Four Creeks State Forest

Four Creeks State Forest, excluding the private property within its overall boundaries, contains some 13,147 acres between Yulee and Callahan. The property was originally purchased jointly by the St. Johns River Water Management District and the Florida Forever Program's Northeast Florida Timberlands and Watershed Reserve Project. Management of the property is in the hands of the Florida Division of Forestry. The name (Four Creeks) comes from the Alligator, Thomas, Plummer and Boggy Creeks which cross (or border) the forest and come together as the headwaters of Nassau River. Four Creeks State Forest is against the Nassau-Duval County line about 4 miles east of Callahan, just north of Jacksonville. The north boundary of the forest runs partly along State Roads 200 and A1A, the south boundary partly along Thomas Creek. The management office of the forest is in Hilliard, about 15 miles north of Callahan via US Highway 1.

This is a typical Florida forest with sections of mesic flatwoods, wet flatwoods, tidal marsh, floodplain swamp, dome swamp, strand swamp and baygalls. Hunters on the property are probably looking for wild turkey, wild hogs or white-tailed deer. Four Creeks is an atypical Florida State Forest in that Division of Forestry management of the property is relatively new and not all the recreational facilities are in place yet. However, there are 24 miles of unpaved roads on the property available for use by drivers, hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. A good rain can make these roads unusable by anything less than high clearance 4WD vehicles. There are several natural boat landings on the creeks but these are usable only for canoes and kayaks. There is a public boat ramp available on the Nassau River, off SR A1A at the end of Edwards Road. Camping is not allowed yet but the property is open for use from 1.5 hourse before dawn to 1.5 hours after sunset.

All hunting and fishing on Four Creeks State Forest is under the purview of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.