Originally founded as the Bellamy Chapter, the Halifax-St. Johns Chapter maintains many miles of trails along the St. Johns River corridor. Our strength is our maintenance crews that truly love keeping the trail in good condition. We are adding more recreational opportunities and working on improving our chapter meetings.

Some of our popular annual events include Ella’s Tuesday Maintenance Hikes (during hiking season), the St. Francis backpack and Mayoral Election (Feb), and the Hidden Pond backpacking trip (Dec).

Serving Flagler, Putnam, and Volusia counties

CHAPTER MEETINGS: 
Contact chapter representatives listed below for specific meeting sites and directions.

CONTACTS:

• Linda Taylor - (386) 774-0734   ljtaylor5@earthlink.net
• Ella Lindsay - (386) 325-1878   geriverhouse@wildblue.net

The Halifax-St. Johns chapter maintains the Florida Trail in the northern Ocala National Forest and north from Buckman Lock to Etoniah Creek, including the Rice Creek section. The chapter also maintains loop trails, including the Bella Vista Trail at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park and the St. Francis Hiking Trail in the southern Ocala National Forest.

RICE CREEK A natural haven with a touch of history, the Florida Trail along Rice Creek traverses land that was once a British rice and indigo plantation in the 1700s. Along the creek, ancient cypresses tower above the forest canopy, sentinels watching over the tannic flow. The floodplain forest along the creek is lush and green, with many bromeliads in the trees and many boardwalks and bridges to cross. The Rice Creek section can be accessed from a trailhead on SR 100, several miles west of Palatka.

OCALA NORTH One of the most popular destinations for backpackers on the Florida Trail, the northern portion of the Ocala National Forest winds through a wilderness of open prairies, shady oak hammocks, desert-like scrub, and vast forests of longleaf pine where the understory view goes on forever. Access the trail via trailheads at Juniper Springs Recreation Area, Pat’s Island, Hopkins Prairie, Grassy Pond, Lake Delancy, RodmanCampground, and Buckman Lock.