Citra FL: Orange Creek Restoration Area

So here we are in Citra performing miscellaneous tasks and Bill says, "I'd like to check out the public lands on Hwy 318."  Using our phones we locate the area and learn the name is Orange Creek Restoration Area, gotta love Google Maps.  

Entry Kiosk

The area is a joint management between St. Johns River Water Management and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation.

Entry Trail

The area contains many miles of multi-access trails and the south entrance is less than 10 miles away.  It is now 3:30 PM in early November so we'd best boogie as the days are short.

Lovely old oak along the trail

With over eight miles of trails at the South Entrance there is something for every able bodied person.  There are three loop trails that intersect so you can adjust the hike for the available time.  Now, I do not recommend this as a leisurely stroll due to the varied walking surfaces and bugs. 

A hammock along the way

Swampy area as we return to the trail head

 Walking surface varies from sugar sand to muck with various types of grassy and swampy paths.

Mucky area as the trail turns
from the lake area

The area has been altered over time to control the water flow.  In recent history, the land was used for farming from the 1940s.  As farming changed Water Management purchased the land in 1998 and began to restore the area to the original vegetation.

Restoration area includes
plantings of pines

Today the 3,542 acre property includes a variety of habitats:  wetlands, timberlands, pastures, and wet prairies, and what I call a swamp. However, the district calls them marsh areas.

Orange Creek and pond

Marsh to lake

The water flows from Orange Lake down Orange Creek into the Ocklawaha River then to the St. Johns River and eventually to the Atlantic Ocean.  Got that? 

Interesting Flower along the trail

Now in this varied terrain you would expect to find a variety of plant communities, as evidenced by my photos.  These plant communities allow a varied wildlife habitat and sure enough we saw deer, ducks, a northern harrier hawk, pilated woodpeckers, small brown birds, coots, blue heron, and more.  There were a few variety of lizards and skink along with butterflies.  

Trail through the native palms

And, I almost forgot the squirel, owl, doves and evidence of armadillo and hogs.  Naturally, most of these were too fast for my inexperienced photography and the cell phone.

Looking across the prairie

When in the Citra area I highly recommend a hiking trip to the Orange Creek Restoration Area.   I can vouch for the South entrance off Hwy 318.  Next time I want to check the North entrance off Hwy 325.  You'll find trail maps, directions, and additional information on the web site (http://floridaswater.com/recreationguide/orangecreek/).

Yellow flowers dot the drier grass
on the prairie