Mike Pickering's Website

Jennings State Forest

GPS files

• Track file in gpspoint format
• Track file in gpstrans format
• Waypoint file in gpspoint format
• Waypoint file in gpstrans format
• Waypoint file of pictures taken in gpspoint format
  • CAR is the Fire and Water trail parking area
  • BLIND is the wildlife viewing blind on the Fire and Water trail
  • CAR2 is the North Fork Black Creek trail parking area
  • BLIND2 is the wildlife viewing blind on the North Fork Black Creek trail
  • FORK is a fork I was unsure about. You turn right here, which leads downhill into the woods. Believe it or not, the trail goes through here. It is difficult to see the orange blazes, but they're there.
  • FORK2 is another fork I was unsure about. I should have continued straight, but I turned left. When it was evident I had gone the wrong way, I backtracked to the fork and continued in the proper direction. I didn't see any orange blazes until I had walked down the trail for a while.

First attempt

Thankfully, I ran into a park ranger before starting this hike. It was turkey hunting season. Hunting guidelines are here.

I decided to do something else instead, and went to Green Cove Springs to hike the John P. Hall Nature Preserve.

I'll revisit this later. It looks interesting; you are supposed to be able to see Black Creek.

Second attempt

Much better. I enjoyed the Fire and Water trail, it was short and sweet, and the guidebook was interesting. Sadly, I didn't see the pitcher plants, but I did see a red-cockaded woodpecker. There are a few ravines, and there is some variation in the terrain, though I'm not sure the pictures reflect that.

The North Fork Black Creek trail was a little more challenging. There was one point where the trail went into thick woods, and I was unsure I was in the right place, but I could see orange blazes, so I had a good feeling, and I turned out to be correct. There were many other spots where roads or trails intersected, and it wasn't always clear which one I wanted to follow. But I only took a wrong turn once.

The trail was wet, and many portions were underwater. After tiptoeing around several wet spots, and trudging through the woods in several other places, I stepped into a spongy patch hidden by some grass. At that point, my feet were already wet, and things went much faster since I didn't have to worry about getting my feet wet anymore.

There's a lot of walking, and much of it is over horse trails. There's not much variation in what you see; you do get to see part of Black Creek but it's nothing like seeing it at Black Creek Ravines.