www.FloridaStateParks.org
Native Americans used this site extensively as evidenced by the fairly widespread shell mound. During the 1920s, a steamboat stop provided wood and water to citrus loaded ships. The area was also used as a post office for the towns of Pomona and Cisco. The 6,000-acre property experienced turpentining, logging, cattle ranching and farming within the last century. Located south of a sharp bend in the St. Johns River, the park was added to the state park system in October 2001. Dunns Creek forms the northern and eastern boundaries of the park. The natural communities include sand pine scrub and sand hills covered with longleaf pines and wiregrass which help protect the gopher tortoise and several other endangered and native wildlife species.
A 1.5-mile hiking and bicycling trail leads visitors from the parking lot to the pristine waters of Blue Pond, a sinkhole lake, where visitors enjoy a small picnic area with shelter, picnic tables and grill. A waterless composting toilet is available.
Dunns Creek State Park offers many miles of hiking, bicycling and equestrian trails. There are four marked trails. All trails start on the Yellow trail. The trail head is located at the Blue pond picnic area. The trails vary in length from a short 10-minute walk to a full two-hour hike (recommended for experienced hikers). Since hikers, bicyclists and equestrians share the trails, please be courteous of other visitors.
Two alligators sun themselves on a fallen tree off the banks of the Dunns Creek River. The trees are green with fresh spring foliage.
Prescribed fire is an important part of managing natural areas. Fire is crucial to many Florida habitats, helping to maintain a wide range of plant and animal life. However, while fire is important, wildfire is hard to manage and can be very destructive. Prescribed burning also helps better manage fire. It reduces the potential for wide-spread destruction.
