Florida Hikes

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Broad needle strewn path beneath tall pines

Julington-Durbin Preserve

Named for a pair of blackwater creeks that merge before entering the nearby St. Johns River, Julington-Durbin Preserve is a highly popular destination for exploring nature.

Jacksonville (30.130427, -81.543216)   6.3 miles  

Julington-Durbin Preserve protects over two thousand acres of well-managed natural land in the St. Johns River watershed.

Slight variations in elevation support a mosaic of mesic and wet flatwoods, sandhills, and floodplains.

More than six miles of multiuse trails allow for exploration on foot, bicycle, or horseback.

Broad trail next to white blazed pine Trails through the preserve are generally broad

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
 
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: Jacksonville
Length: 6.3 miles
Trailhead: 30.129312, -81.544491
Address: 13200 Bartram Park Blvd, Jacksonville
Fees: Free
Restrooms: Yes, portable at the trailhead
Land manager: St. Johns River Water Management District
Phone: 904-630-2489
 
Open sunrise to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome.

Directions


 
From Interstate 95 in southeast Jacksonville, turn left onto Old St Augustine Rd, then turn left onto Bartram Park Blvd in 0.6 mile. Continue for 0.9 mile before turning right at the entrance to the park.

Hike

From the trailhead, follow a sandy, pine needle-strewn road westward, passing a group of picnic tables next to a covered display with maps and information about the property.

Rows of pine border the trail, towering over various shrubs covered in catbrier and grapevines.

Gap in fence into pine forest with kiosk and picnic tables Trailhead

This wide pathway soon makes a left turn, traveling along a corridor of mesic flatwoods for a quarter mile, before transitioning to sandhill habitat.

The pines become sparser as turkey oaks begin to dot the landscape.

pine needle covered path between pines and oaks Pine flatwoods

Among a sea of golden grasses, lupines, and pawpaws bloom in the springtime, coloring the forest with splashes of pink and soft white flowers.

Reaching an intersection at a half mile, continue straight as the trail descends towards Durbin Creek.

Spiky lilac colored bloom Lupine in bloom

Southern blue flag irises sprout from the swampy floodplain forest habitat, sporting vibrant purple blooms early in the year.

Continuing along a series of short boardwalks for a quarter mile, this trail ends with a bench at a scenic spot along Durbin Creek.

Bench with deeply shaded creek and building on other side Durbin Creek

Retracing your footsteps to the trail intersection, turn left to follow the white blazed trail as it leads along the edge of sandhill and wet flatwood ecosystems.

At 2.5 miles, continue onto the Yellow Loop where the White Loop ends.

Pine with yellow and white diamonds painted on it Blazed pine

As the trail approaches a confluence of the namesake creeks and the St. Johns River, candyroot and orange milkwort dot the forest floor, suggesting wetter terrain.

Fetterbush lyonia and cinnamon ferns cluster alongside the pathway and dips in terrain may be seasonally flooded.

Rounded spiky yellow blossoms Candyroot

Reaching the end of the loop in 3.7 miles, the trail turns eastward, climbing gradually towards dry sandhills once again.

Nearing the four mile mark, a trailside picnic bench offers a spot to rest under a canopy of oaks.

picnic table under oaks in clearing Picnic spot

Yellow blazes give way to white blazes at 4.8 miles, where sparse pines lend to panoramic views of a fire-dependent habitat covered in countless wildflowers.

Coral bean sports bright scarlet blooms in the spring, while goldenrods, Florida paintbrush, and blazing stars cover the landscape in vibrant hues of yellow and purple in the fall.

In a mile and a half, the White Trail returns to the trailhead.

Red blooms on tall spikes Coral bean flowers

Trail Map

Julington-Durbin Preserve Trail Map

Explore More!

Video

A virtual walk at Julington-Durbin Preserve

Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Loftin Nature Trails Robert W. Loftin Nature Trails In a densely wooded corner of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, the Robert W. Loftin Nature Trails are a prime place for trail runners and hikers to play.
Tillie K Fowler Island Trail Tillie K Fowler Island Trail On a hike of nearly 2 miles, the Island Trail at Tillie K. Fowler Regional Park shows off upland and floodplain forest habitats along the Ortega River in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville Arboretum boardwalk Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens For a surprising diversity of habitats and hilly terrain, the Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens is a hidden treasure for hikers and a bonanza for botanical delights
Trail along the side of a 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.

Trail Map (PDF) Official Website

Chris Stevens
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