GARDENS: Ravine Gardens State Park
Explore the deep ravine and gardens at Ravine Gardens State Park in Palatka Florida. Page 2.
If you or your traveling companions are not up to hiking up and down stairs and trails within the ravine itself, you can tour around the top of the ravine in your car.
There is a one lane paved road, with a 5 or 10 mph speed limit, so you can relax and take your time as you drive along through the azaleas.
There are parking places along the route where you can pull over and park. At some stops you'll find an observation deck overlooking the ravine, or a garden area where you can have your picnic lunch. Rest rooms are available at the beginning of the drive, and about half way around the loop.
This driving trail is a thoughtful feature because it makes the ravine accessible to everyone, regardless of age, health, weather etc.
The ravine is a V shaped depression in the ground. If you stretched the V out into a straight line that line would be about a mile long. Although I am guessing from memory, I'll estimate the ravine is about 40-50 feet deep, or about as deep as a four story building is high.
As you descend about half way down into the ravine you encounter a trail that winds along the sides of the ravine. This 2 mile long trail winds up and down the sides of the ravine and gives you a calorie burning tour of the entire area.
This trail reminded me quite a bit of hiking in North Carolina. It's mostly a narrow one person wide dirt trail that snakes up and down, over and around, in and out of the azaleas that line the walls of the ravine. At every corner along this forest odyssey you come across a new view.
At a couple of places along the trail you come upon a wooden suspension bridge that crosses over to the same trail on the opposite bank of the ravine.
As you cross the suspension bridge you can look down into the pathways and creek that run along the bottom of the ravine, and up into the tree tops above.
OK, we've driven the road that runs around the top of the ravine, and hiked the trail that travels the sides of the ravine. Now let's take the trail down to the creek bed at the bottom.
Now you're 3-4 stories down from ground level, surrounded by the ravine. You find a wide level trail that runs along a little creek. The creek eventually takes you to the pond shown above, where there is a little waterfall, and some benches.
The air is a bit cooler and damper than normal. The water at the bottom of the ravine is a draw for birds and you can hear them everywhere, hidden in the bushes in all directions around you.
It's a nice spot to relax with a book, or lay on your back and contemplate the sky, far above you through the tree tops.
OK, we've driven the road that runs around the top of the ravine, and hiked the trail that travels the sides of the ravine. Now let's take the trail down to the creek bed at the bottom.
Although a visit would be merited any time of year, the park is most famous for the blooming of it's 95,000 azalea bushes during the spring. The peak of the blooming season is usually in March. The exact peak will of course change somewhat according to the weather in any particular year. I'd guess my visit was a week or two past the peak and it was still well worth the trip.
If you're serious about seeing the flowers at their best I'd suggest you contact the park staff for advice regarding the best time to visit.
Ravine Gardens State Park staff can be reached at: 386-329-3721
All in all I must admit to being surprised at what an interesting location this park is. It's a great combination of formal plantings and a natural landscape. The two are blended together in an artful seamless way that offers something for everyone.