FunKidsActivities

Julington Durbin Creek Nature Preserve

13130 Bartram Park Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32223, USA

Overview

Category:Hiking with Kids
Location:Jacksonville, FL

Expert Summary

Detailed Insights

Julington Durbin Creek Nature Preserve offers a peaceful escape into beautiful 'Florida style jungle/woods' with well-maintained, wide, and well-marked trails. It's ideal for families seeking an engaging nature walk, run, or bike ride where time seems to fly, often leading to unexpected wildlife encounters.

Key Highlights

  • Well-maintained, spacious, and well-marked trails, including a known 4-mile loop.
  • Features beautiful 'Florida style jungle/woods' scenery.
  • Benches are scattered along the trails, providing resting spots.
  • Reviewers reported encountering 'exotic animals' during their visits.
  • Popular and accommodating for dog walkers, mountain bikers, and runners.
  • Many find the trails mesmerizing and engaging, making two hours feel like half an hour.

Standout Features

  • Ample free parking available.
  • Clean restrooms on site.
  • Wide trails accommodating multiple users simultaneously.
  • Presence of diverse wildlife adds to the experience.
  • Strategic placement of benches for rest and observation.

Perfect For

Suitable for families with children who can comfortably walk or be carried for varying distances (e.g., a 4-mile loop is mentioned, suggesting older kids or those with stamina).
Younger children can enjoy shorter 'strolls' as the engaging nature keeps attention.

Ideal For

Family hikes, walks, or runs in cool weather.
Dog walking with well-behaved pets.
Mountain biking enthusiasts.
Those seeking a peaceful escape 'away from civilization' and pure air.
Nature observation and wildlife spotting.

💡Pro Tips from Reviews

  • Plan visits during cooler months (e.g., winter, December) to minimize issues with bugs.
  • Be aware of and watch for 'squishy spots' on the trails due to horse and dog usage.
  • Allow ample time, as the engaging environment can make a half-hour stroll extend to two hours easily.

Things to Consider

  • Potential for bugs during the summertime months, as noted by a winter visitor.
  • Trails are 'well used by folks with horses and dogs', so parents should 'watch for squishy spots' (animal waste).

Price & Value

No pricing information mentioned in the reviews, suggesting free entry. Parents get access to well-maintained trails and nature without an explicit cost.

Accessibility & Special Needs

  • No specific accessibility accommodations (e.g., paved paths for wheelchairs/strollers) are mentioned beyond wide trails.

🍎Food & Drink Policy

  • No information regarding outside food or drink policy is mentioned in the reviews.

🚗Parking Info

  • Ample free parking is consistently reported as available and easy to find.
  • Described as a 'good area for parking' and 'plenty of parking'.

👥Crowd Levels

  • Described as 'peaceful' and 'away from it all', yet also 'well used by folks with horses and dogs' and a 'very popular trail for dogs'. This suggests it attracts visitors but is large enough to maintain a sense of serenity, especially during cooler months.

🛡️Safety Features

  • No specific safety features (e.g., staff patrols, emergency call boxes) are explicitly mentioned in the reviews.

When to Avoid

  • Visiting during peak summer months if sensitive to bugs.
  • If you prefer perfectly clean, animal-waste-free trails, due to active use by horses and dogs.

Pricing/Package/Events

🚗Parking Information

  • Parking available
Information extracted from official website • Last updated: Sep 30, 2025

What People Say

What's Great

  • Spacious play areas (mentioned in 4 reviews)

Areas for Improvement

  • Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 6 reviews)

Recent Reviews

Pieter

Pieter

3 months ago

Nice and well maintained trails suitable for hiking and jogging. I've only been here during the winter months when bugs aren't an issue, so I can't speak to the summertime conditions. It's definitely a good, peaceful place to get away from civilization for a bit.

Patrick Shirley

Patrick Shirley

a month ago

Excellent place for a good walk or run or ride away from it all. Spacious well marked trails. Great for dog lovers and mountain bikers and runners. Beautiful Florida style jungle/woods. Ample free parking.

Jarrod Reed

Jarrod Reed

4 months ago

Great trail system for a family hike. We went in December and hiked the 4 mile loop. Plenty of parking and restrooms. The trail is pretty wide but lots to see and many benches scattered along the trail. It is well used by folks with horses and dogs so watch for squishy spots. Overall great place for a cool weather hike.

Paola Hernandez Moreno

Paola Hernandez Moreno

2 months ago

Nice place for hiking, relax, and take breathe pure air. It has a good area for parking, and clean bathrooms. I loved this park!

Robert W.

Robert W.

3 months ago

A very mesmerizing trail that you’ll take a stroll on for half an hour, then when you look at the time, it’s been 2 hours. Came across exotic animals and a very popular trail for dogs to walk on. Definitely a place I see myself coming back to in the subsequent future.

Contact Information

13130 Bartram Park Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32223, USA

View on Google Maps

Opening Hours

Monday: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM

Quick Stats

Overall Rating
4.6
Total Reviews749
Recent Reviews5