle
The Florida Trail Guide (third edition)
Five Star Trails Orlando
Five Star Trails Gainesville & Ocala

The Florida Trail

Florida Trail large coffee table book cover of trail down swamp causeway under ancient pines

Our history of the first 50 years of the Florida Trail, from its founding in 1966 to becoming a National Scenic Trail to volunteer efforts today.

Learn More

Florida Trail App

Guthook GuidesGuthook Guides Comprehensive logistics and offline maps for the Florida National Scenic Trail.

Get the App!

Explore More

Our recent park & trail updates in this region

Trail under oaks flanked by ferns

Edward Medard Conservation Park

Edward Medard Conservation Park
Cabbage palms adjoining a trail

Cockroach Bay Nature Preserve

Cockroach Bay Nature Preserve
Florida myrtle blooming next to a trail with a puddle

Pine Lily Preserve

Pine Lily Preserve
Nice view of pond with clouds reflecting in water

Hidden Pond Preserve

Hidden Pond Preserve

Footer

FIND A TRAIL OR PARK

NORTHWEST FLORIDA
Apalachicola. Apalachicola National Forest. Blackwater River State Forest. Blountstown. Bonifay. Bristol. Cape San Blas. Carrabelle. Chattahoochee. Chipley. Crawfordville. Crestview. DeFuniak Springs. Destin. Ebro. Eglin Air Force Base. Fort Walton Beach. Freeport. Gulf Islands National Seashore. Madison. Marianna. Milton. Monticello. Mossy Head. Navarre Beach . Niceville. Panama City Beach. Pensacola. Ponce De Leon. Port St. Joe. Quincy. Sopchoppy. South Walton. St. Marks. St. Marks NWR. Tallahassee. Vernon. Wakulla. Wewahitchka

NORTH FLORIDA
Alachua. Amelia Island. Baldwin. Branford. Bunnell. Cedar Key. Chiefland. Dowling Park. Ellaville. Fernandina Beach. Flagler Beach. Gainesville. Green Cove Springs. High Springs. Jacksonville. Keystone Heights. Lake Butler.Lake City. Live Oak. Mayo. Macclenny. Micanopy. Olustee. Orange Park. Osceola National Forest. Palatka. Palatka-Lake Butler Trail. Palm Coast. Perry. Salt Springs. St. Augustine. Starke. Steinhatchee. Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. Suwannee Springs. Talbot Islands. Timucuan Preserve. Trenton. Welaka. White Springs. Williston

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

MULTI-REGION
Big Cypress Swamp. East Coast Greenway. Everglades National Park. Florida National Scenic Trail

CENTRAL FLORIDA
Apopka. Belleview. Brandon. Brooksville. Bushnell. Canaveral National Seashore. Christmas. Chuluota. Clearwater Beach. Clermont. Coast to Coast Trail. Cocoa Beach. Cross Florida Greenway. Crystal River. Dade City. Daytona Beach. De Leon Springs. DeBary. Deland. Deltona. Dunedin. Dunnellon. Frostproof. Geneva. Inverness. Kenansville. Kissimmee. Lake Mary. Lake Wales. Lakeland. Largo. Leesburg. Longwood. Melbourne. Melbourne Beach. Merritt Island. Merritt Island NWR. Mims. Mount Dora. New Port Richey. New Smyrna Beach. Ocala. Ocala National Forest. Ocklawaha. Orlando. Ormond Beach. Osteen. Oviedo. Palm Bay. Ridge Manor. Sanford. Silver Springs. Spring Hill. St. Cloud. St. Petersburg. Tampa. Tarpon Springs. Titusville . Walt Disney World. Weeki Wachee. Winter Springs. Withlacoochee State Forest. Withlacoochee State Trail. Yeehaw Junction

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Bradenton . Charlotte Harbor. Ding Darling NWR. Englewood. Estero. Fort Myers. Immokalee. Naples. Pine Island. Port Charlotte. Punta Gorda. Sanibel Island. Sarasota. Venice

SOUTH FLORIDA
Arcadia. Basinger. Big Cypress National Preserve. Big Cypress Seminole Reservation. Clewiston. Everglades City. Fisheating Creek. Lake Okeechobee. Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail. Lake Placid. LaBelle. Lakeport. Moore Haven. Okeechobee. Pahokee. Port Mayaca. Sebring. South Bay

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA
Big Pine Key. Biscayne Bay. Biscayne National Park. Boca Raton. Boynton Beach. Coral Gables. Davie. Delray Beach. Northeast Everglades Natural Area. Florida Keys. Fort Lauderdale. Fort Pierce. Hobe Sound. Hollywood. Homestead. Islamorada. Jensen Beach. Jupiter. Juno Beach. Key Biscayne. Key Largo. Key West. Marathon. Miami. Ocean to Lake Greenway. Overseas Heritage Trail. Palm Beach. Port St. Lucie. Redland. Sebastian. Stuart. Vero Beach. West Palm Beach

  • Trails
  • Parks
  • Beaches
  • Gardens
  • Springs
  • Ecotours
  • Attractions
©2006-2021, Sandra Friend & John Keatley | Disclosure | Site Index | Work with Us | Advertise with Us
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy | Florida Hikes PO Box 93 Mims FL 32754| Contact