Torreya State Park Real Guide

Note: Numbers correspond with numbers on map. Red = Day 1, Blue = Day 2, Green = Day 3 and Yellow = last two sites. Choose from the options below to plan your own day-long adventure or choose from a variety of camping options at Torreya State Park for a three-day stay or longer. A Number of historic downtowns are very close to the state park, so make sure to visit each one in between enjoying the many natural recreational opportunities offered in the area! Day One, Check in and hiking

Check in at Torreya State Park (1); 2576 N.W. Torreya Park Road Bristol, Florida 32321, (850) 643-2674. With over 30 primitive, yurt, RV, and full facility campsites (reserve sites on- line), the state park offers a number of different prospects for staying in the scenic area. Torreya also offers a hiking to camp- ing challenge, where the site is 3.5 miles from the nearest parking area and gear must be carried to the site! • Hike the Torreya Challenge (2) (5 Miles), or the other 11 miles of unpaved located within the park. Day Two, Tour, Geocaching and Hiking • Ranger guided tours of the historic Gregory House (3) are given at 10:00 a.m. on weekdays, and 10:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on weekends and state holidays. • Picnic lunch (4) at the park and try to find the Geo- caching site near the historic Stone Bridge. • Hike the Garden of Eden Trail in the Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve (5) (10394 NW Longleaf Drive, Bristol, FL 32321). This self-guided tour through 3.75 miles of conservation area takes you through some of the steepest terrain in the Flor- ida Panhandle. The site was restored by the Nature Conservancy and serves as a home to diverse types of reptiles, small and large birds, and flora and fauna. Direc- tions to this site can be located on the trail’s webpage.

Day Three, Visit small towns in the Panhandle by paddling or driving Torreya State Park offers an opportunity to paddle the scenic from the State Park. A number of ramps are offered within or near the park boundaries. (Eastern Apalachicola Boat Ramps: Clyde Hopkins Park, Aspalaga Boat Ramp and Harry Donar Landing; Western Boat Landings: Ocheesee and Red’s Landing) • To visit the town of Bristol via river, use the Harry Donar Landing to launch your kayak or canoe (6) just outside the state park on Harry Donar Rd. (See page 4 of the Apalachicola River Blue- way Guide for more detailed landing information) and paddle 8 miles south to the Bristol Landing (7) on the eastern bank of the Apalachicola River. This town pro- vides options for dining, lodging, and a number of histor- ical and preservation markers. One notable location is the Veterans Memorial Park and Railroad (10561 N.W. Theo Jacobs Road [County Road 12], Bristol, FL 32321, (850) 643-6646 or (850) 643-5491. • Another option from the Harry Donar Landing (6) traveling south from the state park on the Apalachicola River to visit the Town of Blountstown. To visit Blount- stown, exit the river at Neal’s Landing on River Street (8) (10 Mile Paddle) and Hike 5 Miles west on the Blountstown Greenway Bike Path. This town offers numerous activities, including a Florida Main Street and the Panhandle Pioneer Museum (9), (17869 NW Pioneer Settlement Rd, Sam Atkins Park, Blountstown, FL 32424 (850) 674-2777), where visitors can learn about the historical significance of the town’s settlement throughout its history. After exiting your boat at River St., use the Blount- stown Greenway Bike Path until you reach the Florida National Scenic Trail by hiking at the SR 20 Connection, going through the road underpass west through Blountstown until the Sutton Creek and Angel St/SR 71 Fork. At the fork, take the Sutton Creek route until reaching Sam Atkins Park. Continue north on 19th Street from Sam Atkins Park and take a left at the fork to reach the Settlement. • The last site within reasonable biking or driving distance is the City of Chattahoochee, where the Jim Woodruff Dam (10) (JWD) impounds Seminole Lake, and is the confluence of the Flint and Chattahoochee River Basins. Chattahoochee offers lodging, camping, food, and amenities, while the JWD offers Geocaching Opportunities. Lastly, the Victory Bridge provides a scenic view of the JWD at a safe distance for paddlers and is easily accessible via. To get to Chattahoochee by bike or car (20 miles), take SR 271 south from the state park entrance and turn left (north) onto Phillips Rd and merge onto SR 270 (north). Continue on SR 270 until making a left Sycamore Rd and another left onto SR 269, which will take you into Chattahoochee. To get to the Victory Bridge, turn left onto US Highway 90 (SR 10/Washington Street) and continue until turning onto River Landing Road on the left. Victory Bridge is also adjacent to the Angus Gholson Jr. Nature Park of Chattahoochee (11) and Clyde Hopkins Park and their award-win- ning nature trail system. To reach the JWD from Victory Bridge, continue on River Landing Road past the Victory Bridge until North River Landing Road. !Æ

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