rice creek conservation area

The Rice Creek Conservation Area is protected by the St. Johns Water Management District as a watershed, but it is also a piece of local history. Part of the northern Florida Greenway, featuring a three mile section of the Florida Trail and adjacent to the Etoniah State Forest, Rice Creek and the swamp that borders it are part of the legacy of the American Revolution.Two British Loyalists, Thomas Forbes and William Panton were run out of their homes in southern Georgia, escaping to what was then the British territory of East Florida during the 1790's. Settling along Cedar Creek, they tried raising cattle, but were mostly unsuccessful. Depending on your viewpoint, the two men became bold enough or desperate enough to carve out a rice and indigo plantation, giving the creek its modern name. The rice paddies and levees can still be clearly seen, along with the eighth largest cypress tree in the state.It takes a leisurely stroll from the parking lot down a couple of logging roads to reach the Florida Trail, which then slithers its way through a subtropical lowland jungle to Rice Creek. Skirting the edge of Nine Mile Swamp,the trail follows the tops of those two hundred year-old levees. Foot bridges span the numerous spillways that controlled the water level in the paddies. Just the sheer size of the plantation is staggering, when you think that it was all dug by hand.The big cypress overlook is somewhat underwhelming, since the tree is some twenty yards away in the swamp. Still, its dimensions- 107 feet high and almost 25 feet in diameter are impressive, even at a distance. At the foot of Cedar Loop trail is another intriguing tree, a Hobbit-like oak coated in ferns and emerald lichen. A bit further on rises the two-story cabin dubbed the "Rice Creek Hilton", an overnight community shelter open to all hikers. Equipped with a well powered by a hand pump, it is a welcome oasis on a cold, wet trek through the wilderness.

Some would think this is an unfair rating since we never did get to the levee trail. Here's why and I hope it will help future hikers. To begin with, hardly anyone in Palatka knows where this spot is. We asked a few. We had to go to the Chamber of Commerce to get directions. Take Florida Hwy 100 West. It will be on the left side of the road as you leave Palatka. There is no signage on the highway before you get to the conservation area to warn you to slow down. We drove by and had quite a time finding a place to do a u turn. You park quite a distance from the trail head and since there is no real scale on the conservation area map we were surprised when after a 25 minute walk down the road we were still only 2/3 of the way to the trail. There was no one anywhere to be found and since the sign states there are bears in the area, it made us a bit nervous. Since it was drizzling we turned around. The actual trail had we gotten there is 2 1/4 mile so you need to plan for a long hike if you attempt this one. Bringing bikes would be a great idea to get to the trail. The Conservation area would be recommended to put gravel on this road and to allow people to drive to the trail head. This road is shared with a logging company which is why they don't I believe. We walked fast a clear cut section of forest which was sad to see but I guess part of the process since you will also see the rows of trees that have been planted. We may try this again with a larger group since we felt very isolated and will go on a sunny day since the road gets very muddy and soft after a rain.

Fantastic scenery in the Rice Swamp. If you stay on the levee trails you will stay dry. I was hiking through on the Florida Trail from Rt 20 o Rt 100. I get wet at each end, nut within the Conversation Area. The cypress trees were truly amazing. This is well worth the effort. I highly recommend hiking out to Florida's 7th largest cypress tree.

This is an old Florida hike. I have been hiking on it with my young family over the years. It is swamp Florida at its best with walk area.

I've been hiking this Area since 1980, when the Old Rice Paddies still had little bridges built from paddy to trail. Then the bridges and wooden walkways rotted away. I recently returned for a hike, and was disappointed that the right-of-way was gated and we were forced to park about a half mile from the trailhead (a hot boring walk on grass road). Then we entered the totally deserted segment of the Appalachian Trail, and a magical walk ensued. We noted our visit in the "mailbox" and made a two hour loop. I long to go back, but that first long boring walk deters me. At least they ain't taking tickets!

The Rice Creek Conservation Area was once a rice plantation. Now the conservation area is a public property with miles of trails and boardwalks. The property boasts one of the oldest cypress trees in the state and host part of the Florida Trail. When you want a walk through the woods that really gets you away head on over to Rice Creek Conservation Area and get away for a bit.