Hot weather – who cares – these walks in the woods provided a little diversion and exercise.
Hawes Creek Preserve – not my first time here but the 1.3-mile boardwalk and trail hike usually provide a good variety of birds to view. Not today – too hot for them.
Lake Disston – stopped at a shady spot to view the lake, an old boat house and pier.
Welaka State Forest – Mud Springs trail (1.75 miles) and John’s Landing trail (4.0 miles)
Rice Creek Conservation Area – 5.3-mile loop trail near Palatka
The 8,062-acre Lake George Forest and Wildlife Management Area is part of a 35,380-acre wildlife management area that provides more than 20 miles of contiguous habitat for many species of Florida’s wildlife along Lake George and the St. Johns River. The Lake George area has the second largest population of bald eagles in the lower 48 states.The trail along Lake George winds through hardwood hammock dominated by live oak, sweet bay, magnolia, and sabal palm with an understory of palmetto. Wildlife along the trails may include osprey, bald eagle, barred owl, pigmy rattlesnake, black bear, bobcat, river otter, fox, deer and turkey. Too bad the only wildlife I saw were a few crows.
Haw Creek Preserve is a beautiful peaceful place that is a hidden gem near Bunnell. It’s hidden back in the woods behind acres of cabbage farmland. The Haw Creek Preserve is right on the Haw Creek, where you can kayak and launch a boat. The hike is a bit on the shorter side. The whole thing is on a great boardwalk. The total distance round trip is a little less than 1.5 miles. Along the boardwalk there are turnoffs that take you over to the Haw Creek. From the turnoffs you have great views of the creek.
Travelling Photographer 