Florida Hikes

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

View from a river bluff with river below and ridges beyond

Garden of Eden Trail

Try one of Florida’s toughest day hikes on for size: local legend has it this was the Garden of Eden, and from the lush forests and rare flora along this trek, they might be on to something.

Bristol (30.454612, -84.970451)   4.2 miles   Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve

Perched at the edge of an outcrop on the Torreya Formation, Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve protects a significant biological hotspot.

The incredibly unique geography of the area provides habitats for several species that are typically found further north. Some are found nowhere else in the world.

The terrain is unconventional for Florida, with numerous elevation changes along steep slopes as the trail crosses through a variety of natural habitats.

River view with ridge in distance and bluff below Outstanding view of the Apalachicola River from Alum Bluff

Resources

Resources for exploring the area
Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State 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: Bristol
Length: 4.2 mile loop
Trailhead: 30.454612, -84.970451
Address: Garden of Eden Rd, Bristol
Fees: Free
Restrooms: None
Land manager: The Nature Conservancy
Phone: 850-643-2756
Open sunrise to sunset. Pets are not allowed.

Unless you’re used to hiking up and down steep hills, expect this hike to take a couple of hours. Take time to savor the views and the botanical wonders you’ll encounter.

Woodland with bridge and pale pink blooms of wild azalea

Directions


 
From SR 20 and SR 12 in Bristol, head north on SR 12 for 1.4 miles before turning left onto Garden of Eden Rd. The trailhead is located at the end of the road in 0.2 mile.
 
From Interstate 10 exit 174, head south on CR 12 for 20.3 miles, passing Torreya State Park. Turn right at Garden of Eden Road.

Hike

Beginning the hike at a large kiosk near the parking area, head northward along a wide corridor leading into a classic example of sandhill habitat.

Golden clusters of wiregrasses extend from the edges of the trail, carpeting gently rolling hillsides dotted with turkey oaks and pines.

Sandhill habitat with trail signs Sandhill community

Leaving the service road in a quarter mile, an inviting pathway of orange-tinged sand meanders towards the edge of a thick hardwood forest.

Once you are inside this shady canopy, trickling water can be heard in the distance as the trail quickly drops in elevation.

Trail in forest on bluff Shaded trail

In the springtime, showy blooms of Florida anise and mountain azaleas line the path as it descends into a steep ravine shaped by countless years of erosion.

At the base of this curious geological formation, a boardwalk leads over cool, shallow waters bubbling slowly downhill to a nearby creek.

close up of delicate pale pink azalea blooms Wild azaleas in bloom alongside the creek

Climbing a set of wooden stairs on the opposite side of the boardwalk, the trail ascends to an impressive height before paralleling the ravine in a setting that is striking for Florida.

While crossing this rough terrain, steps have been added to the sharpest inclines, aiding hikers and helping to prevent the trail from washing away.

Rounded wooden steeps on a steep slope Stairway

At the one mile mark, a sturdy bridge crosses the crystal clear waters of Kelly Branch, a seepage stream that empties into the Apalachicola River.

This waterway underwent significant restoration in 2006, when a dam was removed to allow for a more natural flow.

As the trail begins the next climb, a short side trail leads to the restoration site alongside a kiosk describing the efforts.

Thick footbridge over clear tannic stream Kelly Branch

A series of switchbacks scramble up the opposite side of this large ravine, emerging onto a comparatively flat plateau at the top.

The trail sweeps along an edge of dry, fire-dependent sandhill ecosystem for a half mile, before reaching the beginning of the River Loop.

Yellow sand path and River Loop signage Beginning of the River Loop

From this intersection, visitors can continue straight on a wide pathway for a tenth of a mile to the overlook, or add an additional 0.8 miles of technical terrain on the loop trail.

The longer route passes through a group of extremely rare Torreya trees, a species of conifer that is only found along these bluffs and ravines and nowhere else on earth.

Short conifers Young torreya trees

As the trail winds towards the Apalachicola River, gaps in dense foliage begin to reveal stunning panoramic views of the water and extensive floodplain to the west.

Reaching the top of Alum Bluff, 135 feet above the river, a trailside bench provides a resting spot for quiet reflection.

From this point, the trail backtracks across familiar landscapes for 1.8 miles to return to the trailhead.

Bench with a view of a river from atop bluffs Apalachicola River overlook

Trail Map

Garden of Eden Trail Map

Explore More!

Video

Hiking the Garden of Eden Trail

Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring in this area.

Waterfall at Weeping Ridge Torreya Weeping Ridge Trail A short though challenging hike the Weeping Ridge Trail offers unusual views for the state of Florida, crossing tall ridges and ending at a small waterfall.
Oaks and pines Torreya Challenge Loop An atypical hike by Florida standards, the aptly named Torreya Challenge Loop offers 7 miles of tough terrain and a scenic blufftop backpacking campsite.
View from river bluffs Torreya Rock Creek Loop Traversing rugged terrain through steep ravines above the Apalachicola River, the Rock Creek Loop at Torreya State Park offers distinctly scenic landscapes in a botanically-rich corner of Florida.
Floodplain forest at Torreya Torreya State Park Perched on bluffs above the Apalachicola River, Torreya State Park is one of Florida’s first state parks, developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s

Trail Map (PDF) Official Website

Chris Stevens
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