Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

Bronson Northeast Loop

Bronson State Forest  |  Christmas
( 28.5698, -80.9966 )      7.5 miles

Using Orlando Wetlands Park to access the northeast corner of Bronson State Forest, this 7.5-mile loop burrows deeply into ancient forests in the St. Johns River floodplain.

Camp Chowenwaw Park

Green Cove Springs      ( 30.036493, -81.712794 )      2 miles

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.

Canaveral Marshes

Titusville      ( 28.547283,-80.896482 )      5.0 miles

Hike up to 5 miles on levees through the marshes of the St. Johns River at Canaveral Marshes Conservation Area between Orlando and Titusville.

Christmas

Named for the fortress built during the Second Seminole War on Christmas Day of 1837, the community of Christmas sits along creeks that drain towards the St. Johns River

Cocoa Beach

Home of “I Dream of Jeannie” and the best surfing on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, Cocoa Beach is a top destination for beachgoers and folks who love to play near the shore.

Culpepper Bend

Little Big Econ State Forest  |  Chuluota
( 28.665360,-81.068458 )      7.9 miles

One of the lesser-known trails of Little Big Econ State Forest, Culpepper Bend leads you to an outstanding panorama where the Econlockhatchee River meets the St. Johns River.

De Leon Springs State Park

De Leon Springs      ( 29.132239,-81.360821 )      

While pancakes and De Leon Springs go hand-in-hand thanks to the popular Old Spanish Sugar Mill Restaurant, the natural beauty of De Leon Springs is the reason to visit

DeLand

Home to Stetson University and an artsy historic downtown, Deland is edged by natural lands that protect the vast floodplains along the scenic St. Johns River.

Dunns Creek State Park

Crescent City      ( 29.52581, -81.58938 )      15.4 miles

Notable for its habitat diversity, Dunns Creek State Park protects a vast landscape along the south shore of its namesake, a major tributary of the St. Johns River.

Exploring the St. Johns at Bluffton

May 12, 2010    Sandra Friend

The Bluffton Nature Trail at Lake George State Forest near Volusia, west of Barberville along SR 40, provides a glimpse into an ancient past along the St. Johns River.