HIKING and BIKING

Gilley Creek Tract's 5,800 acres is open to the public from sunrise to sunset and hiking and biking the 12 miles of multi-use trails can be an adventure. Refer to the trail map below for reference numbers to show you what part of the tract the text is referring to. For a full trail map sheet click on the trail map icon on the left side of the page.

From the trail and tract maps you will see Oak Knoll Road extending into the middle of the tract. Do NOT attempt to access the tract from this road, this is a private road, it is marked NO TRESSPASSING and parking along it is strictly prohibited. Access the tract from the parking area listing on the main page at N27 29.881 W82 18.695 (A)

Just inside the gateway is a small metal box on a post. Lift the cover and sign the sheet guest log. SWFWMD is very interested in who visits and for what purpose so please be sure to sign in. This is also a good way for them to know who may still be in the tract if it gets late. Also located at the entrance is a portable toilet in case you need it before entering (there are no facilities in the tract so other then ‘roughing it’ this is your last chance). And there are no trash receptacles anywhere in the tract so whatever you bring in, be sure you bring it out. Do not litter.

Sunrise from the Gilley Creek Tract parking area

As you start your trek into the tract you will travel 1/10 mile north thru a cleared path between some woodland and palmettos and you will come to the fence line of farmland (C). The farmland is not part of the tract so do not cross the fence. During certain times of the year work crews will be harvesting tomatoes or whatever they are growing at that time so you may see some farming activity here. You will turn right (east) and head along the fence.

There is also an secondary pathway (B) from the parking area heading almost due east and snaking thru the trees near to Gilley Creek itself. This is tighter pathways thru the heavy trees and is a much nicer section to travel thru and this area was recently cleaned and cleared so this is very easy to travel thru. There are several caches located in this more remote section so if your intent is to tackle the Nowhere series of caches you will be in this area, too. SWFWMD has begun to put of trail markers and labelled or named some of the clearing areas so there is much in the planning for this area.

If you head along the farmland, this initial part of the trek can be challenging as the farmers plow up this path for a fire break and it can be tricky to walk along and difficult to mountain bike thru but recently all the firebreak paths have been packed flat and can be travelled along easily. We are attempting to get a better path to travel cut thru this area but for now you have about 1/2 a mile to travel along this fire break. Along this section there are several field sections that when mowed, allow you to travel along the tree line rather then the fence line making it more pleasant and easier to move thru.

First Gate at Gilley Creek Tract

Both the farm bordered path and the tree path meet around N27 30.095 W82 18.178 (D) and then there is but a single path to continue heading east. From this point you continue east another half a mile along the fence line until you reach a set of gates on your left at N27 30.202 W82 17.699 (E). The first gate is a walkthrough gate for hikers and bikers and the second fence is a larger gate for vehicles or horses. The walkthrough gate has a small chain with a snap latch that you can open and pass thru. Be care when opening and closing these gates as the barbed wire runs to the gate posts and also the gates are spring loaded so they may try to close while you are walking your bike thru or trying to pass thru. Also be careful if you lean your bike against the post while opening the gates as barbed wire is not too friendly to bike seats, bike bags or tires. ALWAYS SHUT AND LATCH THE GATES AFTER PASSING THRU. These gates are to prevent the farmer’s cattle from roaming free so always be sure the gate is secure behind you.

From this gate you will proceed north about 6/10 mile across some pasture land towards an opening in another fence. Often there is hard packed pathways where the cattle and/or horses have traveled but keep in mind that cattle and horses also leave other evidence of their travels along the paths that you probably don’t want to walk or pedal thru. There is no gate here but if you are biking, be cautious of the loose sand at the fence opening. Turn right (east) thru the fence towards another open pasture area.

Pasture Land at Gilley Creek Tract

You will circle around some trees and palmettos on your left turning almost due north. There will be some lone standing oaks to your east and one has a cattle feeder located below it. Nice little spots of shade to stop at but slightly out of your way. You will want to head to the north about 2/10 mile to a fence line on the east side of the pasture that starts around N27 30.431 W82 17.597. Continue to follow this fence line north another 4/10 mile until you reach Oak Knoll Road. This section will have some of the easiest packed paths to bike on. You will pass thru two more gates by the time you reach the road and please follow the same rules as the first gate.

Cross Oak Knoll Road (F) and pass thru the gate on the north side of the road. Be careful of any traffic in this area as farm vehicles pass along this section of the road. As you pass thru the northern gate you will be in another section of pasture and you will want to head north east, passing to the right side (east) of the large lone oak in front of you. Travel across the pasture towards N27 30.953 W82 17.452 about 3/10 mile where you will find a watering hole for the cattle under some beautiful oaks (G). There will be another set of gates here and at this point you will be entering the main (northern) section of Gilley Creek Tract.

Watering hole near northern section gate

While passing thru any of the pasture sections of the lower part of the tract, you may find some cattle grazing along the way. If you have to trek near the cattle, please do so safely. In most instances the cattle will move away from you as they are more cautious then we are. If a cow has a calf nearby do not approach them, do not pass between the cow and her calf, and try to stay as far away as you can as the cows are protective of their calves. Cow have poor depth perception but a broad field of view so it is always best to not approach a cow from the rear as sudden movements or surprises can startle them into reacting. They are also sensitive to noises so don’t yell at them or make loud noises when approaching them. Your best bet when passing thru pasture land with cattle is to travel at a slow pace avoiding sudden movements and noises. They are used to the farmers around them so just be cautious when passing by.

As you enter the gate into the upper or northern section of Gilley Creek Tract you will find yourself looking down a hill to a small stream at the bottom and another upslope on the other side. If you are on bike you can ride down and cross the water and make it all the way up the other side but it’s a good challenge. If you are on foot there are places you can cross without getting wet. Just keep in mind during the rainy times of the year the flow may increase.

Oak hammock at entrance of norther section

At the top of the rise around N27 30.989 W82 17.421 you will find yourself at the edge of a large oak hammock and SWFWMD has placed a new picnic table there for you to relax at. `To this point you will of traveled about 2-1/4 miles from the parking area. There is a lot of places to explore right in this area and lots of different types of topography. You are also faced with a choice or which direction to travel as the main trail in this section branches off in two directions, both of which rejoin around N27 31.832 W82 16.458 (J).

Heading along the eastern branch you will travel thru some deep sections of oak hammock and some beautiful sights. You will also have to cross the small stream again but the crossing should be easy. A lot of shade in this first section but don’t get too used to it. After traveling about 2/10 mile you will exit the oak hammock and find yourself facing an orange orchard (H). You can travel across to the edge of the orchard, head north and follow it along or you can head north following a cleared fire break path which also leads to the northwest corner of the orchard. The orange trees are bordered by a barbed wire fence and are private land so do not cross the fence line or enter the orchard.

The trail will lead around the perimeter of the orange trees and as you move along the eastern most fence line near N27 31.129 W82 16.800 you will most likely see a line of white containers inside the fence very near the path. These are bee hives and you need to steer completely clear of these. The field area near these bees is usually easy to walk or bike thru so make a very wide path around them. Bees are known to get aggressive and defensive so avoid getting too near them. The farmers use these not only for honey production but to pollinate the orange blossoms and they sometimes relocate them along the fence line so just be aware of where they are while you are passing by. If you are allergic to bee stings it would be best to travel straight east front the northern fence border until you reach the main trail road that heads northeast into the center of the tract.

Bee hives near orange orchard

If you travel all the way around the oranges along the eastern fence to near N27 31.074 W82 16.801 (I) you will be within 2/10 mile of Gilley Creek itself to your south. You can travel south from this point to the creek or directly east is remnants of a trail road that follows the creek. Some of these areas still have old barbed wire fence there so be careful when approaching the creek.

The main trail road from this point heads northeast towards N27 31.832 W82 16.458 where it intersects the western trail (J). This is about 1 mile of open field travel. The trail road is easy to move along but there is no tree cover until you reach the main intersection point.

Once you reach the other trails you once again have another choice to head west, north or east. About 2/10 mile down the western trail there is another branch heading north or you could go straight and return to the entrance. The eastern trail goes all the way to Gilley Creek and then turns to the furthest northern parts of the tract. The northern trail heads straight up to the furthest northern sections of the tract and some unique landscapes. There are several cross trails and intersections along the trails so you can spend quite a bit of time exploring all the side trails.

Strange sight at the norther crossroads in Gilley Creek Tract

We recommend heading along the north trail towards another trail intersection at N27 32.306 W82 16.201. There are many trees along this trail and some small side trails to explore. A slight dip in the road appears to may contain some water during rainy season but we have not encountered any on our trips. When you reach the intersection about 6/10 mile down the trail there will be several large piles of rock (K) stacked to your east that SWFWMD is using to reinforce some trails and roads.

SWFWMD's pile of rocks for future trail enhancements

The trail continues another mile north from here and there is some near landscapes along the east side of the trail where a small creek has eroded it’s way thru some heavy oak hammocks. It is worth the explore but it does dead end at the tract border near N27 33.129 W82 16.002.

Back at the pile of rocks (K) the main trail heads east. As you pass the rocks and enter the heavy oak hammock the trail is laid with the rocks. The creek passes under the trail and SWFWMD has cleared much of the undergrowth and placed another picnic table here. It is obvious they have plans to further develop this area but it is one of the nicest spots in the tract and deer frequent this location.

Cleared oak hammock and a new SWFWMD picnic table

As you exit the oak hammock you will be walking along a well packed trail road with mostly open field or palmettos to your left and a fence line (or remnants of a fence line) and some trees to your right. As you continue down this for 7/10 mile you will come to and opening in the fence facing south at N27 32.378 W82 15.542 (L) which winds back to the main intersection at N27 31.832 W82 16.458 (J). There is a small trail that heads further east on the southern side of the fence but this is just a trail that has been worn down from wild pigs traveling along and it gets very thick to travel along if you dare explore this.

There is also a trail road heading north into a most open field area. This road goes north a little over a mile following a small creek and some brush growing along the creek to the northern most section of the tract. Be aware this is all open trail and some parts of it are extremely deep soft powder sand and almost impossible to travel thru on bike. If you try to ride slightly off the sand you will be passing thru some industrial sized sand spurs that have been known to flatten tires. If you get some stuck in your tires it is recommended to pry them out with something like a pocket knife to prevent them from being driven into your tube.

There are also some areas with fire ant mounds and nothing is more angering then to get into fire ants and trying to brush the biting critters off with your hand while covered with sand spurs (trust me on this one).

Some of the open field trail in the northern section of the tract

You can walk this path if you care to see the furthest corner of the tract. You will also find a trail road that heads west when you approach N27 32.899 W82 15.430 but keep in mind this will come to a fence you will have to follow south along to get back to the main trails. This is not an easy trek by bike as much of the cut trails were recently cut and have small tree trunks and large branches laying in your path.

Stay aware of the time of day and when sunset is as at the furthest northeast corner of the tract you will be more then 6-1/2 miles from the parking area by trail and it’s easy to misjudge your return trip and end up doing the last couple miles in the dark. And also keep in mind by the time you reach this point your energy level probably won’t be as high as it was on the trip in.

Fence opening at northern section of tract

Back at the fence opening at N27 32.378 W82 15.542 (L) you will want to head south along the trail. Most of this is open but trees are nearby at spots to grab a little shade if needed. Some parts of this trail have a lot of soft sand but if you are biking there are spots that are solid enough to keep pedaling. About 4/10 mile along this trail you will run across the wild pig trap on your right. Not sure if this is still in use but so far we have not run across anything trapped in here.

Another 6/10 mile along the trail will jog a couple times and the tree cover will get heavier. You will come to a small dip with a bit of water crossing your path (M). This is an easy crossing by foot or bike but keep in mind, a heavy rain could change that. On the south side of the creek you will see a trail heading south and this leads into some open sections of the tract. There is a lot to explore out there but you will have to return to this spot to get back on the main trail.

Trails thru the trees near Gilley Creek itself

The main path will now head straight back 6/10 mile to the main intersection at N27 31.832 W82 16.458 (J). From here you would continue straight northwest and you will now be on the western trail heading back towards the entranceway. This trail is open grassland and the trail is kept mowed clean but the cut grass can sometimes be difficult to bike thru. There will be several side trails branching off this main trail but you will want to stay on the main trail towards N27 31.937 W82 16.874 (N) where you will find a heavy oak hammock stretching along a creek which will cross your path. There is normally hardly a trickle here and it is lined with rocks so it is an easy pass thru. This is another beautiful spot and some nice places to explore both to the north and the south along the creek.

Line of trees along a creekbed

At N27 31.627 W82 17.152 there is another trail heading south along a fence which heads to a large line of oak trees and another small stream. There are some neat spots in here to explore and the trees are about 2/10 mile from the main trail. A nice little side trip.

Another 3/10 mile you will come to a crossroad point at N27 31.482 W82 17.411 (O) where a road leads to your north and a large oak hammock. About 2/10 mile from this spot is the edge of the tract border. If you travel a short distance north from the crossroad you will also find a trail heading west that crosses a small creek bed and leads all the way to a pasture fence. This is actually the same pasture you passed thru earlier but there is not passthru gate and the large gate is always locked.

Pasture fence and gate

Straight across west at the cross road and across a little bit of grassland is a creek washout that is an unusual spot and neat to explore. The main trail heads south from the crossroad back to the picnic table at the entrance to the northern part of the tract at N27 30.989 W82 17.421 (G) , about 6/10 mile down the trail. There is a section of this return trail that is very soft sand and although we have pedaled all the way thru it, it is not an easy pedal.

When you head back from here on your return trip to the parking area (A), stay on the trail and do not try to short cut the path back to your car. You can end up faced with a dead end, private farm land or barbed wire fencing you cannot cross across. And also note that when you reach Oak Knoll Road that you have around 1-3/4 miles back to the parking via trail, so if you entertain the thought of traveling down the road to SR 675 and then traveling down that to the parking area you will be facing a 3 mile trip instead.

And remember as you return to the parking area that no matter how tired or exhausted you might be, never, and I mean “never”, lean your bike against the rear bump and rest in the car. This can lead to a need for AC, which leads to cranking up the car, which can lead to the desire to get home and hit the showers, which can lead to (and trust me on this one), putting the car in reverse and backing over your mountain bike. A little helpful hint (and thanks to Village Bikes for finding some replacement parts and helping me get me back on the trails).

If you care to add or comment on the text included here, please feel free to email me as this is the first draft and I am sure as SWFWMD updates the facility this text will most likely change.