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Grassy corridor amid tall planted pines

Florida Trail, Buckman Lock to SR 20

7.4 miles. Crisscrossing former timberlands and blackwater cypress swamps, the Florida Trail north of Buckman Lock highlights conservation efforts taken on land previously used for agriculture.

Florida Trail, Northeast Florida  |  Palatka
( 29.546762, -81.728280 )      7.4 miles

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When the Cross Florida Barge Canal project was brought to a halt in 1971, it was hailed as one of the greatest environmental wins in Florida.

Now part of the Florida State Parks System, the Cross Florida Greenway protects land spanning over a hundred miles west and several miles north of Buckman Lock.

Once it crosses this historic structure, the Florida Trail spans 7.4 miles of soggy yet scenic landscapes on its way north to Rice Creek Conservation Area.

Grassy corridor lined with pines and palmetto Corridor in the old timberlands


Resources

Resources for exploring the area

Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide book cover

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: Palatka
Length: 7.4 mile linear
Trailhead: 29.546414, -81.728126
Address: 210 Buckman Lock Rd, Palatka FL, 32177
Fees: Free
Restrooms: None
Land manager: Florida State Parks, Florida Fish & Wildlife, St. Johns River Water Management District.
Phone: 386-329-3575

Open sunrise to sunset. Leased dogs permitted.

Grassy trail corridor of pines


Directions

 
From SR 20 in Palatka, head south on SR 19 for seven miles, turning left at Buckman Lock Rd. In one mile, pass through a gate, and the parking lot will be on the left.

Hike

At the southwest corner of the parking area, a kiosk emblazoned with a Florida Trail shield sign displays information about the Cross Florida Greenway and Buckman Lock.

Starting from this kiosk, head north along Buckman Lock Road, crossing over SR 19 in one mile.

Buckman Lock and trail kiosk Kiosk at Buckman Lock trailhead


Across the road, follow an orange blaze into the woods, passing a trail register mailbox on the left. Initially, the trail follows a wide firebreak paralleling a forest road for 0.7 mile.

Sometimes the footing is better on one of these features than the other, though much of the ground is soggy throughout the year.

Planted pines and plowed fire break Forest road and firebreak


This corridor separates old pine plantation lands to the south, now protected, from private timberlands to the north.

Reaching the road’s end, cross a sturdy pole bridge and make a sharp right turn, heading north.

Pole bridge across a ditch Pole bridge


Following an old elevated logging road into a primordial cypress swamp, the sun is lost behind the canopy as wetland-adapted wildlife swirl in the dark waters.

Pillars of sweetgum and cypress line the fern-carpeted passageway through a dense green jungle while culverts allow somewhat natural flow under this artificial embankment.

Fern-lined two track road in a hydric hammock Jungle-like passageway


Cypress knees protrude from the murky flow beside grasses, cabbage palms and hickory trees.

This landscape continues for nearly a mile before the trail takes a sharp left turn around a depression, then onto a wide grassy path.

Blackwater swamp with palms and cypress Cabbage palms in the swamp


Continue northward for 0.6 mile, rounding another swamp depression and a section that is likely under shallow water year-round.

At the four-mile mark, turn left and follow a forest road for 0.2 mile before entering the Caravelle Ranch WMA.

Water filled ruts in grassy trail Soggy trail


After crossing an intersection of forest roads, the trail heads northward for another mile and a half on a well-maintained dirt road before turning right underneath high-tension powerlines.

The especially swampy banks of this electrical easement are home to buttonbush, interwoven with muscadine grape and passion vines.

Buttonbush bloom and gulf fritillary butterfly Buttonbush and gulf fritillary


In 0.1 mile, the trail dives back into a former pine plantation, crossing rows of pines over an unnaturally undulating forest floor.

Despite the evidence of past agricultural use, the forest appears to be recovering, supporting a variety of flora in the understory.

trail among pine trees Old pine plantation


Crossing the boundary into Rice Creek Conservation area in half a mile, the trail continues through similar lands for another mile before reaching a tall fence meant to keep wildlife off SR 20.

A gate allows hikers to pass through, although an often water-filled ditch waits on the other side. Since you’ve likely already gotten wet feet, depth is the only issue.

While SR 20 marks the end of this segment, the Florida Trail continues directly north across SR 20 into the 9 Mile Swamp section of Rice Creek Conservation Area.

Gate with FNST symbol and water filled ditch in front of it Gate and unbridged ditch at SR 20


Trail Map

Florida Trail map Buckman Lock to SR 20
Orange is route described, red Florida Trail north and south

Explore More!

Learn more about the Florida Trail in Northeast Florida

Florida Trail at Rice Creek

Florida Trail, Northeast Florida

123 miles. Showcasing the best public lands, the Florida Trail walks you into the past between Palatka and Osceola National Forest, through rural farms and timber lands.


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Florida Trail, Rice Creek

Florida Trail, Rice Creek

Home of ancient cypress trees and the remains of a 1700s rice plantation, Rice Creek Conservation Area has a fascinating loop trail along the statewide Florida Trail

Florida Trail north of Farles Prairie

Ocala National Forest

Established in 1908 as the first National Forest east of the Mississippi, the Ocala National Forest is a mecca for hikers and campers, and the birthplace of the Florida Trail

Palatka-Lake Butler State Trail

Palatka-Lake Butler Trail

With a corridor spanning nearly 50 miles through North Florida, the Palatka-Lake Butler State Trail provides paved trail for riders and an unpaved corridor used by the Florida Trail

Swinging bridge at Ravine Gardens

Ravine Gardens State Park

With swinging bridges over a deep ravine painted in bright colors by azaleas each February, Ravine Gardens State Park offers hiking and biking loops in Palatka

NORTHBOUND: SR 20 to Rice Creek Loop
SOUTHBOUND: Rodman to Buckman Lock

Buckman Lock Caravelle Ranch

Category: Backpacking, Day Hikes, Florida Trail, Hikes, North Florida, Trails, Water Management Areas, Wildlife Management AreasTag: Florida Trail, FT NE Florida, Palatka, Wildlife Viewing

Reader Interactions

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Our Florida Trail Books

The Florida Trail Guide

The Florida Trail GuideThe comprehensive mile-by-mile guidebook to planning section and thru-hikes along the entire length of the Florida Trail. 356 pages, $19.95 + tax and shipping.

Order Now


Florida Trail Hikes

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

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Discovering the Florida Trail

Florida Trail mini coffee table book cover of trail into palm hammock
Our virtual walk along 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


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

The Florida Trail App

Comprehensive logistics and offline maps all in one: The Florida Trail Guide is now also an interactive map-based mile-by-mile app by Guthook Guides.

Get the App!

Florida Trail Updates


Get periodic recaps of changes to the Florida Trail, which we accumulate between editions of our guidebook. Find all official Trail Closures & Notices here.

Hiking the Florida Trail

  • Florida Trail Overview
  • Plan your Hike
  • Choose the Right Gear
  • Best Scenic Hikes
  • Best Backpacking Trips
  • Section Hiking
  • Thru-Hiking
  • Eastern Continental Trail
  • Florida Trail in South Florida
  • Florida Trail in Central Florida
  • Florida Trail in North Florida
  • Florida Trail in Northwest Florida
  • Florida Trail for Scouting
  • Florida Trail Adventures
  • Florida Trail Updates

Florida Trail by Section

Porter Lake, Apalachicola National Forest

Florida Trail, Apalachicola

Florida Trail, Apalachicola
Florida Trail Big Bend view

Florida Trail, Big Bend

Florida Trail, Big Bend
Florida Trail Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Blackwater

Florida Trail, Blackwater
Florida Trail Nokuse

Florida Trail, Central Panhandle

Florida Trail, Central Panhandle
Eglin Weaver Creek

Florida Trail, Eglin

Florida Trail, Eglin
Florida Trail Kissimmee

Florida Trail, Kissimmee

Florida Trail, Kissimmee
Florida Trail at Rice Creek

Florida Trail, Northeast Florida

Florida Trail, Northeast Florida
Juniper Prairie Wilderness

Florida Trail, Ocala

Florida Trail, Ocala
Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail

Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail

Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail
Florida Trail, Okeechobee

Florida Trail, Okeechobee

Florida Trail, Okeechobee
Florida Trail at Forever Florida

Florida Trail, Orlando

Florida Trail, Orlando
Florida Trail Seashore Dunes

Florida Trail, Seashore

Florida Trail, Seashore
Florida Trail along a canal south of Clewiston

Florida Trail, Seminole

Florida Trail, Seminole
No Name Creek

Florida Trail, Suwannee

Florida Trail, Suwannee
Cypress Lakes Preserve

Florida Trail, Western Corridor

Florida Trail, Western Corridor

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