EAST SECTION: 20.2 miles
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.
01.2Aucilla WMA/Saint Marks NWR boundary.
01.4Jct with small tramway.
02.1Jct with large tramway.
02.4Old logging bridge - 30 ft.
02.7Old logging bridge - 60 ft.
02.9Jct east end of Aucilla Tram Rd.
04.3Pinhook River bridge.
04.5Pinhook Campsite 130 ft. NW of trail.
04.6Bridge.
04.7Bridge.
05.6Jct east end of 0.7-mi. Rookery Loop trail.
06.1Jct west end of Rookery Loop trail.
06.2Bridge.
06.3Jct Aucilla Tram Rd. and east end of blue-blazed high water route.
09.2Log bridge over stream.
09.4Jct Main Levee and west end of blue-blazed high water route.
09.8View of Big Bend: Panhandle to west, peninsula to east and south.
11.1Ring Levee Campsite.
11.8Jct Main Levee and secondary levee. Trail continues north and then west.
12.0Waterfowl impoundments to west.
14.2Jct levee and Lighthouse Rd (SR 59) at gate. Continue south 0.3 mi. on road.
14.5Jct Lighthouse Rd (SR 59) and East River levee at gate. (Lighthouse is 4.4 mi. to south on SR 59.)
16.1Jct. Port Leon Rd. Continue north into woods. (Blue-blaze leads 0.9 mi. east to SMNWR Visitor Center)
18.3Port Leon Campsite. (Side trail leads 0.5 mi. S.W. to old town site of Port Leon)
18.9Jct old road.
19.1Cross bridge.
20.2St. Marks River. Hail boat to cross (OR: phone Danny Sellers 925-5626 or Shell Island Fish Camp 925-6226).
Trail Access directions:
(1) US 98 at Aucilla WMA Small Game Check Station sign: At the junction of US 98 and SR 59 (Lighthouse Road) in Newport, drive11.3 miles east and then watch carefully for white sign on south side of highway at gated road (1.7 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. No overnight parking.
(3) St. Marks: The East Section ends on the south side of the St. Marks River. On the north side, the FNST intersects Riverside Drivejust west of Port Leon Drive, wherethe 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 Numbers: Emergency.: 911. Wakulla County Sheriff: 850-926-7171. FHP: 850-245-7700.