Strolling through Twelve Mile Swamp Conservation Area - St.Augustine FL

One rainy Tuesday in March we met my cousins for lunch at Schooners.  They like to 'beat the crowd' by arriving around 11 AM which means you have a long afternoon for other adventures.  As always it was a treat to spend time with family at a locals restaurant.

Lovely white violet
a native of the swamp

As we returned to the car the skies started spitting rain again so we headed towards the Outlet Mall  in search of my new rain jacket.  Mine old jacket was wearing thin and leaking in light rain... this is never fun when you are spending hours outdoors. As most of you know, shopping is not a favorite pastime and malls are rarely breached.  But sometimes you have little recourse.  I've been looking for a replacement for some time and was not certain one would be located; however, this time it was a success.  Perhaps at this point I could no longer be picky and the bright orange jacket fit the bill.  Yes, I am now ready for adventures.

The paths are broad
which is good in a swamp
as you can usually find a dry footing.

On the return to town Bill said "I saw a hiking area."  The area was Twelve Mile Swamp Conservation Area.  The area is a total of 20,338 acres. The St. Johns Water Management District owns and manages 378 acres of the total.  This was the section we walked.

The sign that attracted
Bill's attention

From the parking area off SR 16 the kiosk promised a short walk and a few side trails.  (Conservation area map).  So, with my new rain jacket we headed into the area.  The area offered a nice walk for a rainy day and the broad roads offered dry footing in a swamp.

Beautiful tall pines line the swamp path

There were several pools of water but the broad Water Management roads allowed us to find a path through the dark, rich, muck.  Being spring, the ground was dotted with wild flowers which are always a treat to find.

Bachelor Buttons and Dollar Weed
in the mucky swamp

Considering the rain, we did not encounter many birds but did see the ever present Turkey Vultures, cardinals, and crows.  Now, we did happen on a few ibis in a pond and heard several Sand Hill Cranes migrating northward.

Swamp vegetation among the grass
Lush St. Augustine grass and dollar weed
mean it is wet here

Unfortunately, our water lands area rarely safe when it comes to growth and 'progress'.  Growing up I recall Twelve Mile Swamp Road north of town off US1 as a beautiful tree arched road.  In my late 30s the World Golf Village purchased surrounding land to build a Disney-esk housing development and widened the road.  It was a sad day when the two lane tree arched road was widened to four lanes and all the trees were cut away from the road.

Bachelor Buttons
amid the grass

It seems the county is investigating a 'belt-way' called SR313 that will once again bisect the Twelve Mile Swamp.  Luckily concerned citizens have banned together with an informative website Stop SR313 and online petition.  

Delicate undergrowth
This will not survive if SR 313 is built

The petition page states "Stop the extravagant waste of public funds and destruction of wetlands that would result from the State Road 313 project." Get informed and then decide if you should join the movement.