One of the most rugged hikes in Florida, the Torreya Trail treats you to an billowing landscape of bluffs and ravines, rising to 300 feet above the Apalachicola River at Logan’s Bluff.
The unique landscape houses unusual plant communities, including some of the rarest species in the state, including Ashe magnolia, torreya (“stinking cedar”), and Florida yew tree.
You’ll also see remains of Confederate earthwork gun batteries used to shell passing ships from the high bluffs.
Visit in late spring for optimal magnolia blooms—there are several rare varieties that only grow along these bluffs. Pause at the Red Rock scenic area to enjoy the cliffs.
Resources
Overview
Location: Rock Bluff
Length: Two loops: the River Bluff Loop Trail of 7.3 miles, and the Rock Creek Loop Trail (used to extend the hike into a backpacking trip) of 7.2 miles.
Trailhead: 30.577133, -84.949083
Fees: Florida State Park entrance fee
Land Manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 850-643-2674
Leashed dogs welcome. Restrooms are at the Gregory House complex. The trails are shown in the park brochure and in a detailed backpacking map available from the Florida Trail Association.
Stop in at the Gregory House to let rangers know if you plan to backpack the loop. There is a small fee for primitive camping.
Potable water is available at the park entrance parking lot, campground, picnic area, and Gregory House; boil or treat all surface water sources.
Directions
Follow SR 12 south from the I-10 exit for Bristol to CR 270. Follow signs along CR 270 west to the park. There is a trailhead on the left immediately after the pay station for the park. You can also access the trail system (per the above coordinates) in front of the Gregory House at the end of the park entrance road.
Hike
One of the most rugged hikes in Florida, the Torreya State Park Trail treats you to an undulating landscape of bluffs and ravines, rising to 300 feet above the Apalachicola River at Logan’s Bluff.
The unusual landscape means unusual plant communities as well, including some of the most rare species in the state in the ravines. You’ll climb through hardwood hammocks, pine flatwoods, and down into floodplain forests.
The trail and the landscape it passes through have changed dramatically since our last visit due to the devastating effects of Hurricane Michael.
We hope to be able to revisit it and recount the experience sometime in the not-too-distant future.
Explore More!
Slideshow
See our photos of the Torreya Hiking Trail
Official Website