Jacksonville News

Photo by Member Mark Krancer, Kram Kran Photo

Photo by Member Mark Krancer, Kram Kran Photo

ARTICLE

Date ArticleType
12/6/2024 5:00:00 AM Member News

7 Creeks Partners Host Inaugural 7 Creeks Winter Hiking Spree

Participants can hike seven trails in the 7 Creeks Recreation Area from January to March to earn special 7 Creeks swag

 

Jacksonville, Fla., Dec. 10, 2024 – 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. More information can be found at timucuanparks.org/7-creeks-jax/.

####