Coastal Backpacking: Florida/Georgia

“running girl and i want to combine a backpacking trip with the ocean/gulf. we are dropping boy off at grandpappy's in ponte vedra beach (jacksonville area) and don't know where to go. cumberland island is booked for the dates we are going to be in the area. what else is there that offers the ocean. we aren't against driving anywhere in florida or georgia. maybe even into south carolina.”

“Try looking at:

www.florida-trail.org/

www./fl-dof.com/state_forests/index.html”

“St. George Island SP has a 3 mile trail that leads to a bayside campsite. Cool setting!”

“If you are looking for the trip of your life let me suggest doing section 13 of the Florida trail. then head directly to Cedar Key on the west coast. rent some kayaks and see the islands. best anywhere. then down to Crystal river and play with the Manatees. what a trip!!!!! you could through in some of the Swannee river is you like or Ginny springs, or maybe Juniper springs all of which are wonderful canoe trips. you cant go wrong with any combination of any of these.I put my word on it!”

“Baume66 and RG....when are you planning on doing this trip?”

“SHH!!!!

quit posting this stuff!”

“april 1, 2, 3 and 4.”

“Gorp desn't have crap on Florida.

PVB is right down the road from me. Stop on in and say howdy.

I'd bet that if you showed up at Cumberland you'd get to hike there. People around here are notorious for making reservations and not showing up. Especially in the middle of the week. I'd go to Cumberland and see if you could get in and if not just go to plan B all you would lose is part of a morning. Cumberland is one hour from PVB.

Most trails suitable for backpacking in Florida are in the interior. Most coastal trails are dayhikes. I would definately consider doing some paddling here. It's some of the best around.

Okeefenokee Swamp NWR is about 2 hours north east of PVB. It has some great canoe trails and it would be easy to put together some overnighters. If you have a way to carry it you can use my canoe.

Ocala NF is a great suggestion and is only about 2+ hours from PVB. Lots of info on the Ocala ECT threads.

Florida State Parks They redid the site recently and it now has less info than before but it's a good place to start.

Little Talbot Island SP. About 20 min north of PVB on A1A. They have a five mile trail that winds through coastal barrier forest and loops back along the beach. Not a backpack I know but it's a nice walk. The primative area is used mostly for youth groups. The plus is that you are right in the middle of three islands (Big Talbot, Little Talbot and Amelia Island) that offer a wide range of things to do.

Torreya State Park is one I've never gone to but all the people I know who have tell me it is best place to backpack in Florida.

Just a few options.”

“Thanks humanpackmule! We are still trying to figure out what we are going to do.”

“When you start to narrow it down drop me a line, maybe I can help.

Seriously though, I live right up A1A in Atlantic Beach and go to church in PVB.”

“thanks mule. we gots a canoe we could bring on the top of our gas guzzlin' suv. i hope i don't get any dirt on it though. we're mulling over our options. we like paddling, but the ocean is even mo' betta. is atlantic beach just above jax beach? i think we stopped in and got a coffee there when we were down over thanksgiving. we ate at some barbecue place over near ace hardwear too. that was the first mustard based barbecue sauce i'd ever had.

thanks for all the suggestions everyone. it opens up many more options.”

“Going north from PVB it's Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach then Atlantic Beach.

Ace on Third St. (A1A)? That would be Jax Beach but I can't think of the joint.

Mustard rocks.”

“the barbecue place and ace hardware that we went to were closer to the mall than pvb (i recall seeing an ace harwear closer to pvb). the coffee place (starbucks i think) was where a1a takes a left hand 90 at a T if your headed north. the coffee place was directly across from where we were stopped at the light. the ocean is two or three blocks to the right.”

“Ok yeah. There is an Ace off JTB where Target is but I'm guessing you were on Atlantic and ate at Woody's.

The intersetion you mentioned is A1A and Atlantic Blvd. The north side of Atlantic Blvd is Atlantic Beach the south side is Neptune Beach. Yep, that was a starbucks.

You were a couple of minutes from my place.”