Etoniah Creek State Forest - Florahome, FL
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member Marine Biologist
N 29° 45.797 W 081° 50.815
17R E 418121 N 3292855
Etoniah Creek State Forest is a 8,679-acre (35 km2) forest located in North Central Florida, near Palatka.
Waymark Code: WM4W8B
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 10/05/2008
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member BarbershopDru
Views: 14

From the Etoniah Creek State Forest website:

Etoniah Creek State Forest contains 8,679 acres of various natural communities. The forest was acquired as part of the Etoniah/Cross Florida Greenway Conservation and Recreation Lands (CARL) project. Etoniah Creek State Forest is named after Etonia Creek, a stream which travels 2.5 miles through the eastern portion of the forest.

Location

Etoniah Creek State Forest is located in northern Putnam County in northeast Florida. The forest headquarters is located northeast of Florahome. From Florahome, go 2 miles east to Holloway Road. Go north on Holloway road 2.6 miles to the second forest road on the right (Fieldhouse Road). The office is 1/2 mile down Fieldhouse Road.

Natural Features

Several of the streams found in Etoniah Creek State Forest, including Etonia Creek, Rice Creek and Falling Branch drift through scenic bottomland hardwoods lined with steep sloping banks, flowing out of George's Lake which has 491 feet of lake frontage along the state forest boundary.

The forest is home to a variety of wildlife and is part of a wildlife corridor that offers the black bear a vast roaming area, a necessity for their existence. Other types of wildlife which are commonly found on the forest include: white-tailed deer, bobcat, fox squirrel, wild turkey, eastern diamondback rattlesnake and great horned owl. Species found on the forest that are listed as endangered, threatened or species of special concern include eastern indigo snake, gopher tortoise, Florida scrub jay and red-cockaded woodpecker.

Recreation

Recreational activities on the forest include hiking, fishing, canoeing, hunting, nature study, wildlife viewing and photography. There are two designated trails for horseback riding and trails for bicycling will be established in the near future.

Etoniah Creek State Forest contains a hiking trail, the Longleaf Pine Trail, that is included in the Florida Division of Forestry's Trailwalker Program. The trailhead for the Longleaf Pine Trail is located 200 yards off Coral Farms Road on Tinsley Road. This trail is marked in blue. Information on the Trailwalker hiking program is available at the Hollister Work Center which is located 7 miles east of Interlachen on Hwy. 20, the forest headquarters which is located 10 miles west of Palatka on Hwy. 20, the trailhead kiosk, or by telephoning 850/414-0871.

Etoniah Creek State Forest is managed as a Wildlife Management Area by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Hunting is permitted only during designated seasons. Visit MyFWC.com/hunting for information.

Estimated size of the public land (in regional measurement standard: hectares, acres, kms, etc.): 8,679 acres

Is there a trail system?: Yes

If there is a trail system, please describe length, terrain, etc.:
Etoniah Creek State Forest contains the 5.2-mile Longleaf Pine Trail, which is included in the Florida Division of Forestry's Trailwalker Program. The trailhead for the Longleaf Pine Trail is located 200 yards off Coral Farms Road on Tinsley Road. This trail is marked in blue. In addition, a segment of the Florida Trail passes through the Etoniah Creek State Forest.


What points of interest are there?:
George's Lake, the Iron Bridge on the Florida Trail, Iron Bridge Shelter (a backcountry shelter for hikers), dense oak forests, and a few feeder streams and marshes.


What activities are available?:
Horseback riding, hiking, bike riding, canoeing, primitive camping, fishing, and hunting.


List of known hazards (cliffs, snakes, poison plants, etc.):
Snakes, poisonous plants, ticks, chiggers.


Dogs Allowed?: Yes

Is a permit/fee required?: No

If a permit/fee is required please describe in detail how to get one, how much, etc.:
Not required.


Please supply the website of the land if available: [Web Link]

Hours of accessibility?: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Visitors are encouraged to supply a picture of either themselves or their GPS at the trailhead and/or signage of the public access lands - describe your experience there and what you saw - tell us why other folks should come visit!

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Recent Visits/Logs:
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the federation visited Etoniah Creek State Forest - Florahome, FL 08/19/2013 the federation visited it
Marine Biologist visited Etoniah Creek State Forest - Florahome, FL 10/04/2008 Marine Biologist visited it

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