Easily found from the campground at Torreya State Park, the Weeping Ridge trail is accessible to campers and day hikers.
This area owes some of its unique topography to the nearby Apalachicola River, where millions of years of erosion have carved numerous ravines heading towards the waterway.
This distinctive landscape allows for an abundance of plant and animal diversity that can be spotted from the extensive trail system within the park.
Weeping Ridge Trail trailheadResources
Resources for exploring the area
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Overview
Location: Bristol
Length: 1.6 mile round-trip
Trailhead: 30.568739, -84.947092
Address: 2576 NW Torreya Park Rd, Bristol
Fees: $3 per vehicle
Restrooms: At the picnic area on the main park road
Land manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 850-643-2674
Open 8 AM to sunset. Leashed pets welcome. There is a steep dropoff at the end of this trail, so keep track of both pets and young children along the hike.
Directions
From Exit 166 on Interstate 10, head south on Flat Creek Rd for 3.2 mile, and turn right onto Audie Clark Rd. In 1.1 mile, turn right onto Sycamore Rd and continue for 10.2 miles. Turn right onto NW Torreya Park Rd and follow it 2.6 miles to the park entrance. Continue for 0.9 mile past the entrance and turn left at the campground road. The trailhead will be at a small pull-off on the left in 0.1 mile.
Hike
At the trailhead, expansive views of the surrounding countryside are an early indication of the elevation changes unique to Florida in this area.
Passing a small brown hiking sign, the path immediately descends into a low canopy shrouded in grapevines.
Canopy of grapesIn a tenth of a mile, blue blazes guide hikers across a service road, then along a wide trail as it sweeps westward to a junction with the campground trail.
At this intersection, a sign indicates a short pathway towards the developed campground to the north. Turn left to continue towards the waterfall.
Trail junctionLarge logs border the path on both sides as a testament to the power of nature. Prior to the hurricane, most of this trail was under a dense canopy that no longer exists.
A great deal of resiliency is on display here however, as a multitude of smaller plants flourish in this newfound sunlight.
Changed landscapesDescending further down the ridge, a distinct sandy pathway carves through various shades of green vegetation accentuated by tiny flowers such as the daisy fleabane.
A close look at some of these flowers reveals small crab spiders waiting patiently on the petals for a pollinator to land.
Daisy fleabane with crab spidersNearing the waterfall, the terrain is noticeably rougher as it dips and rises while weaving through increasingly thicker foliage.
Falling water can be heard while rounding the last bend, where a railing marks the trail’s end at a steep edge.
A railing at a steep dropoff marking trail’s endThe waterfall is partly obscured by trees that toppled into the ravine, many of which are still covered in foliage.
A small pathway leads closer to the falls, though it is steep and covered in slippery mud.
At the top of the ridge next to the railing, a bench is provided for resting at this tranquil spot in the woods.
The waterfall at Weeping RidgeFollow the blue blazes back to the trailhead, making sure to turn right at the intersection with the campground trail.
The return trip can be slightly more challenging, as the trail mostly ascends towards the parking area.
Blue blazes on ascentTrail Map
Explore More!
Learn more about Torreya State Park and its hiking trails
Torreya State Park
Perched on bluffs above the Apalachicola River, Torreya State Park is one of Florida’s first state parks, developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s
Torreya Rock Creek Loop
Traversing rugged terrain through steep ravines above the Apalachicola River, the Rock Creek Loop at Torreya State Park offers distinctly scenic landscapes in a botanically-rich corner of Florida.
Torreya Challenge Loop
An atypical hike by Florida standards, the aptly named Torreya Challenge Loop offers 7 miles of tough terrain and a scenic blufftop backpacking campsite.
Nearby Adventures
More worth exploring while you’re in this area.
Garden of Eden Trail
Try one of Florida’s toughest day hikes on for size: local legend has it this was the Garden of Eden, and from the lush forests and rare flora along this trek, they might be on to something
Angus Gholson Nature Park
Above the Apalachicola River, the community of Chattahoochee hides a natural treasure in its deep ravines—a park named for its native son, botanist Angus Gholson.
Blountstown Greenway
Connecting neighborhoods, parks, and services within a historic Apalachicola River town, the paved 3.9-mile Blountstown Greenway includes a segment of the Florida Trail
Florida Trail, Camel Lake to Savannahs
5.3 miles. Wet feet are expected on this traverse of the pine savannas along the edges of Johnson Juniper Swamp in the Apalachicola National Forest, where careful inspection along the Florida Trail yields a bounty of carnivorous plants.