St. Marks Camping-Hiking-Biking-Paddling

Come join us for 5 days of camping-hiking-biking-paddling in the St. Marks Wildlife Refuge area.
You may join for all 5 days or just a few.
Recommend you book your site early at Ochlocknee State Park.

Activities:

Hike at Aucilla Sinks:
4.4 miles. With ripples of dark waters reflecting against pockmarked limestone walls, dense palm fronds obscuring sudden dropoffs into yawning sinkholes, and a footpath that winds you among the most geologically weird piece of any National Scenic Trail, the Aucilla Sinks are by far the most fascinating segment of the Florida Trail.

Hike Cathedral of the Palms:
Hugging coastal swamps and marshes before plunging into them through the majestic Cathedral of Palms, this popular 5.3 mile hike on the Florida Trail centers on Shepherd Spring deep within St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. The prize in the middle of this hike is Shepherd Spring, a third-magnitude spring surrounded by a dense floodplain forest.

Hiking/Biking Bald Point State Park
Some of the most picturesque areas along North Florida's Gulf Coast are found within the park, which supports over 12,000 upland acres.
Located on Alligator Point where Ochlockonee Bay meets Apalachee Bay, Bald Point State Park offers a multitude of opportunities for land and water activities. Coastal marshes, pine flatwoods and oak thickets foster a diversity of biological communities that make the park a popular destination for birding and wildlife viewing.
Each fall, bald eagles and other migrating raptors along with monarch butterflies are commonly seen heading south for the winter.
Bald Point offers access to two Apalachee Bay beaches for swimming, sunbathing, fishing, canoeing, kayaking and windsurfing. Facilities include a fishing dock and picnic pavilions.

Bike St. Marks Wildlife Refuge:
The St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1931 to provide winter habitat for migratory birds, and is one of the oldest refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System. It encompasses over 86,000 acres in Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor counties, and includes about 43 miles of north Florida’s Gulf coast. Congress has designated 17,350 acres of the Refuge a National Wilderness Area.

Paddling---TBD

Camping

## Welcome to Ochlockonee River State Park

Time stands still on the banks of the Ochlockonee River, where you can find the Real Florida.
Ecological restoration at Ochlockonee River State Park has successfully preserved the beautiful longleaf pine forests that once covered much of the state. Trails allow visitors to explore the park and see the diverse wildlife, including the red-cockaded woodpecker, and natural communities such as pine flatwoods and sandhill.
A boat ramp provides easy access to the river. Both freshwater and saltwater fish inhabit the waters around the park, including largemouth bass, bream, catfish and speckled perch.
For overnight visitors, there are full-facility campsites with access to restrooms and showers. Youth group camping is also available.
Picnic facilities and a swimming area are located near the scenic point where the Ochlockonee and Dead rivers intersect.

If you do not wish to camp at Ochlockonee, there are other camping options nearby.