North of the better-known Cary Tract with its Cary Nature Trail and campground, the Thomas Creek Tract of Cary State Forest offers a loop trail originating at the Whittmore Mill Recreation Area.
Named after the nearby unincorporated community of Dahoma, this well-maintained hiking-only route travels across pine forests that retain many natural features despite a long history of logging and turpentining.
Blue Trail markerResources
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Overview
Location: Callahan
Length: 1.1 miles
Trailhead: 30.475056, -81.897306
Address: Jennifer Rd, Callahan
Fees: $2 per vehicle
Restrooms: None
Land manager: Florida State Forests
Phone: 904-266-8398
Open sunrise to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome. Seasonal hunting occurs. Check hunting dates in advance. Wear bright orange if you choose to hike during hunts.
Directions
From Interstate 10 west of Jacksonville at Baldwin, head north on US 301 for 14.4 miles, passing the main entrance to Cary State Forest before turning right onto Jennifer Rd. It’s a dirt road marked with a small sign that is easy to miss. Continue 0.4 miles to the trailhead parking area.
Hike
Beginning at the trailhead kiosk, turn left to follow blue blazes into the woods, starting the loop on its slightly sunnier eastern half.
A well-defined path cuts through the flatwoods, weaving between columns of pines among a shrubby savanna of gallberry and saw palmetto.
Trailhead picnic tableAlong the way, interpretive signs reveal details about the area’s history and its natural habitats.
In a quarter mile, the trail curves westward towards a patch of wetlands after crossing a forest road and passing a bench.
Interpretive signageAs the path skirts a cypress dome, breaks in trailside foliage allow for glimpses of the seasonally flooded low area, where deeper exploration is possible when dry.
Continuing southward, a slight ascent in elevation lends to a drier forest floor as turkey oaks begin to dot the landscape.
Cypress domeTurn right at the half-mile mark, following blue blazes as the trail takes a sharp turn to follow a sandy forest road.
Deer moss clusters along the left side of the trail, where contoured terrain drops off into a canopy of bay trees in the hardwood forests edging Thomas Creek.
Dense forest along the creekThe trail begins to climb away from the creek at 0.7 miles, where a well-placed bench sits under the shade of a live oak.
From this point, follow the wide, mowed pathway as leads north through a grove of planted pines for another quarter mile, before finishing the loop at the trailhead.
Shaded benchTrail Map
Explore More!
Learn more about Cary State Forest
Cary State Forest Protecting more than 20 square miles of forest northwest of Jacksonville, Cary State Forest has over 20 miles of marked trails for hiking, biking, and equestrian use.Video
Hiking the Dahoma Historic Trail
Nearby Adventures
Cary Nature Trail In the vast mosaic of pines and cypress swamp west of Jacksonville protected by Cary State Forest, the 1.6 mile Cary Nature Trail makes a great family outing.
Camp Milton Historic Preserve On a walk through Camp Milton Historic Preserve, discover Civil War stories through a grove of historic trees that have tales to tell beneath their leafy shade.
Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail Following a historic railroad route that sparked the Battle of Olustee during the Civil War, the Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail spans 14.6 miles from Jacksonville to Baldwin.
Sal Taylor Creek Preserve Along a pine forested greenway, this preserve offers hikers numerous easy-to-hike trails, including a main trail that leads to a blackwater creek. 
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