Nature Is Real: Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park

Gold Head Entrance Sign

Florida State Parks - America's Best

On foggy Saturday February 1^{s t}I joined my Florida Master Naturalist Freshwater Wetlands Classmates for a field trip to Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park. Before I begin to tell you about the things we learned on this field trip let me tell you about the Park. Gold Head Branch is one of Florida’s first state parks and was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the 1930’s and many of the original buildings remain. Located on rolling sandhills in North Central Florida, the park features a deep ravine where seepage springs from Gold Head Branch. Marshes, lakes and scrub provide diverse habitats for wildlife. Visitors to the park can enjoy hiking and wildlife viewing along the park’s nature trails and a 5.5 mile stretch of the Florida Trail. A large picnic area, with tables and grills, overlooks Little Lake Johnson. Nestled under the trees is a full-facility campground. Group and primitive campsites are available. Fully equipped lakefront cabins, some of which were built by the CCC, are also available for rent. Camping or cabin reservations may be made by visiting ReserveAmerica.com or by calling ReserveAmerica at 800-326-3521. Gold Head Branch is located six miles northeast of Keystone Heights on State Road 21 (6239 State Road 21, Keystone Heights, Florida 32656 Phone Number 352-473-4701).

Gopher Tortoise Mound

Sheelar Lake Trail

Our first stop on this field trip was the Sheelar Lake Trail. Immediately our instructors Allan, Carol and Beth pointed out several Gopher Tortoise Mounds just off the park entrance road. On the trail we learned to identify British Soldier Lichen on the sandy soil. Next we found a parasitic wasp cocoon on a plant leaf. Allan opened the cocoon to show us the tiny parasitic wasp that was maturing in the shelter of the cocoon. Near the lake we saw deer tracks from a running deer which some of us had mistaken as hog tracks. Allan quickly explained that the deer was running and that is why they looked very similar to hog tracks. In and near the lake we saw a water turtle, a sand pine, identified by Beth, and a rosemary bush, identified by Carol, near the upper rim of the lake.

British Soldier Lichen

Fern Loop Trail

Next on our Saturday morning adventure was the Fern Loop Trail. On this trail we discovered the crystal clear spring fed Gold Head Branch Creek. In addition, we identified the Needle Palm, Yellow Bellied Sapsucker hole rings around a Sweet Gum Tree and some white Lichen on a Sweet Gum Tree.

Lake Johnson

Gold Head Branch

Next we traveled to Lake Johnson where we saw several ducks in flight far off into the distance, a great Blue Heron feeding along the lake shore. In addition, our classmate Christian flushed a large covey of beautiful Quail that were hiding in a bush in the wetland prairie left by the receding Lake Johnson.

What's left of Lake Johnson

We ended the day at a picnic pavilion for lunch while each of the classmates presented their assigned interpretive discussion. It was a very entertaining and enjoyable lunch. During the presentations we were all distracted by many birds in the trees including a Hairy Woodpecker, Yellow Rump Warbler and a Carolina Wren. Nature Is Real and alive in Gold Head Branch State Park.

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