Florida Hikes

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

Sweep of estuarine creek

Hiram Faver Trail

An easy stroll through shady coastal forests leads to a picturesque picnic spot overlooking Pellicer Creek on this 2.5 mile hike at Faver-Dykes State Park.

St. Augustine (29.670417, -81.252056)   2.5 miles   Faver-Dykes State Park

Buffered by adjacent properties of protected land to the north and south, Faver-Dykes is an especially quiet destination for outdoor wandering.

Named after the individual who donated the original parcel of land to create this state park, the Hiram Faver Trail heads out to Hemming Point, a scenic location rich with history.

Bench along shaded trail Trailside bench

Located near the ranger station, this trail is easily accessible from the campground and is divided into two routes.

The Red Trail traces a 0.4 mile loop though a pair of distinctly different habitats, while the longer Green Trail continues to Pellicer Creek for a 2.5 mile round trip.

Natural shoreline on broad creek Hemming Point on Pellicer Creek

Resources

Resources for exploring the area
North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide book cover 50 Hikes in North Florida book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover Paddlers Guide Florida
 
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Overview

Location: St. Augustine
Length: 2.5 miles
Trailhead: 29.670417, -81.252056
Address: 1000 Faver-Dykes Rd, St. Augustine
Fees: $5 per vehicle
Restrooms: Near the ranger station.
Land manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 386-931-4124

Open 8 AM to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome. Insect repellent is recommended, as ticks can be numerous in this area.

Directions


 
At the interchange of US 1 and Interstate 95 between Palm Coast and St. Augustine, head north on US 1 for a tenth of a mile. Turn right onto Faver Dykes Rd. Follow the road for 3.1 miles to the trailhead parking next the ranger station at the end of the road.

Hike

Starting at the parking area, follow an inviting sidewalk across a quaint memorial garden to an interpretive display about Hiram Faver and early inhabitants of the region.

Beyond the display, a pair of pathways lead into the woods. Swing right to begin the southern half of the loop trail.

Concrete circle around monument with kiosk behind it Trailhead and memorial

Red and green blazes indicate the route along a wide sandy corridor flanked by saw palmetto, magnolia, and sand live oak.

Coonties dot a leaf strewn forest floor as the trail winds through the dappled shade of a maritime hammock community, passing a few benches along the way.

Trail in maritime hammock Maritime hammock habitat

Reaching a junction at 0.3 miles, stay to the right, following green blazes south. Several trailside signs identify native vegetation along the path.

Venture toward the creek, where cabbage palms increase in number and oaks grow noticeably taller.

Sign for resurrection fern Interpretive signage

Expansive salt marshes come into view between trees covered with Spanish moss near the half mile mark.

The trail bends to the east, revealing little evidence of its proximity to the water until it opens to a scenic vista at Hemming Point.

A creekside bench and picnic table encourages visitors to take a rest and soak in the scenery.

Picnic table overlooking creek Picnic table overlooking Pellicer Creek

Next to the picnic table, an informative kiosk describes some of the people who have resided at this spot throughout history, from Native Americans to a short-lived plantation owner.

An exposed patch of brick and mortar reveals a tiny portion of historic structures that have been reclaimed by nature over time.

Bricks jutting out of ground Building remnants

From this point, retrace your steps west to the bend in the trail and continue north. At 2.1 miles, start the other half of the loop trail.

Red blazes lead out of the maritime hammock into an open pine forest as the path explores the edge of a mesic flatwoods community before reaching the trailhead in 0.4 mile.

Bench under pines Flatwoods bench

Trail Map

Hiram Faver Trail Map

Explore More!

Learn more about Faver-Dykes State Park

Pine flatwoods Faver-Dykes State Park At Faver-Dykes State Park, explore the estuaries of the Matanzas River and the uplands above Pellicer Creek.

Video

Hiking the Hiram Faver Trail

Nearby Adventures

Saw palmetto fronting an estuarine creek Faver-Dykes Pine Loop Nestled in oak hammocks along Pellicer Creek, the Pine Loop Trail at Faver-Dykes State Park lets landlubbers trace the route of the creek through old-growth pines.
Pines along a coastal estuary Princess Place Preserve Explore wild spaces and cultivated grounds along eight different trails at Princess Place Preserve, an 1880s homestead at Cherokee Grove on Pellicer Creek.
Deep blue creek in a salt marsh Moses Creek Conservation Area Follow a system of wide trails across pine forests, hammocks, scrub, and sandhill habitats to a scenic overlook and campsite along tidally-influenced Moses Creek.
Vivid green trail in pine forest Matanzas State Forest A system of linear and loop trails connected to a primitive campground offers scenic views of flatwoods, hammocks, and marshes alongside the Matanzas River.

Park Map (PDF) Reserve Campsite Official Website

Chris Stevens
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