Florida Hikes

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

Pond with white sand and aquamarine water

Tates Hell Blue Spring

Tucked into rural woodlands south of Sopchoppy, a mile round-trip hike in Tates Hell State Forest leads to a hidden swimming hole with a cozy primitive campsite.

Sopchoppy (29.951806, -84.485917)   1.0 miles   Tates Hell State Forest

The St. James Island Unit is the newest addition to Tate’s Hell State Forest, acquired by the state in 2020 along with property that was added to adjacent Bald Point State Park.

Together, these public lands protect thousands of acres on Alligator Point, a remote peninsula jutting out into the Gulf of Mexico south of Tallahassee.

Large trailhead kiosk with bearproof trash can Blue Spring trailhead kiosk

In early 2022, Bald Point State Park opened the St. Teresa Bluff Trails to the public, and the state forest quickly followed, allowing hunting on its new tract.

More recently, a day use area and campsite were established in Tates Hell, alongside a small spring fed pond that presents a striking blue hue in the right conditions.

Person making waves in blue pond Swimming in the pond

Resources

Resources for exploring the area
Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide book cover Paddlers Guide Florida The Hiking Trails of Floridas National Forests Parks Preserves book cover
 
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Overview

Location: Sopchoppy
Length: 1 mile
Trailhead: 29.951806, -84.485917
Address: Fire Tower Rd, Tates Hell St Teresa Tract, Sopchoppy
Fees: Free
Restrooms: None
Land manager: Florida Forest Service
Phone: 850-681-5963

Open sunrise to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome. Reservations must be made in advance for camping. This is bear habitat: bear bag or use a bear canister.

Seasonal hunting occurs throughout this forest. Check ahead before you make plans for outdoor recreation.

Directions


 
From the intersection of US 319 and SR 263 south of Tallahassee, head south on US 319 for 20.2 miles before turning right onto US 98. In 1.7 miles, make a right onto Sopchoppy Hwy / US 319. Continue for 14.3 miles and look for a large state forest sign on the left side of the road. Turn onto the dirt road and make the first left. In about a mile, the parking area and trailhead will be on the right.

Hike

Beginning at the parking area, look behind the large trailhead kiosk for a blue-blazed path leading into the forest.

In a tenth of a mile, the trail turns onto a sandy forest road lined with saw palmetto, catbrier, and bracken ferns.

Blue blaze on pine in thicket of pines Blue blazed pine

The trees become taller, casting dappled shade as the wide pathway winds southward. In the past, this forest would likely have been longleaf pine sandhill habitat.

Those stately conifers are long gone. They were replaced with neatly rowed sand pines for pulpwood by the timber company that owned this land.

As mentioned on the trailhead kiosk, the forest service plans to reverse this distribution in the future, restoring the forest to a more natural state.

Rows of sand pines Sand pine forest

Although the canopy is not in its original state, the understory presents a healthy variety of native plants, including turkey oak, marsh pink, milkweed, and pawpaw.

Reaching an intersection of forest roads at 0.2 miles, stay to the left to remain on the trail.

Milkweed blossoms in various stages of opening Milkweed in bloom

A bench and picnic table sit nearby atop a small hill overlooking the tranquil pool.

Twisted sand live oaks provide ample tree cover for this inviting day use area.

Bench overlooking pond surrounded by trees Overlook

Before the pond is clearly visible, the path begins to descend a slope, passing a side trail to the campsite.

Round the final corner. A sandy beach leads down a semicircle of azure water surrounded by a carpet of dark aquatic vegetation.

White sand along open water of spring Blue Spring

From this point, the campsite spur is a 0.2 mile round trip to the southern end of the pond.

A picnic table and fire ring sit under a small clearing in the pines. From here, return the way you came to complete a mile round trip.

Picnic table and grill with pond beyond Primitive campsite

Trail Map

Tates Hell Blue Spring Trail Map

Explore More!

Learn more about Tates Hell State Forest

Tates Hell Swamp lilies Tates Hell State Forest One of Florida's more enormous state forests with over 202,000 acres, Tate's Hell is a vast coastal swamp sliced and diced by timber barons before being preserved by the state.

Video

Hiking to Blue Spring in Tates Hell State Forest

Nearby Adventures

Picnic table atop a bluff Bluffs Overlook Trail Within pine forests planted on WWII-era Camp Gordon Johnston atop high ground above the Ochlockonee River, enjoy vistas of the river and its bay from the St. Teresa Bluffs.
Sweep of peninsula along a cove Bald Point State Park From its namesake point at the Gulf of Mexico to the sandy heights of St. Teresa Bluffs, Bald Point State Park protects miles of waterfront along Ochlockonee Bay while providing extensive trails to roam.
Ralph Kendrick Boardwalk Ralph G. Kendrick Dwarf Cypress Boardwalk Leading to a stand of dwarf bald cypress centuries old and less than 15 feet tall, the Kendrick Boardwalk at Tate's Hell State Forest is one of the weirder botanical spots in the Florida Panhandle.
Red blaze in scrub forest High Bluff Coastal Hiking Trail Discover the beauty of the Forgotten Coast by hiking one or both loops of the High Bluff Coastal Hiking Trail through scrub and wetlands fronting US 98 in Tate's Hell State Forest.

Hunt Dates Reserve Campsite Official Website

Chris Stevens
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