Palm Bluff Conservation Area

Description

This property contains at least eight distinct natural communities and protects more than 2 miles of Deep Creek — a large tributary of the St. Johns River that empties into the river just downstream of Lake Harney. The conservation area is contiguous to several large conservation easements to the north and provides an important linkage between other publicly owned lands within the Middle St. Johns River Basin and the Volusia Conservation Corridor.

Deep Creek spans the length of the conservation area from north to south and is located in the eastern portion of the property. Broad areas of floodplain swamp can be found around the creek and these areas are inundated during periods of high water. The conservation area supports large areas of mesic flatwoods, some of which were converted to pine plantations or pastures. Natural communities that occur here are scrubby flatwoods, wet flatwoods, depression marshes and cypress domes.

Access

The entrance road to the property is on the east side of CR 415, approximately 3.5 miles north of the town of Osteen and 9.5 miles south of the CR 415–State Road 44 intersection. Continue down the entrance road approximately 1,000 feet — the parking area is on the right.

Wildlife viewing

Please respect Florida’s wildlife and use caution while visiting district lands. These are wild animals. For your safety, do not approach or feed any wild animal. Due to the wide variety of habitats, this property is a good place to go birding, where visitors may see all types of birds from bluebirds and brown-headed nuthatch to turkeys, to wading birds and raptors.

Recreational activities

Activities include hiking, horseback riding, bicycling, primitive tent camping and wildlife viewing.