Recreation Centers & Community Sports Facilities · Jacksonville
Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve
- Parking available
- Wheelchair accessible parking
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
Compiled from publicly available information and may change — please confirm directly with the business or organization.
- Since
- 1988
- Location
- Jacksonville
- Languages
- English
Story
Overview
Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, managed by the National Park Service, protects one of the last unspoiled coastal wetlands on the Atlantic Coast, where the St. Johns and Nassau rivers meet the Atlantic Ocean. The preserve spans more than 46,000 acres within the city of Jacksonville and features salt marshes, coastal dunes, and hardwood hammocks. More than 200 archeological sites provide evidence of over 6,000 years of human habitation in the area.
The preserve is named in honor of the Timucua, who inhabited the St. Johns River valley for thousands of years. Its modern history begins with Fort Caroline National Memorial, authorized in 1950 to commemorate the 16th-century French effort to establish a permanent colony in present-day Florida. In 1988, Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve was established and is administered jointly with Fort Caroline National Memorial.
A Partnership Park
The National Park Service owns about 9,000 acres within the preserve. The remaining land includes state and city parks, nonprofit conservation lands, and private property. Through the Timucuan Trail State and National Parks partnership, the National Park Service, the Florida Park Service, and the City of Jacksonville work together to serve visitors.
Sites Within the Preserve
Fort Caroline National Memorial — Home to the main Timucuan Preserve Visitor Center and a fort exhibit that tells the story of the failed French colony in Florida.
Kingsley Plantation — Explores a history of freedom and enslavement, including the tabby cabins that were home to many enslaved people.
American Beach — Founded to provide African Americans with beach access during segregation; its sand dune is a protected part of the preserve.
Theodore Roosevelt Area — A 600-acre area of hardwood forest, wetlands, and scrub vegetation with hiking trails.
Cedar Point — A boat ramp and trails that bring visitors closer to nature.
Spanish Pond — A trail area with long stretches of boardwalk.
Products & services
Free Admission
National Park sites within the preserve are free and open to the public. The park issues active-duty military passes and Access Passes at no charge.
Visitor Centers
The Timucuan Preserve Visitor Center at Fort Caroline and the Kingsley Plantation Visitor Contact Station.
Ranger Programs
Programs throughout the year at Fort Caroline, Kingsley Plantation, Cedar Point, and the Theodore Roosevelt Area on Indigenous life and culture, the experiences of enslaved people, the colonial French experience, Spanish mission systems, local plants and animals, and the salt marsh ecosystem.
Guided Group Tours
Guided tours for groups, arranged based on staff availability.
School Field Trips
Free field trips to Fort Caroline and Kingsley Plantation.
Virtual Ranger Programs
Virtual ranger programs for groups, organizations, and classrooms.
Audio Tours
A Kingsley Plantation audio tour with captioned and audio-described versions, and a self-guided Fort Caroline audio tour in the NPS app.
Hiking Trails
Trails at Fort Caroline, the Theodore Roosevelt Area, Spanish Pond, and Cedar Point.
Boating & Fishing
A boat ramp at Cedar Point. Fishing is permitted along the natural shoreline at Kingsley Plantation and in the backwaters under state regulations; it is prohibited at Fort Caroline and Spanish Pond.
Picnic Areas
A covered picnic area next to the main visitor center and picnic tables at the Theodore Roosevelt Area, Cedar Point, and Kingsley Plantation, available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Junior Ranger Program
Junior Ranger activities for young visitors.
Pet-Friendly Grounds
Dogs are welcome on trails and grounds on a leash no longer than six feet; only service animals are allowed inside buildings.
Permits
Permits for weddings, some commercial photography and videography, and other special uses.
Accessibility Services
Braille Fort Caroline brochure, an audio-described park map and brochure, audio descriptions of Cedar Point exhibits, and a tactile trail map at Cedar Point.
Volunteer Program
Volunteer opportunities through the Volunteers-in-Parks (VIP) program.
Location
12713 Fort Caroline Road, Jacksonville, FL, 32225
Get directions