Interconnected with other community parks via a broad concrete path that fronts College Waterway, Long Creek Nature Preserve sits in the midst of residential Palm Coast.
Between the two waterways it touches, it has two very different waterfronts: one tamed, one natural, the expanse of estuary on Long Creek a highlight.
Long CreekWhile a small preserve, it’s a lovely one for families to explore and features accessible surfaces: a sidewalk, boardwalks, and hardpacked shellrock footpaths.
Boaters and paddlers can use the boat ramp on College Waterway, while the floating launch on Long Creek requires wheeling your kayak almost a quarter mile.
Boat ramp on College WaterwayResources
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Overview
Location: Palm Coast
Length: 0.7 miles
Trailhead: 29.583109, -81.212807
Address: 1050 Palm Harbor Pkwy, Palm Coast
Fees: Free
Restroom: At the trailhead
Land Manager: City of Palm Coast
Phone: 386-986-2323
Open sunrise to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome; pick up after your pet. Picnic tables provided. Fishing welcome.
Directions
Exiting Interstate 95 onto Palm Coast Pkwy, drive east 0.6 miles. Turn left onto Florida Park Dr and follow to where it ends after 1.9 miles at Palm Harbor Pkwy. Turn right. The preserve entrance is on the left in 0.2 miles.
Hike
Walk down to the waterfront by the boat ramp and turn right to walk along College Waterway, a channel created for residents of Palm Coast to reach the Intracoastal.
A boardwalk pier extends over the channel across from a man-made waterfall on the opposite shore.
Boardwalk along College WaterwayJoin it for a short walk above the water, watching for manatees and wading birds. The broad waterfront walk ends at a pedestrian gate not far past the boardwalk.
Return under dappled shade to join a different boardwalk, this one extending east into a corner of the estuary.
Boardwalk along estuaryTall, skinny cabbage palms hover above a understory of mangroves. Curve through a view across the creek basin past benches inset in the boardwalk.
At 0.2 miles, the boardwalk ends at a compacted shell footpath. Turn left, skimming past the north edge of the parking area into the coastal hammock.
Footpath in the coastal hammockSand live oaks draped in Spanish moss arch overhead. At a Y junction, the right fork empties into the picnic area near the parking lot. Bear left to stay on the trail.
Shaded by a higher canopy of trees and outlined by saw palmetto, the broad path rounds a bend, revealing an observation deck.
Shaded observation deckThis perch with benches overlooks the same cove in the Long Creek basin as the earlier boardwalk.
Continue along the curves to find another observation deck, this one with facing benches at a broader view of the estuary.
Observation deck with viewEnter the dappled shade of the coastal hammock past it, Spanish moss swaying in a persistent breeze. At another split in the path, continue straight ahead.
Reach the boardwalk to Long Creek. A map on an interpretive panel illustrates the paddling route that this landing is along.
Start of the boardwalkVenture out of the forest along the boardwalk for a wraparound view of the creek basin.
Beyond this open plain of needlerush and young mangroves, tall pines rise on the far shore.
Tide-sculpted channels ease water towards the main flow of the creek, encountered at the landing at the end of the boardwalk.
Long CreekFlowing northward, Long Creek winds its way to the Matanzas River basin, emptying into it near the south end of Washington Oaks Gardens State Park.
For those up to wheeling their kayak a distance, a launch is built into the platform. Returning along the boardwalk, enjoy the views up a cove adjoining Palm Harbor Pkwy.
Return along boardwalkLeaving the boardwalk behind, veer left to complete the circuit of the coastal hammock, the pathway skimming past the open cove.
Expect to hear osprey overhead, as they nest in nearby trees. Weaving between oak trunks and palms, sweep past a view of the entrance road into the preserve at a half mile.
View of the coveContinue around a curve under the oaks to a T intersection, completing a small loop. Turn left to return along the graded path, following it past a boardwalk turnoff.
Emerge onto the concrete path along College Waterway. Turn left to exit past the turtle sculpture to the parking area to complete this 0.7 mile walk.
Sculpture adjoining the parking areaTrail Map
Explore More!
Video
Hiking Long Creek Nature Preserve
Slideshow
See our photos from Long Creek Nature Preserve
Nearby Adventures
Palm Coast Linear Park A city park, Linear Park is centrally located yet hidden within an ancient hardwood hammock bounded by the eastbound and westbound sides of Palm Coast Parkway.
Graham Swamp West On a mile hike within sand pine scrub and a lush swamp forest, circle two placid blackwater ponds on the western side of Graham Swamp.
Graham Swamp East Hiking Trail A surprisingly rugged hike along a ridgetop threads between two sides of a mountain bike loop on the eastern side of Graham Swamp Preserve.
Mala Compra Greenway Loop a delightful slice of the dense old-growth coastal forest of Hammock using the East Coast Greenway and the Mala Compra Greenway Trail along A1A north of Marineland.
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