Things To Do

What to See: Plants

The preserve protects two of the world's rarest evergreens, the Florida torreya and Florida yew. Yews are seen along the botanical loop trail, but live torreyas are no longer visible along the trail. Other plants of interest include the large-leaved, large-flowered Ashe's magnolia; pyramid magnolia; Florida anise; mountain laurel; oak leaf hydrangea; spring ephemerals such as trillium and wild ginger; Gholson's blazing star; numerous ferns; and an array of fall-blooming sandhill wildflowers and grasses including toothed basil and lopsided Indiangrass.
What to See: Animals

The preserve is home to several rare species of resident and migrating birds including the bald eagle, Mississippi kite, swallow-tailed kite, wild turkey, worm-eating warbler, hooded warbler, Bachman's sparrow, Louisiana water thrush and Swainson's warbler.
Plan Your Visit

Only foot travel is allowed on the trail. To protect the preserve's rare plants, animals, and cultural and geologic features, the following are not allowed: pets, smoking, littering, camping, climbing on the bluffs, collecting, firearms, fires, hunting and radios.

Visitors should plan on a 3-hour hike, bring 1 - 2 quarts of water per person, and may wish to bring a hiking stick to assist with the steep climbs and descents. Please keep in mind that the trail is steep and the climbs are arduous.

For your safety, please observe trail signs at Alum Bluff and stay well back from the edge as you follow the orange-blazed trail along the river bluff. The bluff is an active slide area and abandoned sections of trail are badly undercut and prone to collapse.

Please leave dogs at home. Dogs are not allowed on the trail.

Directions

From Bristol:

    - From State Road 20 in Bristol, take State Road 12 east (toward Greensboro) 1.6 miles to Garden of Eden Road, a dirt road to the left. There is a large "Apalachicola Bluffs Garden of Eden Trail" sign on the left.
   
    - Turn left on Garden of Eden Road. Go 0.4 miles to the trailhead.

From Tallahassee:

    - Take I-10 west to exit 174.
   
    - Turn left on State Road 12 and continue for 20.3 miles (turning left at the blinking light in Greensboro). As you near Bristol, look for at large "Apalachicola Bluffs Garden of Eden Trail" sign on your right.
   
    - Turn right on Garden of Eden Road. Go 0.4 miles to the trailhead.