Jacksonville Unveils Over 30 Miles of Trails within New 7 Creeks Recreation Area

Network of 5,600 acres of public conservation lands in Jacksonville now available for nature explorers

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Home to the largest urban park system in America, Jacksonville has unveiled the newly branded 7 Creeks Recreation Area. Starting near the intersection of New Berlin and Cedar Point roads, the network of preserves runs east to Black Hammock Island in northeast Jacksonville and consists of seven creeks and over 30 miles of trails. The 7 Creeks Recreation name symbolizes the collection of seven local, state and federal parks in northeast Jacksonville offering expansive recreational activities like nature trails and waterways for hiking, biking, horseback riding, kayaking, boating, paddle boarding, fishing and more to visitors.

JaxParks along with its partners, Florida Parks Service (FPS) National Park Service (NPS) North Florida Land Trust (NFLT) and Timucuan Parks Foundation (TPS) joined forces to provide this new attraction where visitors of any age can participate in the many nature-related activities and experiences Jacksonville has to offer.

Easy-to-Navigate Trails & Preserves

All trails within 7 Creeks have been expanded and feature new signage to offer easier navigation for hikers, bikers, and horseback riders. A new 7-mile route, the 7 Creeks Trail, was also created to highlight the recreation area’s most scenic spots.

A newly opened road leads to the north end of Betz-Tiger Point Preserve where the Edwards Creek Day-Use Area is located, one of the two newly developed trailhead/ picnic areas. The second is located at Cedar Point Preserve on Black Hammock Island.

Other popular activities include horseback riding and bird watching. Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve is known to be where you can find over 200 species of birds including songbirds, owls, woodpeckers, turkey and bobwhite year-round. While the Sal Taylor Preserve is popular among equestrians, it is also accessible to hikers, and kayakers, to enjoy views of forest areas, swamps, blackwater streams, and wildflowers, that the preserve is known for.

Scenic Bridges and Waterways

The 7 Creeks Recreation Area has multiple kayak launches providing access to the extensive network of tidal creeks and rivers. Paddlers can navigate the waters using the Timucuan Trail Waterway Guide and the latest paddling guide developed for the Nassau River-Thomas Creek waterways.

One of the top spots to visit in the 7 Creeks Recreation Area is The Cedar Creek Bridge. This 245-foot footbridge connects NPS's Cedar Point to the City of Jacksonville's Cedar Point Preserve and symbolizes the partnership that makes this park a city, state, and national park all in one.

The collaborating park agencies have a long-standing, unique and nationally recognized partnership that enables them to manage the properties together in an effort to provide an interconnected and seamless experience for park visitors. The area now unifies seven lesser-known parks; Betz-Tiger Point, Bogey Creek Preserve, Cedar Point, Jim Wingate Preserve, Pescatello Island and Pumpkin Hill Preserve, and pays homage to the seven surrounding creeks; Bogey Creek, Clapboard Creek, Cedar Point Creek, Edwards Creek, Fitzpatrick Creek, Horseshoe Creek and Pumpkin Hill Creek.

Together, 7 Creeks Recreation Area provides longer trails, more recreational opportunities, and a total of 5,600 uninterrupted acres of preserved wildlife that represents one of the most expansive new networks of parks in the U.S. The 7 Creeks Recreation Area is a new must-do, with plenty to keep outdoor lovers busy in Jacksonville.

Start planning your visit to explore the 7 Creeks Recreation Area at 7CreeksJax.org.

About Visit Jacksonville

Visit Jacksonville is a Destination Marketing Organization accredited by Destinations International and contracted by the Duval County Tourist Development Council (TDC) since 1996 to champion the growth of leisure and business tourism in Jacksonville. For a closer look at all there is to see and do in Jacksonville, go to www.VisitJacksonville.com.