One of Florida’s oldest state parks, Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park opened in the 1930s. With facilities built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, it boasts classic “parkitecture” at Johnson Beach.
It is one of only a few state parks the Florida Trail traverses. This hike follows the original route of the Florida Trail across the middle of the park, convenient to camping and cabins.
The orange blazes have since been extended several additional miles both north and south of this section to exit points at the far corners of the park.
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Overview
Location: Keystone Heights
Length: 3 miles linear
Trailhead: 29.846850, -81.959783
Fees: state park entrance fee
Restroom: along the trail at Little Lake Johnson
Land Manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 904-473-4701
Open 8 AM to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome. Trails are hiking only.
If you’re continuing through the park on the Florida Trail or simply want to spend a night in the woods, call ahead to arrange a stay at the primitive campsite.
Park fees should be paid either online in advance or at the ranger station.
Directions
29.826686,-81.951677
29.831545,-81.946863
29.846850, -81.959783
Gold Head Branch State Park is located 6 miles north of Keystone Heights on SR 21. The Florida Trail north trailhead is just inside the park gate on the left hand side of the road. If you wish to make this a 3 mile linear hike, the south end of this hike is at the recreation hall above Little Lake Johnson.
Hike
Start this hike at the trailhead across the park road from the ranger station at the park entrance. Sign in at the register.
Meander through a forest of longleaf pine and turkey oak with an open understory towards Devils Washbasin, also known as Deer Lake.
This steep-sided sinkhole is surrounded by a sand pine forest. The trail reaches a double blaze and makes a left to follow a forest road away from the south edge of the lake.
Habitat shifts from sand pine scrub to sandhills as the trail descends towards the low spot in the terrain, a steephead ravine which is a centerpiece of the park.
Needle palms thrive in the bottom of the ravineGold Head Branch takes shape from the dripping of groundwater down the steep sides of this deep ravine.
The Florida Trail meets the Ravine Trail at a T intersection. Take a side trip down into this fern-filled bowl by turning right to head down, down, down to the bottom of the ravine.
Junction with Ravine Trail above the ravineThe short Fern Loop off the Ravine Trail lets you explore the steephead and see its burbling springs.
Gold Head Ridge and Ravine Trails A beauty spot with extreme elevation changes, Gold Head is best explored along the Ridge and Ravine Trails that guide you into and around the bottom of the steephead ravine.From its trail junction with the Ravine Trail, which now joins the Florida Trail southbound, the footpath hugs the lip of the ravine, with steep slopes downhill.
Tall pines indicate the other side of the broad ravineAt the next trail junction a bridge crosses Gold Head Branch at the former site of an old mill, connecting to the Mill Site Parking Area and the Loblolly Trail.
The Florida Trail climbs, tracing the path of the burbling water below as the steephead flattens out.
Bridge to the mill site and Loblolly TrailAt 2.3 miles, emerge at a forest road. Blue blazes lead north along the forest road to the designated primitive camping area.
At the campsite, tent sites are under a canopy of live oaks and hickories behind the shelter, with fire rings and railroad-tie benches.
The picnic shelter offers a view of Little Lake Johnson through the pinesaTurn right to follow the forest road, crossing Gold Head Branch. A bench adjoins. It’s a lovely spot to sit and enjoy the glassy water flowing past.
Pass a turnoff to the right for the Loblolly Trail before the trail veers into a picnic area, descending to the edge of Little Johnson towards the swimming beach.
Gold Head Branch at the wooden bridgeReaching the staircase at the beach, this is your decision point. A round-trip back to the entrance station trailhead is 6 miles.
Restrooms are in the bathhouse above, and the main parking area is at the top of the hill via an oddly undulating concrete path.
Beach at Little Lake JohnsonIf you want to continue forward on the orange blazes, the trail rambles for another mile and a half to a stile before exiting the park at its boundary fence.
Northbound from the entrance station trailhead, the Florida Trail continues into Camp Blanding.
Southbound / Northbound
Florida Trail, Gold Head to Smith Lake Preserve Southbound from Little Lake Johnson at Gold Head Branch State Park across Smith Lake Preserve, this 3.3 mile linear hike traverses upland forests along a trio of scenic lakes. 
Florida Trail, Camp Blanding Explore the high ground of Keystone Heights through sandhills and scrub on undulating terrain across forests managed by the Florida National Guard at Camp Blanding. Explore More
Learn more about the Northeast Florida section of the Florida Trail
Florida Trail, Northeast Florida Connecting public lands on this 123 mile stretch, the Florida Trail walks into the past through farms and timberlands between Palatka and Osceola National Forest.Learn more about Gold Head Branch State Park
Gold Head Branch State Park One of Florida's oldest state parks and notable for its Civilian Conservation Corps architecture, Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park offers a lesson in Florida topography.Slideshow
See our photos from Gold Head Branch State Park
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