Jacksonville on Foot: Fort George Island Cultural State Park Multi-Use Trail

Fort George Island Map

During the eight months I have lived in Jacksonville, I have never heard anyone speak of Fort George Island as a destination spot. Probably, most of them opt for a day at Little Talbot Island State Park three miles up the road.

Fort George, a gateway to the Timucuan Preserve, is part of the Florida State Park system and offers several options for outdoor activities. Of course, my husband and I came looking for a place to walk/hike. We found an awesome 3-mile multi-use trail that is shared by hikers & off-road bicyclists. It follows the interior of the former golf course that is a remnant of a by-gone era when Fort George Island was frequented by the rich & famous.

Amazingly, while researching the park, I learned the island features Mount Cornelia reported to be the highest point along the Atlantic Coast south of North Carolina's Outer Banks. We were definitely able to reach a high spot on our hike that is uncommon to Florida.

The park is located at 12157 Heckscher Drive in Jacksonville, (904) 251-2320. It is open from 8:00am to sunset 365 days a year. There was no fee to enter the park, but the brochure we picked up during our visit indicates a fee and/or additional fees may be required. If in doubt, call ahead. The Ribault Club, featuring exhibits related to the island's history, is open Wednesday-Sunday 9:00am-5:00pm and is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The club's facilities can be rented for special occasions such as wedding receptions. The loop trail begins and ends across the road from the Ribault Club (pick up a trail map there) close to the parking area.

The Kingsley Plantation, another historic point of interest, is part of the park. It is on our list to visit another day.

Ribault Club

Distance:

3 miles +

Terrain:

Maritime forest with sandy soil featuring a cross slope exceeding 5% at one point plus a grade exceeding 12% at Mount Cornelia.

Amenities:

There is ample parking at the Ribault Club along with restrooms and a shaded picnic area. There is also a boat launch on the back side of the club suitable for canoes, kayaks and small flat bottom boats. Bicycling is possible with big tires on the multi-use trail. Another biking/walking option is possible along the park's paved and gravel roadways.

Pets:

Well-behaved pets are allowed on a leash not exceeding 6 feet in length. Bag waste as a courtesy to other users of the trail.

Wheelchairs:

Not recommended, but the grounds surrounding the Ribault Club are a suitable option along with other scenic areas within the park.

Modifications:

The hike exceeds 3 miles a bit by opting to take the side trip to Point Isabel, which is well worth the view of the water. There are two trail options when you reach Mount Cornelia, but most people would simply view the steeper route as a higher than normal rise along the trail. It might be difficult for someone with limited lung capacity or another significant physical problem but not for a reasonably well-conditioned individual. Some people choose to opt out of doing the complete loop and just hike to Mount Cornelia or Point Isabel and back to the parking area.

The Hike

We proceeded to the trailhead from the parking area by walking across a field somewhat parallel to the roadway we arrived on to reach the Ribault Club. This approach sent us traveling along the trail in a clockwise direction.

The park gets a "thumbs up" for having a well-marked trail that is easy to navigate. This is important to us because my husband and I have found ourselves in areas where we did not have a clue where to go next...the blazes or other trail markings just "disappeared" or were non-existent. Badly marked trails are not only annoying...they can be dangerous.

Trail Markings

The sandy soil is typical for many trails in and around Jacksonville, so it is important to wear appropriate shoes that are comfortable with adequate support and traction for this type of trail. My husband wore low-cut hiking shoes, and I found my running shoes to be suitable.

The map we picked up at the Ribault Club was so well-marked we knew where to expect an elevation gain, when we were about to encounter an exceptionally soft surface or 3-inch tree roots. Part of the attention to detail is probably to help bicyclists safely navigate the trail, but it benefits people traveling on foot too.

Maritime Forest

Most of the trail is under a canopy of trees, but it is interspersed with open areas that were once the fairways of the golf course.

Tree of Autumn

Fall Leaves & Spanish Moss

The beautiful and interesting vegetation along the trail provides an important habitat for birds and other types of wildlife. We heard activity and sounds in the bushes, but the critters were keeping a low visible profile when we were moving along the trail.

We saw a huge quantity of fresh wild hog tracks while we were hiking. They seem to have a preference for the open sandy areas where it is easy for them to root around in the soil. There were wildlife trails at numerous points that also had been tracked by hogs. Hogs are not something we want to ever encounter up close. They have huge tusks and powerful bodies. Humans are no match for them.

Fort George Island Pond

There is a pond on the right about midway along the hike with a spillway that is routed under the trail to the other side. At certain times, when there has been a lot of rain, I would imagine water might be flowing rapidly. We caught it on a still day, but it was picturesque anyway. We did not determine if the pond is fed by a creek.

Pond Spillway

There were informational kiosks along the trail providing details about the relationship of migrating birds to seed dispersal within the park, especially along the abandoned golf course fairways. The University of North Florida collaborates with the park to assess the effect birds have on new plant species.

Seed Dispersal

The side trip to Point Isabel offered spectacular views of the Fort George River. One high bank overlook was considerably undercut, so we were careful not to step too close to the edge in case the soil was unstable. There are stairs that go down to an area along the water fortified by a concrete bulkhead with access to a small sandy beach that is exposed at low tide. This would be a good spot for a simple picnic.

Point Isabel Sandy Beach

We did not know anything about the geographical signifigance of Mount Cornelia when we began our hike except it represents the highest point on the trail. Relative to our hiking experiences in other parts of the country we consider this to be a hill. With a 12% grade we WERE careful to watch our footing because the trail was a bit rough in places. Injuries can occur when you least expect them. Although we do like physical challenges, we definitely make an effort to stay safe. Signage along the route offers the option of eliminating Mount Cornelia from the hike and remaining on the Mail Loop instead.

Trail to Mount Cornelia

It is not very far from Mount Cornelia to the parking lot at the Ribault Club where we were able to enjoy a couple of points of interest before we left the area. The picnic tables close to where we parked are a good option for hikers who do not want to eat on the trail or anyone coming to enjoy other features of Fort George Island. There is also the opportunity to glean a bit of historical information about Spanish influence on the island centuries ago.