A Walk in the Park…
Sunday morning was nice and cool in Jacksonville. It was overcast, a bit misty, and in the low 60s. Just a lovely temperature to be outside. Yes, I could have gone fishing, but I didn’t. Instead, stretching the legs felt appropriate, and I took a leisurely hike on the sandy trails of the Julington-Durbin Creek Preserve about ten minutes from my house.
One of the nice things about living in an area that’s being (perhaps too rapidly) developed is at least they’ve been good about keeping greenspaces open for recreational activities. This little cache of nature is bordered on most sides by shopping centers and residential neighborhoods, but once your inside, you’d never know it.
Here are few photos from the five mile loop I took. Unfortunately, didn’t see much wildlife, but it’s not uncommon to see tortoises, turkey, or deer back there.
Related Suburban Development Note:
When I moved to Jacksonville and got a kayak, the first place I broke it in at was the Durbin Creek, which is part of the Bartram Canoe Trail, as mentioned in this post from back in the day. Well, back then, the creek was accessible down a gravel road that ran right off the main road down to the water. Fast forward 6 or 7 years, that gravel road is gone as there’s now a fancy overpass going over the creek and each side is gated off.
I was pleased to see that after investigating retention ponds for fishing opportunities in the parking lot of the giant shopping center they built nearby, that they actually did maintain access to the creek. Although you can’t drive down to the launch, they built a nice little boardwalk down to the water where there’s a little floating dock.
It’s not exactly the most convenient way to access the creek with a kayak or canoe, but it can be done, so I thought that was pretty great. I thought the access was lost forever.
I’ll have to do a little more exploring in future days to see if there’s an easier, nearby spot to “put in,” perhaps accessible from the other bank; my guess is that there is, I just need to find it.
No gators in that water in the lower pics??? Looks swampy. Lol.
There are likely gators. Didn't see any, but I'm sure there are some. It is a swampy area, not the sorta place you'd want to be in the summertime – forget the gators, the mosquitoes will get you!
Mike, Nice looking park. Last time I was in FLA I was amazed at the pace of development. Unsettling for someone that wants to see green space preserved. Good to see someone thought of keeping the river access open.JJ
Mike that 5th picture looks very much like some places I fish on Cape Cod. Next to hemlock I love pine. it's so nice to walk on pine needles.
Yes, it's amazing how much the area I live in has changed in just the 6 or so years since I moved down here. But I supposed I'm part of the “problem”, moving into a new construction community, so I can't be critical.
I really need to get to New England, it's been too long.
You can always get a set of Kayak “wheels”. Just be like walking a wheelbarrow down to the creek. I have a set and it beats the hell out of carrying the kayak. There are two kinds. One you strap to the kayak (like mine) or the other has posts that go into the scupper holes (but much more expensive).
Believe it or not, there was actually a set at the beginning of the wood boardwalk (strangely not the end – you'd think it'd be there if somebody walked their boat down). I'm not sure if it was a set for public use, or one someone left behind, but I know exactly what you're talking about. This one was handmade a piece of board with kids' bike wheels mounted on either side. I should have taken a photo, because one of the bike wheels had “Dora the Explorer” on it.
MichaelLooks like some fishy places to land for a few gills and bass. How deep is the area? Five acres is a lot of wooded relestate for hiking and exploring, especially near shopping and a subdivison. Thanks for sharing
It's big enough. It's a five mile hiking loop with a few spurs you can take off the main trail. There's probably a football field's length of wooded buffer between the trail and civilization on almost all sides. A nice escape.