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Young longleaf pines

Jennings State Forest

Protecting the headwaters of Black Creek, one of the northernmost freshwater tributaries of the St. Johns River, Jennings State Forest spans across almost 24,000 acres west of Jacksonville.

Middleburg      ( 30.128412, -81.965062 )      17.0 miles

Not far from downtown Jacksonville, the secluded sandhills of Jennings State Forest provide a home for herds of deer, flocks of wild turkey, and the Florida black bear.

An unusually folded landscape creates bluffs and ravines along the waterways that drain through these uplands to reach Black Creek, which flows towards the St. Johns River.

With botanical diversity and some challenging terrain, this forest delights with an array of trails for hikers, paddlers, and equestrians, as well as backcountry campsites for solitude.

Longleaf pine and saw palmetto
Healthy longleaf pine forest at Jennings (Karen Miller)

While much of the land was intensively logged in the past and home to a number of small logging communities, time and forest management have helped heal those wounds.

An extensive network of unpaved forest roads lead to hidden corners of the forest where hooded pitcher plants grow in seepage bogs and tupelo shade slow-moving creeks.

Five hiking trails and four equestrian-optimized loops mean plenty of exploration to enjoy just outside the Jacksonville metro.

Dark red wildflower in ravine A colorful bloom along the Fire and Water Trail


Resources

Resources for exploring the area

North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover Complete Guide to Florida Wildflowers 50 Hikes in North Florida 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: Middleburg
Length: 17 miles in 5 trails
Headquarters: 30.128412, -81.965062
Address: 1337 Long Horn Rd, Middleburg
Fees: $2 per person
Restroom: vault toilets at recreation areas
Land manager: Florida State Forests
Phone: 904-406-6390

Open sunrise to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome.

Seasonal small game hunting occurs. If you plan to hit the trails here, check ahead regards hunt dates.

This forest offers tent camping. Primitive campsites must be reserved in advance through Reserve America.

Trail through pine forest


Directions

 
Follow SR 21 (Blanding Blvd) south from Interstate 275 through Orange Park for 7.7 miles. Turn at the traffic light onto Old Jennings Rd. Continue 4.1 miles to where it meets Live Oak Lane. The first trailhead is a half mile north, the Fire & Water Trailhead is 1.6 miles north, just past the subdivision.
 
To get to forest headquarters and the trails and put-ins on the west side of the forest, continue into Middleburg on Blanding Blvd. Turn right on CR 218 and drive 6.7 miles west. Turn right on Long Horn Rd and continue 1.5 miles north to where the pavement ends to enter the forest.

About the Forest

On our initial exploration of Jennings State Forest for 50 Hikes in North Florida, it felt like most of the trails were geared towards equestrian use.

Jennings remains a big destination for Jacksonville-area riders because of the substantial mileage possible on its trails. It is also popular with paddlers for a trip down the North Fork of Black Creek.

However, thanks to the efforts of local volunteers, an extensive hiking and trail running network now runs along the hilly west side of Black Creek, enabling long, scenic treks on trails where horses aren’t allowed.

Seasonal hunting is permitted here, so check on hunt dates for Jennings WMA before heading out to the forest for recreation.

Jennings State Forest trailhead kiosk Trailhead for Dunn’s Farm Trail (Karen Miller)


Camping

Primitive camping for backpackers is permitted in several locations in the forest, including the backcountry campsite we visited along the North Fork Black Creek Trail.

Two drive-in primitive campsites are along the forest roads. The Hammock Campsite is situated in a shady hammock east of Yellow Water Creek, while the Bootlegger Campsite is on the west side.

Primitive camping costs $10 per night per site and must be reserved and paid for in advance.

Picnic table campsite Jennings State Forest Campsite along North Fork Black Creek


Hiking

For an easy introduction to the habitats of Jennings State Forest, the Fire & Water Trail provides a 1.7-mile interpretive loop at the north end of Live Oak Lane in Middleburg.

With a trailhead south of the Fire & Water Trail along the same road, the North Fork Black Creek Trail loops 4.9 miles. A primitive campsite sits close to Black Creek off a side trail.

Steep piece of trail Dunn’s Farm Trail (Karen Miller)


Starting near park headquarters where Longhorn Rd turns to dirt, hikers can access a network of three trails: Dunn’s Farm, Crosscut, and Pioneer.

The Pioneer Trail parallels the west side of Black Creek, with access at three points: from the Indian Ford Recreation Area at its south end (rough road) and from a trailhead off Longhorn Rd near its middle.

Utilizing the Dunn’s Farm and Pioneer Trails, you can make a 3.5 mile loop from the main trailhead. The Crosscut Trail paired with the Pioneer Trail with a return along the Dunn’s Farm Trail nets more than double that in a loop.

Primitive camping is permitted in a marked zone near the creek.

Longleaf pine and saw palmetto

Dunns Farm Trail

A highlight of Jennings State Forest, this 3.5 mile loop traverses healthy longleaf pine habitat and showcases a series of cascades above the North Fork of Black Creek.

Trail along the side of a creek

Jennings Pioneer Trail

With elevation changes, streams, and cascades, the Pioneer Trail at Jennings State Forest is as close as you can get to the Appalachian Trail experience without leaving the Florida peninsula.

Paddling

Along the North Fork of Black Creek, paddlers have multiple options for put-in, all of which are located at the end of forest roads that meet the creek.

The most northerly launch is at Powell Ford, at the end of Powell Ford Rd.

Cascade falling off a bluff into a dark pool Small cascades are common along the waterway (Karen Miller)


Equestrian

The Evans Loop interconnects with the hiking trails off Live Oak Lane and loops the northeast quadrant of the forest. The outer loop is 20 miles long, with shorter options of 9.1 and 16.8 miles.

In the northwest corner of the forest, Long Branch Recreation Area is a popular starting point for shorter loop rides. The two Long Branch Equestrian Trails are 4.3 and 12.2 miles.

Forest road in sandhills Forest road shared with equestrians off Live Oak Lane


Trail Map

Jennings State Forest Trail Map
Recent tracks scouted: Pioneer (red) Dunns Farm (orange) Crosscut (green). Older tracks in white: Fire & Water, Black Creek. See the download link below for a full trail map from Jennings State Forest

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Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Cary State Forest tower view

Cary State Forest

Protecting more than 20 square miles of forest northwest of Jacksonville, Cary State Forest has over 20 miles of marked trails for hiking, biking, and equestrian use

Camp Milton Arboretum

Camp Milton Historic Preserve

On a walk through Camp Milton Historic Preserve, discover Civil War stories through a grove of historic trees that have tales to tell beneath their leafy shade

Treehouse at Camp Chowenwaw

Camp Chowenwaw Park

In a deeply forested area on Black Creek north of Green Cove Springs, Camp Chowenwaw Park provides campers and hikers a unique destination, a former Girl Scout Camp with a rich history.

Big cypress in a narrow tannic waterway

Bethea State Forest

With nearly 40,000 acres along the Florida-Georgia border, John M. Bethea State Forest provides an important corridor for wildlife migrating between the Okefenokee Swamp and Osceola National Forest.

Trail Map (PDF) Hunt Dates Reserve Campsite Official Website

Category: Backpacking, Day Hikes, Equestrian, Florida State Forests, Hikes, Launch Points, Loop Hikes, North Florida, Paddling, TrailsTag: Baldwin, Birding, Dog-friendly, Hilly, Jacksonville, Jennings State Forest, Macclenny, Middleburg, Orange Park, Picnic, Primitive Camping, Waterfalls, Wildlife Viewing

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