Nestled on the Westside is quite a Jacksonville hidden gem — Bulls Bay Preserve. Bulls Bay Preserve features trails for hiking or biking, picnic benches and tables, public grills, parking area and public restrooms. And something quite unique to Florida, a trail that leads to a waterfall. While this one might be small, it is still a nice reward after a hike or bike ride. And not something you typically get in our flat, lowland state.
Getting to Bulls Bay Preserve
If you drive too fast, you might miss the turn for the park. The entrance for Bull Bay Preserve is located directly off Old Plank Road with a small parking lot adjacent to the trails. It consists of 1,222 acres that were acquired on December 21, 1999, as part of a conservation easement for mitigation. The preserve is made up of mostly wetlands, such as the Bulls Bay Swamp, with tributaries to the Trout and Ortega rivers. The swamps buffer the Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail from Imeson Road to Bulls Bay Highway.
Amenities at Bulls Bay Preserve
Amenities include the northern swamp trail off Imeson Road. There are two miles of hiking/mountain bike trails at the Old Plank Road trailhead. The trails include the Bridge Loop, which is 0.3 miles, the Lily Pond Loop at 0.4 miles, the Live Oak Loop at 0.35 miles, the Waterfall Loop, which is 0.25 miles, and the Old Plank Trail at 0.25 miles. There are connector trails as well.
The trails feature several elevation changes with steep downhills for the more experienced bike rider. Along the trails, users will see large oak trees, lily ponds and the small 4-ft waterfall. The waterfall sits on a tributary to the Cedar River, which rises in a neighborhood west of the preserve. The trail also takes you over the top of the waterfall for a view of the lower creeks and smaller falls.
The preserve is located at 8017 Old Plank Road, Jacksonville, FL 32220 and is open daily from sunrise to sundown. There is no fee to enter the park.
Jennifer wasn’t born in Jacksonville, but she claims it as her hometown anyways. Originally from Ohio, she moved to Jacksonville when she was only 8 years old, eventually leaving to pursue a degree in journalism from the University of Florida. After living in various places and pursuing a writing and reporting career, she eventually made it back to Jacksonville in 2013 and has been here ever since. She is self-employed as a freelance writer, editor and social media specialist. She is also a mom to two daughters, Chloe and Violet. They love to explore Jacksonville together, especially all the parks and outdoors spaces the city has to offer. You can check out her work and contact her at https://jenniferjensen.journoportfolio.com.
