Highlights and Precautions

FLORIDA NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL Saint Marks National Wildlife Refuge - East Length = 19.6 MILES FNST

Spur Trail

P Trail access & parking

Highlights and Precautions: A primitive hiking experience through two wilderness areas, swamps, hardwood hammocks, pine flatwoods and along old tram roads and on dikes through salt marshes. Historic points near the east section of Trail: St. Marks Lighthouse and old Port Leon. Terrain is mostly flat and dry (except in heavy rain). Check with the Visitor Center [850-925-6121] for regulations, prescribed burn schedule and hunting seasons. Mileage Points, east-to-west: 00.0 Jct US 98 at Aucilla WMA entrance road. 01.2 Aucilla WMA/Saint Marks NWR boundary. 01.4 Jct with small tramway. 02.2 Jct with large tramway. 02.4 Old logging bridge - 30 ft. 02.8 Old logging bridge - 60 ft. 02.9 Jct east end of Aucilla Tram Rd. 04.3 Pinhook River bridge. 04.5 Pinhook Campsite 130 ft. NW of trail. 04.6 Bridge. 04.7 Bridge. 05.6 Jct east end of 0.7-mi. Rookery Loop trail. 06.1 Jct west end of Rookery Loop trail. 08.7 Jct Aucilla Tram Rd. and Main Levee. 09.4 View of Big Bend: Panhandle to west, peninsula to east and south. 10.5 Ring Levee Campsite. 11.3 Jct Main Levee and secondary levee. Trail continues north and then west. 11.5 Waterfowl impoundments to west. 13.6 Jct levee and Lighthouse Rd (SR 59) at gate. Continue south 0.3 mi. on road. 13.9 Jct Lighthouse Rd (SR 59) and East River levee at gate. (Lighthouse is 4.4 mi. to south on SR 59.) 15.6 Jct. Port Leon Rd. (Blue-blaze leads 0.9 mi. east to SMNWR Visitor Center) 17.7 Jct. Port Leon Rd. (Blue-blaze leads 0.5 mi. south to old town site of Port Leon) 18.1 Port Leon Campsite. 18.3 Jct old road. 18.5 Cross bridge. 19.6 St. Marks River. Hail boat to cross (OR: phone Danny Sellers 925-5626 or Shell Island Fish Camp 925-6226). Trail Access directions [NOTE: NO OVERNIGHT PARKING ALLOWED IN THE REFUGE]: (1) US 98 at Aucilla WMA Small Game Road sign: At the junction of US 98 and SR 59 (Lighthouse Road) in Newport, drive 11.7 miles east and then watch carefully for white sign on south side of highway at gated road (1.6 mi. west of the Aucilla River bridge). Limited parking on road shoulder. Overnight parking not advised. (2) Lighthouse Road in SMNWR: From the Visitors Center [entrance fee or federal passport required] drive south 5.5 miles to the north FNST intersection, or 5.8 miles to the south FNST intersection. Small parking areas at both intersections; the south one is larger. (3) St. Marks: The East Section ends on the south side of the St. Marks River. On the north side, the FNST intersects Riverside Drive just west of Port Leon Drive, where the West Section continues north on the bike path. All parking at your own risk. Conveniences: Supplies: J.R.'s Aucilla River Store on US 98 (0.4 mi. east of Aucilla River bridge), St. Marks. Lodging: St. Marks: Sweet Magnolia B&B, Shell Island Fish Camp. West of St. Marks: The Inn at Wildwood Resort on US 98. Campgrounds: Newport Park 850-925-4530, Shell Island Fish Camp 850-925-6226, Ochlockonee River SP 850-962-2771. Emergency: Emerg.: 911 Jefferson Cnty. Sheriff 850-997-2523 Wakulla Cnty. Sheriff: 850-926-7171 FHP: 850-245-7700. To purchase detailed FTA maps and data book, visit www.floridatrail.org and click on “Shop”... then ‘Maps,’ then ‘FTA Maps,’ then ‘Printed Maps’ [select map “9/10 Apalachicola”...] [...and select map “11/12 St. Marks/Aucilla...”] ...and then “Publications,” and then “Florida Trail” [select “2014-2015 Florida Trail Data Book”] [Also select “The Florida Trail Guide” for trail details and town information/maps.]

Summary sheet prepared by Linda Patton - July 2011, rev. 1/20/15