One of the most rugged hikes in Florida, the Torreya Hiking Trail treats you to an billowing 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 rarest species in the state in the ravines. You’ll climb through hardwood hammocks, pine flatwoods, and down into floodplain forests.
There are scenic views across the Apalachicola River to the flatlands on the far side; remains of Confederate earthwork gun batteries used to shell passing ships from the high bluffs; rare plants such as the Ashe magnolia, the torreya (“stinking cedar”), and the Florida yew tree. 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.
Lat-Long: 30.577133, -84.949083
Type: Loops
Fees / Permits: Florida State Park fee
Good for:
Difficulty: Difficult
Bug factor: Low
Restroom: 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 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 one trailhead on the left immediately after the pay station for the park, and 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.
Hiked there in summer and the heat is more a factor than bugs. Great terrain. Lots of water but bring a filter. Heading back in two days for a two day hike. Weather will be low 40s night and mid 50s day.
If you Florida camp in the winter, November to late March the bug factor is LOW. I was there last December and the weather was cool and zero bugs! Hike On!
OMG! People, this is Florida and the “bug factor” is rarely “low”. I have camped in this park twice in the spring and the mosquitoes were horrendous. Unless you’re the person mosquitoes shun or you bathe in deet, watch out. Now, I suspect that spring is the worst but summer is quite possibly terrible too. There are high bluffs on one side of the river and lowlands on the other. Florida, water = mosquitoes = get eaten alive. Plan for the worst just in case.
Thanks for the warning! I’m thinking about coming up there in the fall / Winter. ????