Spanning six hundred acres along the estuaries of the St. Johns River, the Theodore Roosevelt Area of Timucuan Preserve isn’t just about the Timucua.
Granted, a narrow ridge of midden flanks the estuary, providing hikers rugged scrambles with scenic views.
Climbing to the ridge atop the middenBut the fact this particular slice of waterfront was preserved has its roots in a love of the land. Willie Browne was not about to sell off his family’s legacy.
Coming of age in this ancient forest while Theodore Roosevelt was president, Willie took inspiration from the man who established our National Forests, National Parks, and the National Wildlife Refuge system.
One of many views from the top of the middenWillie inherited his family’s land and lived here in a small cabin without modern conveniences, turning down offers from developers. He had a better idea.
He deeded this property to The Nature Conservancy, to create a preserve in perpetuity.
After Willie died in 1970, it became a foundational part of a new National Park in Jacksonville, Timucuan Preserve, bearing the name he’d requested to honor President Roosevelt.
Interpretive sign honoring Willie Browne’s legacyResources
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Overview
Location: Jacksonville
Length: 3.1 miles
Trailhead: 30.3700, -81.4833
Address: 13175 Mt. Pleasant Rd, Jacksonville
Fees: Free
Restroom: at the trailhead
Land manager: National Park Service
Phone: 904-641-7155
Leashed pets welcome. A picnic area is provided at the trailhead in the shade of the hardwood forest.
Cyclists may only use the Willie Browne Trail and Spanish Pond Trail, but not past the boundary of the Theodore Roosevelt Area. Please do not ride on the midden.
Directions
From Interstate 295 in Jacksonville south of the Dames Point Bridge, take exit 45 for Merrill Rd E (SR 113). Follow Merrill Rd for 5 miles to Mt. Pleasant Rd. Turn left. Continue 0.9 mile to the entrance to the Theodore Roosevelt Area on the right.
Hike
Take a photo of the map on the trailhead kiosk or grab a map brochure, since there are some points of confusion once you’re atop the midden.
The entry to this trail system is the Willie Browne Trail, an old road to the Browne homestead. Trail markers are green.
Oyster shells near the start of the hikeThe trail is shaded by extremely tall trees in a well-established hardwood hammock, including many impressive live oaks and magnolias.
A wide spot opens in this already wide trail in the hardwood hammock, shaded by pignut hickory, live oak, and tall bluejack oaks.
Hammock BridgeA bench adjoins an interpretive kiosk inviting you to pay attention to the changes in the landscape around you, as the habitats transition towards the salt marsh.
Cross Hammock Creek over a broad bridge at a half mile. Red bay clings to its slopes.
Preserve kiosk and mapA kiosk labeled “Theodore Roosevelt Area” marks the start of the loop. Keep right.
The Willie Brown Trail remains on the broad road beneath a showy canopy of live oaks.
The Willie Browne TrailRise up a hill to a clearing. To the right is an interpretive area with a kiosk. The support posts here are all that remains of the cabin that Willie Browne lived in until his death.
His quote: “I could have sold the land. I could have bought fancy clothes. I could have traveled the world…but I like the woods.”
All that remains of Willie’s cabinThe Willie Browne Trail turns left at a map kiosk to make a loop. Continue straight past the cabin site, passing a trail junction to the left.
Arc downhill through a canopy of coastal hammock. Trail markers are now black and bicycles are not permitted through this archaeological area.
Walking along the edge of Round MarshCatch glimpses of Round Marsh through the trees. After a short distance, the view opens up.
The spill of oyster shells – your clue to being on the midden – increases as you draw within view of the observation tower up ahead.
Observation deck at the end of the middenAt a trail junction, follow the long, thin peninsula straight ahead beneath the cedars.
A favorite destination for all visitors to this National Park, this elevated observation deck at one mile overlooks the sweep of Round Marsh and mazy meanders of Colorinda Creek.
Estuary view from observation deckThe creek flows through an expansive estuary out to the St. Johns River in the distance. In addition to its 360-degree views, the observation deck is a perfect perch for birding.
Returning along the peninsula to the trail junction, look off to the right for a nice view across the tidal marshes.
Keep right to ascend the Timucuan Trail, blazed with green posts. This narrow, rugged trail twists and winds over massive piles of oyster shells eroding out of the midden.
Roots and oyster shells make up the Timucuan Trail atop the middenDip through spots where shells were removed for building and road material. Oyster shells spill out from beneath the lush hardwood hammock.
This is a centuries-old landfill. Will our landfills of today host such vibrant forests in the future?
First of several panoramas from the midden ridgeErosion has removed shells from beneath pine and oak roots, leaving the trees perched atop roots of up to five feet up in the air, much like giant red mangroves.
After a rugged climb with numerous scenic viewpoints over the St. Johns River estuary and St. Johns Creek, reach a trail intersection with a bench.
Grave marker at cross pathA few paces away is the final resting place of Sgt. John Nathan Spearing, a solider from the Confederate States Army.
The black blazed cross trail adjoining the headstone leads to the clearing with Willie Brown’s cabin. Continue past it along the rim of the bluff.
It is densely forested on the ridgeBy 1.3 miles the Timucuan Trail becomes much more rugged, with steeper grades and rough roots underfoot.
Poison ivy and Virginia creeper intermingle as a ground cover, and the trail narrows significantly.
Walking in a tunnel of Spanish mossThe canopy closes in, with streamers of Spanish moss hanging from the oaks. Pass another black blazed cross trail on the left.
Reach a bench offering a view across the marshes. The trail’s difficulty increases past this point as it dips in and out of ravines along the bluffs.
Another overlook on the estuaryA bench sits in the shade along a short side trail on the bluff at 1.5 miles, but offers no views.
Past this turnoff, the trail climbs steeply through the dense understory before leveling out on the bluff.
The busy commercial port of Blount Island across the St. Johns RiverAfter a curve at the top of the hill, briefly look down a substantial drop from the top of the bluff to Fort Caroline Rd below.
The road leads to an industrial complex along the river. Blount Island and Dames Point Bridge is in the distance. Descend through oak scrub.
Rosemary thriving atop this sandy ridgeFlorida rosemary thrives in a rare patch of rosemary scrub near a curve in the trail where a bench sits in the shade.
Continue a gradual but obvious descent from the high point you left earlier, meeting a T intersection with the Spanish Pond Trail at 1.8 miles.
Junction with Spanish Pond TrailExtend this hike another 1.5 miles with a round-trip hike to Spanish Pond. Otherwise turn left to stay on the loop.
Follow the red blazes of the Spanish Pond Trail. After a few moments, the trail makes a sharp left.
Red marks the Spanish Pond TrailA black blazed side path leads downhill to the right through the saw palmetto. Take this brief side trip for a peek at Alligator Pond.
It’s well hidden behind a screen of vegetation. On our first visit here, mama gator was tending to a nest, so don’t try to get too close.
Overgrown edge of the alligator pondReturn to the Spanish Pond Trail and continue east, passing a bench beneath the richly textured canopy of the maritime hammock at 2 miles.
Dense with draperies of Spanish moss, oaks, red bay, and magnolias create a tunnel effect as the trail widens.
Eastern leg of the Spanish Pond TrailThe Spanish Pond Trail ends at the intersection with the Willie Browne Trail (straight ahead and to the right) and one of the cross trails of the Timucuan Trail.
A map near a bench helps you get your bearings. Turn right to rejoin the Willie Browne Trail, following blue blazes on the posts.
Junction of all three trails in the preservePass the Browne family cemetery on the left, gravestones decorated by passersby.
The Willie Browne Trail ends soon after at the kiosk at the start of its loop. Continue straight ahead to backtrack along the familiar homestead road.
Browne family cemetery along the Willie Browne TrailCross the bridge over Hammock Creek at 2.4 miles. In this direction, the gentle undulation of the landscape is more obvious.
This road was Willie’s connection with the outside world. Is it any wonder he loved this forest so much? Reach the trailhead at 3.1 miles.
Rolling landscape on the exit to the trailheadTrail Map
Explore More
Learn more about Timucuan Preserve
Timucuan Preserve Florida's northernmost National Park encompasses a diverse collection of historic and cultural sites on both sides of the St. Johns River in Jacksonville.Slideshow
See our photos of the Theodore Roosevelt Area
Nearby Adventures
Spanish Pond Interpreting the Spanish attack on nearby Fort Caroline from an encampment on this pond, Spanish Pond connects via the Spanish Pond Trail to the Theodore Roosevelt Area. 
Fort Caroline At the site of the original French settlement in Florida, explore the rich natural and cultural history of the region at the Timucuan Preserve visitor center, Fort Caroline, and its interpretive nature trail.
Ribault Monument On a high bluff above the St. Johns River, a memorial pays tribute to the French expedition led by Jean Ribault that claimed Florida for France in 1562, three years before St. Augustine was founded.
Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park With cool ocean breezes and a plunge in the surf after your hike, the 2.7-mile hiking loop at Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park in Jacksonville is a great choice for a summer outing
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- Disappearing Creek Loop - April 9, 2025
- Tippecanoe Environmental Park - April 3, 2025