Picturesque Dunns Creek State Park lies along the St. Johns River in Pomona Park, 60 miles east of Gainesville and 80 miles north of Orlando. This 6,200 acre Florida state park offers guests day only activities such as hiking, mountain biking, fishing, kayaking, bird watching and picnicking.
Beautiful sandhills covered with longleaf pines, wiregrass and sand pine scrub provide sanctuary for many endangered species.
Activities
This rustic park is a great place to spend a few hours or an entire day. Stop by on your way to Orlando, Gainesville or Jacksonville. Depending upon where you’re starting off from, Dunns Creek State Park is probably on the way! Pack a picnic lunch, lots of drinking water, sunscreen, binoculars, your fishing gear, bicycles and kayaks for a relaxing day in the great outdoors.
Here are some of the activities that you can do during your visit to Dunns Creek State Park:
Boating at Dunns Creek State Park
Bring your own canoe or kayak and spend a relaxing day paddling in Dunns Creek. A launch area is located at the Sisco Road entrance and a short walk from the parking area.
Hiking at Dunns Creek State Park
Explore the more than 12 miles of trails inside Dunns Creek State Park. This spacious park’s trails are multi-use and open to hikers, mountain bikes and horseback riders. Bring water with you, no potable water is available inside the park.
Here are a couple of the trails at Dunns Creek State Park:
- Dunns Creek Blue Pond – This easy 2.4 mile trail leads out to picturesque Blue Pond. Much of this trail is open and unshaded, guests are recommended to bring water and sunscreen.
- Piney Bluff Green Trail – An easy 1.8 mile trail that is part of the extensive Piney Bluff trail system. This sandy path flows past wildflowers, dunes and flatlands.
- Dunns Creek Conservation Trail – A moderate 4.8 mile trail along a wide dirt road through the wetland areas surrounding the park. This trail may become muddy at times and difficult to follow.
Biking at Dunns Creek State Park
Bring your bicycles and spend some quality time riding along the trail system inside Dunns Creek State Park. There are just over 10 miles of trails along the Piney Bluff Trail System and another 2 miles along Blue Pond Trail. These multi-use trails stretch through the park’s surrounding sandhills and flatwoods. Be aware that all riders under the age of 16 are required by law to wear helmets.
Fishing at Dunns Creek State Park
Pack your angling gear and spend a quiet day fishing along the pier at Dunns Creek. Popular catches here include catfish, bass, bream mullet and speckled perch. The accessible pier is located near the Sisco Road entrance. Don’t forget to pick up a Florida fishing license ahead of time.
Birding at Dunns Creek State Park
Visitors are delighted by the many species of birds they see while visiting Dunns Creek State Park. As you are relaxing, enjoying the trails, fishing or just exploring the park you may see bald eagles, osprey, blue jays, ducks, woodpeckers, ibis, herons, wild turkey, wrens, quails, Sandhill cranes, mockingbirds and Belted kingfishers.
Nature and Wildlife at Dunns Creek State Park
Spacious Dunns Creek State Park is a great place to view wildlife. Ideal viewing spots inside the park include Blue Pond and along the Main Park Drive, especially early in the morning or around sunset. Some you may see during your visit are birds, squirrels, deer, raccoons, skunks, opossum, otters, alligators, foxes, armadillos, coyotes and black bears.
Pets at Dunns Creek State Park
Pets are allowed within designated areas inside Dunns Creek State Park. Please supervise your pets and keep them on a hand held leash no longer than 6 feet.
Camping Near Dunns Creek State Park
Spend a fun day at Dunns Creek State Park and then stay the night somewhere close by so that you can enjoy another full day of hiking, fishing, birdwatching, kayaking and more. Here are a couple of popular campgrounds nearby:
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Cherry Blossom RV Resort – 2359 US Highway 17, Crescent City, FL 32112
This RV resort is only 8 miles south of Dunns Creek State Park. Full hookup sites and a one bedroom lodge are available.
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Parramore’s Camp – 1675 Camp South Mon Road, Astor, FL 32102
Peaceful campsites along the St. John’s River are available inside this campground just 30 miles south of Dunns Creek State Park. Choose from full hookup RV sites and fully equipped cabins.
Park Location
Dunns Creek State Park
320 Sisco Road
Pomona Park, FL 32181
Phone: 386.329.3721
Map
Video
Here is a short YouTube video showcasing several attractions at Dunns Creek State Park:
