Torreya State Park in Florida Has One of many Rarest Bushes within the World — and It is a Should-visit for Hikers

On a latest fall journey, magenta beautyberries dotted the curvy street, sultry summer season temperatures had cooled ever so barely, and amber and gold tinged the towering sweetgums all through Torreya State Park. One of many unique Florida state parks, opened to the general public in 1935, the 13,000-acre expanse felt extra like Georgia or North Carolina with its excessive plateaus, steep ravines, waterfalls, and seasonal foliage.

The park, created by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the course of the Nice Melancholy, is called after the uncommon, endangered torreya tree discovered solely on the excessive bluffs alongside the Apalachicola River.

It felt like paradise standing out on the bluff overlooking the speeding river surrounded by dense foliage with Florida state park ranger Brian Brown. “While you come to Torreya State Park, the world shuts off and being in nature is the one factor that issues,” he stated. “I really feel fortunate I get to share the uncommon vegetation and wealthy historical past of this land with guests on daily basis.”

Brown, one in every of three full-time rangers on the park, is aware of firsthand what makes Torreya State Park a particular place, together with the ins and outs of what first-timers ought to know.

Planning Your Go to

Open from 8 a.m. till sundown, 12 months a yr, Torreya State Park is free for all state park go holders. Should you don’t have a park go, entry is simply $3 deposited within the honor envelope field on the entrance, or you’ll be able to buy a go and luxuriate in the entire 175 Florida state parks. There is not a ranger station on website, so you should include a park go or entry price already secured.

Methods to Get There

About an hour from Tallahassee and 1.5 hours from my dwelling in Panama Metropolis Seaside, Torreya State Park provides a glimpse of untamed Florida. The one street in — NW Torreya Park Street — dead-ends on the Gregory Home. From western cities like Tallahassee, take Interstate 10 west for 40 minutes. Use the exit for Bristol to get on SR 12 south to NW Torreya Park Street, and comply with it to the tip. From japanese cities like Panama Metropolis, take Freeway 231 to Freeway 20 East. Activate SR 12 in Bristol to NW Torreya Park Street.

Greatest Time to Go to

If you wish to see foliage, plan your go to between late October and November — the temperatures cool and the leaves placed on their present. The busiest time of yr, in response to Brown, is winter, when it will get chilly sufficient to take pleasure in a crackling hearth and a few s’mores over a campfire.

Brown let me in on a particular occasion that occurs within the spring: the Candlelight Tour. The Gregory Home comes alive with artisans, botanists, and historians demonstrating methods to make cedar shingles, turpentine, and tallow candles, in addition to discussing the uncommon natural world on the park.

Greatest Issues to Do

Go climbing.

Thought-about the “Mountains of Florida,” Torreya has 16 miles of difficult climbing trails. The shortest — the Weeping Ridge Path — is only a mile round-trip, but it surely dips right into a steep sloping ravine that reveals a stunning 25-foot waterfall. When my household visits, that is our go-to path. It is difficult sufficient to maintain the children , and the topography makes for lovely pictures.

Established by the Florida Path Affiliation within the Nineteen Seventies, the Torreya Mountain climbing Path comprises two loops. The Rock Creek Loop traverses roughly seven miles of ravines, creeks, subtropical forest, and small footbridges. Proof of Hurricane Michael’s destruction can nonetheless be seen within the fledgling sweetgum, magnolia, oak, and hickory bushes sprouting with new progress. Brown recommends searching for the tulip bushes with pale inexperienced and orange flowers. The six-mile Torreya Problem Loop, lined in Florida anise, sweetgum, magnolia, hickory, and spruce pines, steadily climbs and dips. The path meanders over creeks, an outdated forest street, and blackberry brambles, following a ridge the place mountain laurels bloom within the spring and guests can discover the steepest incline within the park.

Study the historical past.

Through the Civil Battle, 200 Accomplice troopers known as the bluffs above the Apalachicola River dwelling for 2 years. Simply off the Gregory Home, a path results in the Hammock Touchdown Battery, the place Accomplice troopers guarded the river from assault, defending their manufacturing hub in Columbus, Georgia. It was deserted in 1865, when the battle ended, however the cannon emplacements are nonetheless seen right now, carved into the panorama.

The three,000-square-foot Gregory Home as soon as sat on the opposite facet of the river. It remained within the household till the Nineteen Thirties, when it was donated to the CCC and moved to its present location. In accordance with Brown, the home was dismantled brick by brick, introduced throughout the river by barge, carried over the stone bridge, and reconstructed by hand — it took seven years. Brown and his fellow park rangers have loads of tales to share as they lead guests via the excursions (provided 10 a.m. Monday via Friday, and 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. on weekends and holidays).

Should-see Wildlife and Pure Options

Most guests to this state park come for the legendary torreya tree, found by botanist Hardy Bryan Croom in 1835. Solely round 200 of the uncommon conifer are nonetheless standing right now — it is one of many rarest bushes on this planet. Strolling the pink brick path to the Gregory Home, small torreya saplings will be seen protected by wire mesh. In accordance with Brown, Hurricane Michael broken 80 p.c of the park’s namesake bushes, however via a mission with the Florida Park Service and Atlanta Botanical Backyard, seeds obtained from residing bushes are being grown and planted within the ravine habitat at Torreya State Park.

Although the torreya tree is normally the draw, Brown considers the Florida yew essential to the park’s panorama as nicely. This critically endangered evergreen shrub, native to Florida, grows between 10 and 20 toes, and will be discovered on the bluffs and ravines in a lower than 4 sq. mile space of the Florida Panhandle. “Should you prefer to hike, there are many uncommon flowers just like the blazing star alongside the paths,” Brown stated.

Greater than 100 hen species draw guests hoping to catch glimpses of the brown-headed nuthatch, mourning cloak, yellow-throated vireo, and extra. Torreya can be one of many stops on the Nice Florida Birding and Wildlife Path. One other particular inhabitant of the park is the uncommon Barbour’s map turtle, solely discovered on this a part of the nation.

The place to Keep

Should you’re coming to Torreya State Park, chances are you’ll be planning to hike among the 16 miles of trails and camp below the celebrities at one of many highest campgrounds in Florida. For reservations, go to the Florida State Parks reservations web site or name 800-326-3521. The total-facility Weeping Ridge household campground has 29 campsites outfitted with electrical energy, water, and a picnic desk. Every campsite can accommodate two tents and two autos, or one RV.

Two rugged yurts with hearth pits and enormous screened home windows be part of the campsites. Every one sleeps as much as 5 individuals, and comes with air-con and warmth, a skylight for stargazing, and a deck with Adirondack chairs for taking within the surrounding forest.

One other particular keep is the Cracker cabin, a distinguished type of dwelling in rural Florida within the nineteenth century. With facilities like air-con and a screened porch, this lodging can match as much as six individuals. It includes a queen-size mattress and 4 bunk beds, plus tables and chairs.

Leashed pets are allowed within the park, however not within the buildings. Bear in mind to convey your personal linens, too, because the park doesn’t present them for the beds within the yurts or cabin.

The campground additionally options two air-conditioned bathhouses with single showers in every stall, a water bottle filling station to scale back plastic consumption, and an on-site registration workplace that homes a visible show of details about the historical past of the park, its natural world, the topography, and extra. Parkgoers can settle into one of many rustic wood Adirondack chairs, stoke a fireplace within the woodstove, and comfy up with one of many books from the Little Free Library within the nook of the constructing. Exterior, a firewood inventory is ready up for buy for in a single day visitors, and your complete facility is handicap accessible.

The place to Eat

No eating places or grocery shops exist for at the very least 20 minutes exterior the park, so come ready. Brown advises stocking up groceries and provisions in close by Bristol, roughly 20 minutes from the park entrance. Picnic tables and charcoal grills can be found on the campsites and pavilion.