The partners who make up the 7 Creeks Recreation Area have come together to offer a new and memorable adventure – the 7 Creeks Winter Hiking Spree. The community can start 2025 with the hiking spree challenge and hike seven trails within the 7 Creeks Recreation Area anytime between January and March to earn a special 7 Creeks reward.
The 7 Creeks Recreation Area offers more than 30 miles of trails on 5,600 connected acres. To participate, hikers must take seven hikes within the 7 Creeks Area anytime in January, February or March and keep track of the hikes on a log, which can be found at timucuanparks.org/7-creeks-hiking-spree/. Participants can choose trails at Betz-Tiger Point Preserve, Bogey Creek Preserve, Cedar Point Preserve, Cedar Point (NPS), Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park, Jim Wingate Preserve or the 7 Creeks Trail.
Hikers can select their adventure, repeat their favorite trail, or pick something new. The hikes range from an easy half-mile Pond Trail at Betz-Tiger Point Preserve to the three-and-a-quarter-mile Bridge Trail that runs between Cedar Point and Cedar Point Preserve to the more difficult seven-mile 7 Creeks Trail, which takes a hiker between Betz-Tiger Point Preserve and Cedar Point (NPS).
Those participating can share hikes online and tag #7CreekHikingSpree to show photos and stories from the trails. Hikers should wear weather-appropriate clothing and shoes, bring water to stay hydrated, and use insect repellent for protection. Organizers suggest taking a photo of the trail map in the kiosk of each trailhead before heading out.
At the end of the hiking spree, participants should mail in the hiking spree log and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Timucuan Parks Foundation, 9953 Heckscher Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32226, to receive the 7 Creeks Winter Hiking Spree Reward.
The 7 Creeks Recreation Area was established in 2020 and is a partnership of park agencies and supportive nonprofits working together to expand access and recreational opportunities for park visitors. The 7 Creeks partners include Timucuan Parks Foundation, the City of Jacksonville, Florida State Parks, the National Park Service’s Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, North Florida Land Trust, and Visit Jacksonville.