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.
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.
A colorful bloom along the Fire and Water TrailResources
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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.
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 Old Jennings Trailhead is a half mile north. The road ends at the Fire & Water Trailhead, 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.
Trailhead for Dunn’s Farm Trail (Karen Miller)Camping
Primitive camping for backpackers is permitted in several locations in the forest.
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.
Hiking
For an easy introduction to the habitats of Jennings State Forest, the Fire and Water Trail provides a 1.9-mile interpretive loop at the north end of Live Oak Lane in Middleburg.
Jennings Fire and Water Trail An interpretive 1.9 mile loop at the northeast edge of Jennings State Forest, the Fire and Water Trail illustrates how fire and water shape the landscape.A more expansive network of hiking trails has been developed across restored sandhills where the North Fork Black Creek Trail used to be. Called the Sandridge Trails, it’s a delight to hike.
Jennings Sandridge Trails Extraordinary quiet awaits west of Jacksonville on a 4.1 mile immersion into a healthy pine savanna on a central loop within the Sandridge Trails at Jennings State Forest.A variety of short and long loops along this trail network start and end from the Old Jennings Trailhead, including one that extends to include the Fire and Water Trail as well.
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.
Jennings 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.
Jennings Pioneer Trail With elevation changes, streams, and cascades, the Pioneer Trail 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.
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.
Trail Map
Explore More!
Nearby Adventures
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 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.
Camp Chowenwaw Park In a deep forest on Black Creek north of Green Cove Springs, Camp Chowenwaw Park is a unique destination for campers and hikers, a former Girl Scout camp with a rich history.
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.
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