Nestled in the forests of Keystone Heights, sited between Jacksonville and Gainesville in North-Central Florida, Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park promises a unique journey into a wild place filled with steep ravines, sandhill ecosystems, springs, marshes and glittering natural lakes. It's one Florida's first state parks, constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, and many of the original buildings are still in use today.

And Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park has some blockbuster trails, including a three-mile section of the linear Florida National Scenic Trail that passes through the park. All told, there are four hikes in the park, ranging from just a few minutes on the Fern Loop Trail to a couple hours using a combination of the other trails. 

Why not make a weekend of it? Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park offers full-facility camping for tents and RVs primitive sites and cabins. For more information on everything the park offers, check out floridastateparks.org/mikeroess

Looking for a trail near you? Take a look at the trails section of VISITFLORIDA.com and find your next adventure. VISITFLORIDA.com/trails.

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