Between Tampa And Tallahassee Is A Scenic Florida State Park For Hiking Trails, Fishing, And Biking

Florida's Nature Coast is a wild and unspoiled region of quiet towns, pristine flora and fauna, and protected parks along the Sunshine State's northeastern coast. One of these parks is Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve, a natural wonderland about 2.5 hours from both Tampa and Tallahassee. The over 5,000-acre state park is located along State Road 24, which ends on Cedar Key, a quaint town off the Florida Coast with historic charm. Just a few miles from the island is the park, which earned its name from both Cedar Key and the rare Florida scrub ecosystem. The Florida scrub is a sandy landscape where unique shrubs and oak trees thrive, and it's also the habitat of the rare, endangered Florida scrub jay. Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve is a site on the Florida Birding Trail and draws visitors to its remote expanse for hiking, biking, fishing, kayaking, and wildlife spotting. 

The park is bisected by the Levy County Road 347 and divided into eastern and western portions, with about 13 miles of sand and dirt trails winding through the reserve. While the park does not have any beaches, you can still get out on the water in the marshes and creeks by kayak or canoe. Anglers are also drawn to the reserve's watery expanses, which shelter several saltwater species, from redfish to flounder. 

Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve is open year-round from 8 a.m. to sunset and is free to visit. While the park is rustic with few amenities, the nearby town of Cedar Key brims with accommodations, dining, shopping, and activities. The best way to get to the park is to fly into the nearest major airport in Gainesville, Florida's best college city, which is a nearly 1.5-hour drive east. 

Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve has a medley of unique natural communities, ranging from scrub and scrubby flatwoods to mangrove swamps and salt marshes. To discover this unspoiled park, you can start out from one of the two trailheads — to the east on State Road 24 or to the west on County Road 347. While both trailheads have parking lots, the State Road 24 trailhead is considered the flagship and also has picnic tables and a composting toilet. If you're heading into the park from the State Road 24 trailhead, you'll find miles of soft, white-sand trails lacing through the primarily sandhill, mesic flatwoods, scrub, and basin marsh landscape. Follow the East Loop trail, which measures just over 3 miles and bypasses the reserve's scenic ecosystems. The scrub portions, especially in the far eastern stretches, are where you may spot the endemic Florida scrub jay.

If you're a biker, head out to the County Road 347 trailhead to access the White Trail Loop, which measures nearly 4.5 miles in the western part of the reserve. This path initially crosses similar terrain as the eastern part, but further west you'll encounter views of the basin swamp and salt marsh. While all of the park's 13 miles of trails are open to hikers, bikers, and even equestrians, bikers should stick to this western portion or cruise along the paved 347 highway. The eastern park's powdery sand trails make it difficult to navigate by mountain bike. While on trails, you may spot wildlife, such as tortoises and deer, as well as birds like bald eagles, ospreys, and the rare, native Scott's seaside sparrows.

Aquatic adventures, such as fishing and kayaking, are accessible year-round in the western part of the park, which has more marshland and swampland. Since there is no boat launch directly in the park, you'll have to rent a kayak or canoe in Cedar Key and launch from the No. 4 boat ramp next to the Cedar Key Bridge and paddle in. If you have a Florida fishing license, bring along your fishing rod to catch some of the saltwater species that dwell amongst the reserve's marshy waters. Here, you can hook redfish, black drum, flounder, and more amidst a truly tranquil setting. "If you're considering driving here, just do it," raved a Google reviewer. "It is an amazing place that has endless views of the true Florida scrub marshes and wetlands." For more unique natural landscape nearby, venture about a 20-minute drive north on County Road 347 to Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge, which offers endless recreation, wildlife, and boardwalks.

The best place to base yourself for exploring Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve is on the island of Cedar Key, which is a short drive away. This eclectic and historic community is one of the Sunshine State's friendliest hidden gems and brims with charming inns, seafood shacks, and small beaches. While Cedar Key suffered extensive damage after a series of hurricanes in the past few years, the town has been largely rebuilt and is open for business.