Palm hammock on Hontoon Island
An island in the St. Johns River, Hontoon Island State Park is accessible to boaters thanks to a marina big enough to accommodate a houseboat and to everyday visitors by a free ferryboat. It’s worth the short trip to see the bounteous wildlife of the St. Johns River, from wading birds to manatees to turtles lying in the sun.
Resources
Overview
Location: Deland
Lat-Lon: 28.9746,-81.357521
Fees: free
Open: 8 AM until sunset daily
Leashed pets welcome
Location
Details
The Timucua lived on this island for more than 3,000 years, sharing the dark forests with the otter, the owl, and the deer. They carved totems of each to stand along the river. Three totem poles were found preserved in river muck and are now in museums, a rare find of the only ancient totem poles discovered outside the Pacific Northwest. Replicas stand near the picnic area.
In addition to an extensive forest road system for biking, the Indian Mound Nature Trail leads you back into the wilds of the island to find a massive midden – an ancient landfill of snail shells – topped with a massive oak tree.
Trail Map
Explore the park
Indian Mound Nature Trail- On Hontoon Island, the Indian Mound Nature Trail leads you through a ancient forest to an ancient midden on the edge of a vast swamp floodplain.
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