Hiking Black Creek Ravines Conservation Area, Clay County, Florida - Southern section

[ennis437]

Wow really enjoy your videos, I live in the Bradford county area and am looking forward to this trail. I am fairly new to hiking and interested in backpacking trails are there any in north Florida that are recommended ?

[Woodenarrows]

@ennis437 Check out the Floridatrail (dot) org website. From the home page select tabs “Get Involved” > “Activities” > “Backpacking” or “Day Hiking”

If you want some local day hikes, check out some of the St. Johns River Water Management lands at SJRWMD (dot) org then select “Recreation and Land” > “Recreation”. At the right hand side of the "Recreation" screen check out the “Recreation Guide to District Lands” link. Black Creek Ravines Conservation Area is a SJRWMD property.

[Woodenarrows]

@ennis437 One other thing. Be aware that late fall and winter is hunting season most everywhere state wide. It would be best to pick non hunting lands until spring, not only for your own safety but to avoid disturbing hunters. You can check the hunting season dates and zones at MyFWC (dot) com

[onesickkinight]

wow, funny I stumbled upon this. I live out there and I run on those trail three or four times a week. And that overlook is a great place to fish. Don't mind the "closed" portion, it just takes you to the big trail under the power lines. They also have maps at the parking lot. Go right at 6:08 and it takes you to the access point on Lake Asbury Drive

[Woodenarrows]

@onesickkinight Just looked at Google maps. I see the access on Lake Asbury Dr. you are referring to. I assume it's for foot or bike access only? Doesn't look like there's car park area.

[onesickkinight]

@Woodenarrows there is no official car park, but there is a large county right of way adjacent to either side of the gate where you can park, I park my 4x4 there and it fits with a lot of room.

[ladell51]

My husband and I hiked the white, yellow, yellow service to the camp site today, about 6.2 miles round trip. It was very hot, but we took plenty of water. The hike gets prettier the closer to the camp site you hike.

We're looking forward to hiking the red loop next time. We used the map from the St. John's River Management District website, and had no problem finding the trails. We live in Ormond Beach, so we came upon this place through someone else's efforts. Thanks for this video.

[Woodenarrows]

@ladell51 If you take the far eastern route of the white trail to the north, it’s more woodsy and interesting. The red trail leading to the lookout over Black Creek is nice. The beauty is of this conservation area is definitely on the east and west sides. That large power line ROW that runs down the center isn't much of an attraction :-) Glad you found the video(s) of some use. I’ll be back out there in the fall when it cools down some.

[swtchbckshtr]

great vid and nice area, thanks for sharing

[jmmurdy]

nice

[Trophybow1]

Thanks for sharing. Again very nice video and so beutiful scenerys.

[muddog1561]

I can't wait until it starts to cool off here in Florida, I really want to go here and backpack to the camp site and stay a couple of days or the weekend. I've heard a little about Black Creek and it sounds like a good place for hiking. A lot of these trails on SJWMD lands are not well marked, I've gotten turned around a few times on other properties. I don't think to much of the volunteer maintaince crews.

[Woodenarrows]

@muddog1561 Cool off? me too. Too bad we are back in the 90's again. I really enjoyed that weather last week. Did you see drcstudios video of his outing here at Black Creek last weekend? watch?v=sQ73eHnsRlg

He happened to pick the weekend of that big thunderstorm we had last week.

[muddog1561]

@Woodenarrows No I didn't see his video, I'll look it up. Sounds like he had a bad weekend. A couple of weeks ago my grandson & I went to Moses Creek for a weekend, we came back full of ticks & we used deet. I went to Bayard about 3 weeks ago & came back with a lot of ticks. We have a 3 day weekend coming up but I think We are done for the summer. I might change my mind, and go to Black Creek, but I doubt it. I've been wanting to go back to Princes Place also.

[Woodenarrows]

@muddog1561 I've been to Favor Dykes, did some canoeing there. Did not even know of Princes Place. I'll have to check it out sometime.

[muddog1561]

@Woodenarrows Look it up on Flagler County's web site. Lots of hiking, no backwoods camping but they have a real nice campground, as long as you camp when there not other campers around, no fresh water you'll have to take you own in with you. It's car camping but primitive.

[muddog1561]

@Woodenarrows I found his video, his channel looks pretty interesting, I'll check it out.

[kaziklu79]

Very beautiful!

[wawhiker]

Good thing you were paying attention Jim - I got lost - haha! Your camera work did great projecting how nice the weather was - absolutely gorgeous!

[Woodenarrows]

@wawhiker You have no idea how easy it is to get in the wrong place on this property. If I was out in the wild I'd be paying more attention but, with established multiuse trails, a person tends to just keep trucking along the same direction they were going. Of course, now that I have a correct map, that will help too. :-))

[mindracer1]

Another beautiful spot, with great music as an accompaniment. Thanks again for sharing your experiences.

[Woodenarrows]

@mindracer1 Thanks... and you're welcome.

[steintanz]

Some more scenes from this beautiful area and many more trails to choose from ;o)

Greetings, Tim

[Woodenarrows]

@steintanz Yes, I can look forward to further exploring here. Thanks for watching.

[TheRealEstateStation]

Thanks for sharing such a great video! Florida has so much to offer folks with a hankering for outdoor activities.

[intenseangler]

Glad to see the great weather is holding out for you (sure wish you'd send some this way!). I'm really enjoying this area... such a beautiful place. That little bluff sure was perfect for a campsite too. Great slideshow there at the end... very nice photography! Thanks!

[Woodenarrows]

@intenseangler Thanks for the nice comment. Our weather is slipping back to normal end of this week. Weekend forecast is 90, 91, 91. Means I'll need to carry more water if/when I go out :-))

[enjoythewildUSA]

I enjoyed watching your hike. Thanks for bringing us along.

What a perfect day for Florida. I was in the Everglades last year and OH WAS IT HOT~  : )

[Woodenarrows]

@enjoythewildUSA Yep, visit Florida in the Fall, Winter and Spring and go to the mountains in the summer :-)) Thanks for commenting.

[EconoChallenge]

The trail did not look like much at first but it sure let you to a pretty spot. You should watch all the way to the end and see some great photos.

[Woodenarrows]

@EconoChallenge Thanks Jeep for the photos comment. I agree the trails aren't much to look at but I guess they need to be that way since they are multi-use trails and a lot of the horseback riders I see ride two abreast. I'd much rather have single track trails but.....

[rainbowhiker]

In looking at your videos I notice the ground is quite often white. Is that sand? I'm guessing so. I was born in Jacksonville and from what I remember, FL is one big sandbar, so to speak. Another fine video, amigo. Love the landscape and walking through it with you. That bluff lookout WAS pretty. Thanks for taking us through the area.

[Woodenarrows]

@rainbowhiker Yes, a lot of sand in this area. Not bad when it's packed but tough to hike in when it fluffy soft. The bluff area would be a nice camping area but as you saw, camping is not allowed in that area. Quite a bit of interesting terrain change here... for Florida.

[drcstudios]

Very nice man! You make it look so easy... That mileage would kill me.

[Woodenarrows]

@drcstudios I get paid to train.... so to speak :-) I walk anywhere from 6 to 10 miles a day on my work shift, depending on how busy I am. It's a lot easier and of course a lot more enjoyable in the woods!

I've been enjoying your videos too.