Physical / Mobility

Trails and Outdoor Exhibits

A project is currently underway to collect slope, grade, and distance information on all our trails. In the meantime please ask a ranger for specific guidance.

Fort Caroline	Miles
Visitor Center to Fort Trail	.19
Parking lot to Fort Trail	.2
Hammock Trail (entire loop)	1

Theodore Roosevelt Area	Miles
Spanish Pond Trail	1
Spanish Pond to Bird Tower	1.26
Timucuan Trail	.75
Willie Browne Trail (to cabin)	.74
Willie Browne Trail (entire loop)	1
Willie Browne Trail and Spanish Pond Trail	1.72

Kayak Launch Accessibility Information

The City of Jacksonville has 3 adaptive kayak launches located at:
Bethesda Park - 10790 Key Haven Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32218,

Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park - 500 Wonderwood Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32233 and

Southbank Riverwalk - 1001 Museum Circle, Jacksonville, FL 32207

The Hanna Park launch is the nearest to Timucuan Preserve.

Programs and Tours 

The park offer a variety of educational and participatory programs and tours. Ranger-led programs at some parks are offered throughout the year, and so the season and weather could limit some accessibility.  All hikes are generally longer and cover more rugged terrain while walks are shorter over more even surfaces, programs are stationary and often conducted at benches or in the Kingsley Plantation barn.

Visitor Centers 

• Parking: There are accessible parking spaces available in all our park lots.
• Entrances: There are no automatic or push-button door openers at Kingsley Plantation or Fort Caroline.

• Restrooms: Accessible restrooms are located at Fort Caroline to the left of the visitor center entrance, at Kingsley Plantation, past the Kitchen house along the path up the ramp and to the right of the visitor contact station entrance, at Theodore Roosevelt Area and Cedar Point trailheads (these are pit toilets).

• Benches: There is a seating area in the visitor center and benches scattered across the grounds at Fort Caroline and Kingsley Plantation. There are some but fewer benches along the Theodore Roosevelt Area and Cedar Point. There are no benches at American Beach park property.

• Elevator or lift: Visitor centers are all single floor with ramp entrances, the second floors of the historic kitchen house and planter's house are closed to visitation but there are four stairs to the planter's house entrance.

 

 

Hammock Trail

NPS Graphic

Hammock Trail

This one mile trail located near the main visitor center at Fort Caroline National Memorial is largely shaded, the average grade is low but it reaches 17% in short sections.

Trail Grade: 5-17% only steep in small portions.
Trail Surface Material: Sandy in parts, hard packed ground in others, roots present.
Trail Width: Average 6-8 feet wide.

 

French Memorial Trailhead

NPS Graphic

French Memorial Trail

This short path between the fort model at the edge of the St. Johns River and the Timucuan Preserve visitor center is only .20 miles long. The wide trail is sandy in portions and hard packed earth the rest, occasional roots, and water bars should be looked out for.

Trail grade may be steep for those using walkers or wheelchairs. The grade is on average 6% but 33% at it's steepest. Rangers are happy to offer information, images, and video of the fort model for those who do not wish to take the trail down.

Trail Grade: 6%-23%, short trail, steep in sections with water bars.
Trail Surface Material: Sandy in parts, hard packed ground in others, roots and water bars present.
Trail Width: Average 8 feet wide.

 

Spanish Pond Trail

NPS Graphic

Spanish Pond Trail

The one mile trail is largely flat and uses boardwalks along large stretches. The boardwalks have ramps near the trailhead and steps further along the trail. The grade is generally flat averaging at 3-4% with 4% being the steepest. Trails are generally very flat and next to a water source, this means that the trail is prone to flooding after large rain events.

Trail Grade: 3-4%
Trail Surface Material: Long stretches of boardwalk with occasional packed earth, expect water on trails following rain events.
Trail Width: Average 4-8 feet wide.

 

Willie Browne Trail Junction

NPS/Stankiewicz

Willie Browne Trail

The Willie Browne trail can be accessed from both the Spanish Pond trailhead and the Theodore Roosevelt Area trailhead. This one mile trail has a 3-5% grade over packed dirt with occasional roots. The trail goes by the former cabin site of the Browne family and includes a small loop at the end.

Trail Grade: 3-5%
Trail Surface Material: Packed dirt with some grass and occasional roots.
Trail Width: Average 3-9 feet wide.

 

Timucuan Trail

The .75 mile Timucuan Trail is a connector trail between various portions of the Theodore Roosevelt Area.

Trail Grade: 7-20%
Trail Surface Material: Packed dirt with shells and occasional roots.
Trail Width: Average 3-6 feet wide.