Less than ten miles up the St. Johns River from the Atlantic Ocean, this speck of a state park interprets what little remains of a Civil War historic site.
Picnic tables sit beneath the shade of the live oaks, and a short loop trail circles the earthworks.
Picnic area under the oaksResources
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Overview
Length: 0.2 mile loop
Trailhead: 30.399837,-81.555634
Address: New Berlin Rd, Jacksonville
Fees: Free
Restroom: None
Land manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 904-251-2320
Open 8-sunset. Leashed dogs welcome.
Directions
From Interstate 295E northbound from (or southbound towards) the Dames Point Bridge in Jacksonville, take the exit for Heckscher Dr (SR 105). Go west one traffic light to New Berlin Rd and make a left. New Berlin Rd goes up and over the interstate after 0.8 mile, continuing onto the peninsula at Dames Point. In another half mile, the parking area is on the right at the corner of New Berlin Rd and Olympia Ave.
About the Park
Despite its sweeping view of Blount Island and the cruise ship port in Jacksonville, few who cross the Dames Point Bridge think of it as a strategic point.
The Confederacy did. To maintain control of Jacksonville in 1862, they built earthworks above the St. Johns on this ridge, a promontory where they could watch the river.
Dames Point as seen from the Dames Point Bridge, Yellow Bluff to rightFrom these heights, the Confederates trained cannon on the river to defend access to Jacksonville from the sea.
Union forces defeated the dug-in Confederate troops, taking over the strategic heights of Yellow Bluff for their own encampment.
Cannon mounted on the earthworksMore than 250 Federal soldiers were stationed here to keep watch on the river basin.
Walk from the parking area uphill towards the picnic tables. To the right is what looks like a forested ravine.
Wooded ravineReclaimed by nature, those deep gouges in this hilltop are remains of the fortifications, a series of hand-dug pits and trenches.
Surrounding it on the level ground are a handful of Civil War cannon on mounts and a memorial erected in 1950.
The monument dates to 1950Continue past the picnic tables. A wide path leads under the trees along the edge of the park’s property.
Now that the adjacent forest has been cleared, there’s a view of Dames Point Bridge through the trees.
The path loops fully around the earthworks, returning to the parking area after 0.2 mile.
Trail along the edge of the earthworksExplore More!
Slideshow
See our photos of Yellow Bluff Fort
Nearby Adventures
More worth exploring while you’re in this area.
Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens For a surprising diversity of habitats and hilly terrain, the Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens is a hidden treasure for hikers and a bonanza for botanical delights
Timucuan Preserve Florida's northernmost National Park encompasses a diverse collection of historic and cultural sites on both sides of the St. Johns River in Jacksonville.
Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park Within city limits yet truly wild, Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park protects more than 4,000 acres along the edges of enormous estuaries draining into the St. Johns River 
Betz-Tiger Point Preserve On a peninsula where the Timucua used the surrounding estuary for sustenance, Betz-Tiger Point Preserve provides more than six miles of breezy trails