Guide to Jacksonville’s Hiking Trails
www.JaxMomsBlog.com share their guide to exploring the Jacksonville outdoors. Article by Megan Johns.
My family loves to use this time of year to hike the many kid-friendly trails in Jacksonville! However, I don’t tell my kids we’re going “hiking,” I usually say were going on an “adventure.”
I have two simple criteria for what makes a trail good for my young family: 1) short trail options, and 2) other things to see besides trees, birds, and dirt! Based on that, here are my favorite kid-friendly trails in Jacksonville.
Fort Caroline National Memorial
The beautiful tree canopied road sets the stage as you enter this wonderful historical park. From the visitor center you can take a path to a river overlook where you can watch boats and ships go by. Another short trail from the visitor center takes you past a boat dock (that is open at times) and then down to the fort, a re-creation of Fort Caroline. My kids love to run around and explore the fort’s steps, hills, and cannons. If the kids are still full of energy after the fort, you can take the easy 1 mile Hammock Trail from there that loops back around to the parking lot! These trail are jogging stroller friendly.
Photo Tour of Fort Caroline National Memorial
Address: 12713 Fort Caroline Road 32225
Hours: 9am-5pm
Fees: None
Trail Map
Theodore Roosevelt Area - Willie Brown Trail
Located at the Timucuan Preserve Headquarters, this trail is popular with trail runners and has several historical sites along the way. Further down the trail you will hike along the marsh and will come to the marsh overlook tower. This is a great place to see birds. As you are walking along the trail you will likely come across scurrying crabs. Watch out for the small cactus plants that grow in the section of trail that is nearer to the marsh.
This hike is approximately 2 miles and might challenge some of the littlest legs but is just right for my 4-year-old. Be aware that other trails connect to the Willie Brown trail. I suggest that you stay on the Willie Brown trail, otherwise it could be a pretty long hike for the kids. This trail is dog-friendly and much of it is jogging stroller-friendly.
Address: 13165 Mt Pleasant Rd. 32225
Hours: Sunrise-Sunset
Fees: None
Trail Map
Castaway Island Preserve
Castaway is a great place to take the kids for an easy hike and a picnic lunch. Along the hike kids will enjoy seeing the painted animal footprints, the Intracoastal Waterway overlook, as well as the educational signage that refers to the animals living in the preserve area. This trail is 1.7 miles long and is not a traditional hiking trail as it is composed of all sidewalk paths and boardwalk. Therefore, it is easily accessed by both strollers and wheelchairs.
Cast Away Island Photos
Address: 2921 San Pablo Road South 32224
Hours: Sunrise-Sunset
Fees: none
UNF Trails
The trails the University of North Florida are open to the public and have a great variety of lengths that both runners and little hikers can enjoy. These well beaten and well maintained trails are located in the school’s 300 acre Sawmill Slough Preserve where mature trees provide ample shade even at mid-day. The kiddos will likely enjoy the winding curves of the 0.19 mile Red Maple Boardwalk! If you hike the loop around Lake Oneida, it is less than 1 mile and goes by an access point to an island where picnic tables are available.
A Brief History of UNF
Address: 1 UNF Drive 32224 (Park in Lot 100)
Hours: Sunrise – Sunset
Fees: $3 parking on weekdays and during special events, free evenings and weekends
Trail Map
Tree Hill Nature Center
At the Tree Hill Nature Center, the minimal cost of admission will buy you more to see and do than just the hiking trails. Kids can enjoy the animals both outdoors and inside the museum. There are a variety of trail lengths to choose from and all trails have minimal elevation changes. My kids enjoyed the newly constructed boardwalk that gets you off the ground for a different perspective of the park. Although we did not try it out, I also noticed that there is also a paved trail that is wheel-chair accessible!
Address: 7152 Lone Star Rd 32211
Hours: Mon-Sat: 8:00am-4:30pm; June-Aug, Sun: 10:00am-4:00pm
Fees: $4 Adults, $2 Kids ages 3-17
Trail Info
Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park
“Hanna Park” has much more than just the trails to offer active families. There’s a playground, many picnic areas, a lake with kayak rentals, beach access, camping, and a splash park that is open in the summer. The trails at Hanna are popular with mountain bikers! Park rules say that “bikers yield to hikers,” but if your kids’ movements are as unpredictable as mine are… it’s best to look out!
This park has a mix of both long and short trails, ranging from 0.2 to 4.5 miles with varying levels of difficulty. Be sure to consult a map and know where you’re going. Both the “Scout Trail” and “Lil’ Joe Trail” are very short trails and could be a good place to start. If you don’t think your kids can go the distance on a 4.5 mile trail, but you want to see something different, then at the start of a trail just set a time to turn around and go back rather than trying to make it all the way around the loop. (Nothing is worse on a hike than dragging along a worn out kid.)
More on Hanna Park
Address: 500 Wonderwood Drive 32233
Hours: April – October 8am-8pm, November – March 8am-6pm
Fees: 8-10am $1/person, 10am-close $3/car
Trail Map
Cradle Creek Preserve
This is a short and sweet trail that is nice and wide and mostly jogging stroller-friendly. Several points of the trail take you over boardwalks and bridges. My kids enjoy walking on these because of how their footsteps sound! One leg of the trail takes you to an overlook of the Pablo Creek Estuary. Another section of the trail takes you by a canoe launch site. My kids enjoyed collecting “treasures” during this hike! This trail has nice tree cover that greatly helps to reduce the heat.
Address: 900 15th St. 32250
Hours: Sunrise-Sunset
Fees: none
Trail Map
Jacksonville Arboretum
The Jacksonville Arboretum is one of my favorite places to hike both with and without the kids. This beautiful park is maintained by volunteers and just keeps getting better year after year. There is a nice short “lake loop” that is easily accessible to jogging strollers.
On this loop you will go by a dock where you can feed fish and turtles. So bring bread!! (My kids love to eat the bread too so I always bring the edible variety!) Many other trails extend from the lake loop, some are kid-friendly, and some are a bit longer so grab a map when you enter. If you have an interest in plant species and habitats, you’ll appreciate the multitude of signs that are here. If you like to hike with your kids, the Arboretum is definitely one to try.
Address: 1445 Millcoe Road, 32225
Hours: 8am-5pm, (8am-7pm during daylight savings time)
Fees: none
Trail Map
About Megan Johns
Megan grew up in rural central Florida building forts and feeding cows with her 3 younger sisters. Her youth led Megan to believe in the amazing power of female ingenuity and to put a high value on positive and supportive interaction among ladies and girls. As a graduate of the University of Florida Mechanical Engineering program, Megan moved to Jacksonville to pursue a career with a bio-medical device company and to begin a wonderful life with her amazing husband Patrick. During her years working as an engineer, Megan developed an interest in photography. When she put her career on hold to take on the hardest job a person could love (Mommy to Evan 4 and Lilla 2), she discovered her love of "life" style photography as seen at Megan Johns Photography. Megan carries her camera everywhere and sometimes refers to it as her "third child!"
About www.JaxMomsBlog.com
At Jacksonville Moms Blog we are passionate about parenting, community and the city of Jacksonville. Jacksonville has a population of over one million making it easy to get lost in the crowd. We want to encourage other Jacksonville moms to get out in the community and try new things. We strive to provide moms with relevant, timely and fun information about all things mom here in the greater Jacksonville area.
Jacksonville Moms Blog was founded by two friends, Megan Kilis and Vicky Lane, who met through a local mom fitness group. Realizing a lack of resources for moms in the area, they sought to create an online community for local Jacksonville-area moms to connect with each other; discover local businesses and resources; and share experiences, ideas, and information.
Connect:
JaxMomsBlog.com:
Facebook
Twitter
I have two simple criteria for what makes a trail good for my young family: 1) short trail options, and 2) other things to see besides trees, birds, and dirt! Based on that, here are my favorite kid-friendly trails in Jacksonville.
Fort Caroline National Memorial
The beautiful tree canopied road sets the stage as you enter this wonderful historical park. From the visitor center you can take a path to a river overlook where you can watch boats and ships go by. Another short trail from the visitor center takes you past a boat dock (that is open at times) and then down to the fort, a re-creation of Fort Caroline. My kids love to run around and explore the fort’s steps, hills, and cannons. If the kids are still full of energy after the fort, you can take the easy 1 mile Hammock Trail from there that loops back around to the parking lot! These trail are jogging stroller friendly.
Photo Tour of Fort Caroline National Memorial
Address: 12713 Fort Caroline Road 32225
Hours: 9am-5pm
Fees: None
Trail Map
Theodore Roosevelt Area - Willie Brown Trail
Located at the Timucuan Preserve Headquarters, this trail is popular with trail runners and has several historical sites along the way. Further down the trail you will hike along the marsh and will come to the marsh overlook tower. This is a great place to see birds. As you are walking along the trail you will likely come across scurrying crabs. Watch out for the small cactus plants that grow in the section of trail that is nearer to the marsh.
This hike is approximately 2 miles and might challenge some of the littlest legs but is just right for my 4-year-old. Be aware that other trails connect to the Willie Brown trail. I suggest that you stay on the Willie Brown trail, otherwise it could be a pretty long hike for the kids. This trail is dog-friendly and much of it is jogging stroller-friendly.
Address: 13165 Mt Pleasant Rd. 32225
Hours: Sunrise-Sunset
Fees: None
Trail Map
Castaway Island Preserve
Castaway is a great place to take the kids for an easy hike and a picnic lunch. Along the hike kids will enjoy seeing the painted animal footprints, the Intracoastal Waterway overlook, as well as the educational signage that refers to the animals living in the preserve area. This trail is 1.7 miles long and is not a traditional hiking trail as it is composed of all sidewalk paths and boardwalk. Therefore, it is easily accessed by both strollers and wheelchairs.
Cast Away Island Photos
Address: 2921 San Pablo Road South 32224
Hours: Sunrise-Sunset
Fees: none
UNF Trails
The trails the University of North Florida are open to the public and have a great variety of lengths that both runners and little hikers can enjoy. These well beaten and well maintained trails are located in the school’s 300 acre Sawmill Slough Preserve where mature trees provide ample shade even at mid-day. The kiddos will likely enjoy the winding curves of the 0.19 mile Red Maple Boardwalk! If you hike the loop around Lake Oneida, it is less than 1 mile and goes by an access point to an island where picnic tables are available.
A Brief History of UNF
Address: 1 UNF Drive 32224 (Park in Lot 100)
Hours: Sunrise – Sunset
Fees: $3 parking on weekdays and during special events, free evenings and weekends
Trail Map
Tree Hill Nature Center
At the Tree Hill Nature Center, the minimal cost of admission will buy you more to see and do than just the hiking trails. Kids can enjoy the animals both outdoors and inside the museum. There are a variety of trail lengths to choose from and all trails have minimal elevation changes. My kids enjoyed the newly constructed boardwalk that gets you off the ground for a different perspective of the park. Although we did not try it out, I also noticed that there is also a paved trail that is wheel-chair accessible!
Address: 7152 Lone Star Rd 32211
Hours: Mon-Sat: 8:00am-4:30pm; June-Aug, Sun: 10:00am-4:00pm
Fees: $4 Adults, $2 Kids ages 3-17
Trail Info
Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park
“Hanna Park” has much more than just the trails to offer active families. There’s a playground, many picnic areas, a lake with kayak rentals, beach access, camping, and a splash park that is open in the summer. The trails at Hanna are popular with mountain bikers! Park rules say that “bikers yield to hikers,” but if your kids’ movements are as unpredictable as mine are… it’s best to look out!
This park has a mix of both long and short trails, ranging from 0.2 to 4.5 miles with varying levels of difficulty. Be sure to consult a map and know where you’re going. Both the “Scout Trail” and “Lil’ Joe Trail” are very short trails and could be a good place to start. If you don’t think your kids can go the distance on a 4.5 mile trail, but you want to see something different, then at the start of a trail just set a time to turn around and go back rather than trying to make it all the way around the loop. (Nothing is worse on a hike than dragging along a worn out kid.)
More on Hanna Park
Address: 500 Wonderwood Drive 32233
Hours: April – October 8am-8pm, November – March 8am-6pm
Fees: 8-10am $1/person, 10am-close $3/car
Trail Map
Cradle Creek Preserve
This is a short and sweet trail that is nice and wide and mostly jogging stroller-friendly. Several points of the trail take you over boardwalks and bridges. My kids enjoy walking on these because of how their footsteps sound! One leg of the trail takes you to an overlook of the Pablo Creek Estuary. Another section of the trail takes you by a canoe launch site. My kids enjoyed collecting “treasures” during this hike! This trail has nice tree cover that greatly helps to reduce the heat.
Address: 900 15th St. 32250
Hours: Sunrise-Sunset
Fees: none
Trail Map
Jacksonville Arboretum
The Jacksonville Arboretum is one of my favorite places to hike both with and without the kids. This beautiful park is maintained by volunteers and just keeps getting better year after year. There is a nice short “lake loop” that is easily accessible to jogging strollers.
On this loop you will go by a dock where you can feed fish and turtles. So bring bread!! (My kids love to eat the bread too so I always bring the edible variety!) Many other trails extend from the lake loop, some are kid-friendly, and some are a bit longer so grab a map when you enter. If you have an interest in plant species and habitats, you’ll appreciate the multitude of signs that are here. If you like to hike with your kids, the Arboretum is definitely one to try.
Address: 1445 Millcoe Road, 32225
Hours: 8am-5pm, (8am-7pm during daylight savings time)
Fees: none
Trail Map
About Megan Johns
Megan grew up in rural central Florida building forts and feeding cows with her 3 younger sisters. Her youth led Megan to believe in the amazing power of female ingenuity and to put a high value on positive and supportive interaction among ladies and girls. As a graduate of the University of Florida Mechanical Engineering program, Megan moved to Jacksonville to pursue a career with a bio-medical device company and to begin a wonderful life with her amazing husband Patrick. During her years working as an engineer, Megan developed an interest in photography. When she put her career on hold to take on the hardest job a person could love (Mommy to Evan 4 and Lilla 2), she discovered her love of "life" style photography as seen at Megan Johns Photography. Megan carries her camera everywhere and sometimes refers to it as her "third child!"
About www.JaxMomsBlog.com
At Jacksonville Moms Blog we are passionate about parenting, community and the city of Jacksonville. Jacksonville has a population of over one million making it easy to get lost in the crowd. We want to encourage other Jacksonville moms to get out in the community and try new things. We strive to provide moms with relevant, timely and fun information about all things mom here in the greater Jacksonville area.
Jacksonville Moms Blog was founded by two friends, Megan Kilis and Vicky Lane, who met through a local mom fitness group. Realizing a lack of resources for moms in the area, they sought to create an online community for local Jacksonville-area moms to connect with each other; discover local businesses and resources; and share experiences, ideas, and information.
Connect:
JaxMomsBlog.com: