About this property
The Orange Creek Restoration Area is within the Orange Creek Basin, an area that has been hydrologically altered, with varying impacts to the water and natural resources, since the beginning of the 20th century. From the 1940s until the St. Johns River Water Management District purchased it in 1998, the land had been used for farming. The property now includes a combination of restored wetlands, timberlands, pastures, and wet prairies and other wetlands. Water from Orange Creek flows to the Ocklawaha River. Natural communities characteristic of the property include mesic flatwoods, floodplain swamp, floodplain marsh and depression marsh.
One of the special highlights of this property is the marsh edge trails. The abundance as well as diversity of wading birds is remarkable. The trail systems are very popular with equestrian users for their shady canopy and resemblance to “Olde Florida.”
Access
Access is off S.E. 219th Avenue and County Road 318. For details and to get driving directions from your location, see the Google Maps link on this page.
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. Numerous listed species are found on-site, including wood storks, bald eagles, Florida sandhill cranes and snowy egrets. A diversity of waterfowl, including the Florida mottled duck, hooded merganser, blue-winged teal and other wetland-dependent species use the marshes, wetland prairies and former farm fields as foraging and roosting sites. The area also provides habitat for glossy ibis, northern harrier, turkey, alligator and white-tailed deer.
Recreational activities
- Hiking, wildlife viewing, bicycling, horseback riding, camping and seasonal hunting.
- Orange Creek is a designated small-game hunt area, open on limited days during waterfowl and snipe season.