10 Best Things to See & Do at Fort Clinch State Park
Nature and history come together at Fort Clinch State Park. Located in Fernandina Beach, this diverse 1400-acre park features maritime hammocks with massive moss-covered live oak trees. Several miles of pristine beach with hard-packed sand can be ridden with large-tire bicycles during low tide.
At its heart is a massive 19th century brick coastal fortification constructed as part of the US military’s Third System of seacoast defense.
The fort was named to honor Seminole War General Duncan Lamont Clinch. It’s shaped like a pentagon, with five sides and bastions on each corner. Designed to mount 70 pieces of heavy ordinance, it was never fully armed and never saw any direct combat.
One of the jewels of the Florida State Park system, there’s a lot to experience here. On this episode, Chad Gallivanter runs down the 10 best things to see and do at Fort Clinch State Park.
Mentioned
Fees
$6 per vehicle (two to eight people)
$4 single-occupant vehicle.
$2 pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.
$2.50 per person for fort admission.
Camping Fee
$26 per night plus tax, plus a nonrefundable $6.70 reservation fee and a $7 nightly utility fee for RV, cabin, bungalow, boat and yurt units. Utility fee includes water, electricity and sewer. (Utility fee does not apply to tent camping.)
Hours
The park is open 8 a.m. to sunset daily
The ranger station is open 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The fort is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
The visitor center is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily
Bicycling
The park drive provides 3.3 miles of paved road for those wishing to ride a touring bicycle through the oak-shaded canopy drive that ends at the visitor center for historic Fort Clinch. Please stay in a single-file line as the park drive is narrow and winding. Early morning and late afternoon are best suited for bicycle riding on the park drive as the park receives quite a bit of vehicle traffic between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
A 6-mile off-road multi-use trail is located adjacent to the park drive and provides a more adventurous ride through the maritime forest as dune elevation changes provide rolling hills and turns. The trail is considered an intermediate level trail, and caution should be used at all times.
Helmets must be worn when bicycling the multi-use trail. The multi-use trail is one-way for bicyclists and two-way for hikers, so please watch for hikers along the trail. Parking for the multi-use trail is at the visitor center, and the trail can be accessed from multiple points along the park drive.
There are several miles of beach with hard-packed sand that can be ridden with large tire bicycles during low tides. Please walk bikes on boardwalks leading to beaches. Beach cruisers (bicycles) are available for rent at the visitor center for a nominal fee.
Helmets are highly recommended for all cyclists and Florida law requires helmets for cyclists age 16 and under.
Camping
Enjoy the conveniences of modern camping while taking in the rich cultural and natural history of one of Florida's oldest and most diverse state parks. Nestled at Florida's most northeasterly tip, Fort Clinch State Park offers 69 campsites in two separate and unique campgrounds.
The Amelia River campground is located at the north end of the park along the St. Marys River. Shady, Spanish moss-laden oak trees lend an old Florida ambiance to the campground's 42 sites with a breathtaking view of the Amelia River just a short distance from each campsite. The bathroom is air conditioned during the warmer months.
Located along the northeast tip of the park, just steps from the ocean, Atlantic Beach campground offers 21 RV and six tent-only sites that are typical of the Florida beach atmosphere, surrounded by snow white sand dunes and sunny sites. Both campgrounds have a dump station, laundry machines and beautiful new accessible heated bathrooms with showers.
Each campsite has a fire ring, picnic table, potable water and a mixture of 30- and 50-amp electric hook-ups. Specific details about each site can be viewed on our reservations website. The dump station facilities are free of charge to registered campers, and they are also available for day visitors for a fee. Well-behaved and attended pets are welcome at both campgrounds.
Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance. For reservations, visit the Florida State Parks reservations website or call 800-326-3521 or TDD 888-433-0287.
Paddling
Visitors who want to launch a canoe or kayak from the park can use the East or West Inlet parking areas accessed through the Fort Clinch visitor center parking lot.
Visitors should exercise caution as this activity is discouraged for all but the most experienced sea kayakers. St. Marys Inlet is known for extremely strong and unpredictable currents and is a very active shipping channel. A kayak cart is recommended due to the distance from the parking areas.
Day visitors are not permitted to launch canoes or kayaks from the Amelia River Campground or Atlantic Beach Campground as these areas are reserved for registered campers only. Visitors may utilize two free public boat ramps adjacent to the park - Dee Dee Bartel's public boat ramp is available free of charge; there is minimal walking distance.
Caution should be used - this access provides a bit more shelter, but dangerous currents and an active boat channel are still a concern. The Egans Creek public boat ramp provides direct access to Egans Creek and has less boat traffic and currents.
Information from: Florida State Parks