Bayard Conservation Area

The St. Johns River runs broad and deep near Green Cove Springs, where Bayard Point Conservation Area preserves an untouched Florida riverfront, bottomland floodplain with dense stands of bald cypress, sweet gum and red maples. More than 15 miles of trails wander through the John P. Hall Nature Preserve portion of the Bayard Conservation Area. Nature Man and his wife Alma recently hiked the white blazed trail from the east parking area off of SR 16. The trail meandered through pine flatwoods and sandhill communities and was well marked with white trail blazes. A quick hike of 1.1 miles  brings you to an observation tower where on a good day you should be able to observe deer, wild turkey and woodpeckers.

Location
Along the banks of the St. Johns River on SR 16 east of U.S 17 and west of SR 13 near the west end of the Shands Bridge. Two parking areas are located on the south side of SR 16. Other access points are located off of U.S. 17 and County Road 226, three miles south of Green Cove Springs.

Recreational Activities
Bayard Conservation Area offers bank fishing, bicycling, horseback riding, primitive camping at designated sites and wildlife viewing. Boating and canoeing opportunities are available on the St. Johns River and the property is accessible by water. There are no launches located on the property but a boat ramp is offered by St. Johns county just across SR16 from the east parking area of Bayard. Along the riverbank, green herons and little blue herons pick at minnows and shellfish in the shallows near a broad bed of blue flag iris. Seasonal hunting is available on areas 2, 3 and 4.

Nature Man Photography is pleased to bring you the following:



Wide Well Maintained Trails



Frequent Very Visible Trail Blaze Markings

Pine Flatwoods

Large Parking Areas Intended to Accommodate Horse Trailers



Information Kiosk with Tail Map on Display