About this property
The Twelve Mile Swamp Conservation Area is composed of a series of large swamps, planted pine forest and several small cypress domes. Together, the swamps of this conservation area form the headwaters of six major tributary systems. Three of these tributaries, Turnbull Creek, Mill Creek and Sampson Creek, discharge into the St. Johns River. Two others, Moultrie Creek and Red House Branch, discharge into the Matanzas River, while Stokes Creek discharges into the Tolomato River. The conservation area protects the water quality and quantity of these creek systems and benefits the groundwater and water supply for this area of St. Johns County, providing a buffer for a wellfield that supplies drinking water in the county.
Just under 22,000 acres of the property is under a long-term timber lease, with restricted public access until 2025. However, 378 acres are designated a recreation area and open to the public. This recreation area includes 2.2 miles of trail — including a 1.6-mile loop trail — that is accessible to hiking, bicycling and equestrian use.
One of the special highlights of this property is its interpretive trail with five points of interest giving visitors a glimpse at a commercial timber operation. See trail information and map on this page.
Recreational activities
- Hiking, bicycling, horseback riding and wildlife viewing.
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. Common wildlife sightings include white-tailed deer, foxes, songbirds and a variety of snakes.
Access
Access is from International Golf Parkway, just west of U.S. 1. For details and to get driving directions from your location, see the Google Maps link on this page.