Trail Talk is a monthly column by Tony Hess, Gary Sprague & Bob Budesa about hiking the Jacksonville Woodlands trail system. For more information, please visit the Jacksonville Woodlands Association website at www.jvwoodlands.org. 
By the time you read this, I hope we’re seeing some moisture in our fall skies. I can’t complain about the balmy fall weather that kept my jacket, raincoat, and boots in storage. Working/walking in our forest lands has been quite pleasant. The chilly mornings have warmed rapidly with the […]
What in the world does THAT mean?
Well, let me explain. The Jacksonville Woodlands Hike-a-Thon is 26 years-old this year, and in an attempt to encourage a younger participation and hopefully new members, one of our board members, Omer Kem, suggested adding a “Fun Run.” Oxymoron? To some, I suppose.
The 26th Jacksonville […]
The trails in the Jacksonville Woodlands and Forest Park are beautiful this time of year. “Misty,” “rainy,” “snowy,” “windy,” “muddy,” and “damp” are all great ways to describe them as winter makes it way to spring. There are a few simple things you can do before heading out to […]
Let me start by introducing myself! My name is Omer Kem, husband/dad/business owner in that order. My wife, son and I recently moved back to Jacksonville after spending two years away living in Ashland. We are so very excited to be back in what we feel is “trail heaven.”
My commitment […]
If you were thinking that winter would bring your cycling season to an end, you may want to reconsider! Jacksonville’s Forest Park offers miles of trails to be explored, and opportunities to keep your level of fitness maintained until next spring!
Now, keep in mind that the following information is recommended for […]
The Forest Park is a big area, 1,100 acres to be exact. With many sloped hillsides, its actual size is even larger with twenty-four miles of trails spread-out over twenty-two trails…park hikers and bikers can really get to some far-out locations.
In the early […]
It’s often said that what trail hikers love the most is running streams and trail loops. Of course right now, in this super dry spell, running streams rarely exist, and won’t until the fall rains return. The good news is that in the Forest Park, there are some short parts of […]
The City of Jacksonville has always had a strong commitment to providing a well-constructed and maintained city parks system for residents and visitors alike. The Parks, Recreation, and Visitors Services Committee is aptly named. From Doc Griffin Park with its spray-park and playground equipment, Cottage Street Park, to the Pheasant Meadows […]
The Woodlands and Forest Park are part of the city parks system and provide venues for more experiences than just trails to hike. Both parks are rich displays of Jacksonville’s history. The Woodlands showcases the start of the gold mining that led to the city’s birth in […]
Those of you who walk in the Woodlands, specifically the Sarah Zigler trail, no doubt saw the decks of logs at the far end near the parking lot last month. Those trees were damaged by the Western Pine Beetle (WPB), an insect that unfortunately infests pine forests across 10 western states.
The […]
That was quite a little one-day downpour we had at the end of February, wasn’t it? I was pleasantly surprised to not see trees strewn across the woodland trails following the storm. Softened soil, coupled with high winds, is a certain recipe for blowdown, but […]
Learning how to get around in the Jacksonville Woodlands and the Forest Park trail systems can be challenging to first-time visitors. Even returning hikers and mountain bikers enjoying these diversified natural areas can get confused in the myriad of trails. After all, there are 15 miles of trails on […]
A great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day (or any day) with a loved one is to take a hike on one of the Jacksonville Woodlands or Forest Park trails.
We are pleased to invite you to check-out the two new interpretive panels on the three-quarter mile-long Zigler Trail in the Woodlands system. […]
Thiis is the time of year the Jacksonville Woodlands Association wraps-up our projects and plans our workload for next year, which is just around the corner!
That being said, I thought I’d throw the ‘suggestion box’ out to you, the trail users. If you have ideas for improvements, or maintenance issues […]
The Forest Park continues to improve and expand under the guidance and work of the Forest Park Volunteers and the city Parks Department. The volunteers have identified several new trail locations needed in the Forest Park. These new trail routes are developed by first studying the trails map and then using the National Geographic TOPO […]
I remember 45 years ago, sitting peacefully tying flies for an order Abercrombe & Fitch had put in, and my mother saying, “Mrs. Riley could sure use a hand today running some errands. I told her you’d be right over.” Oh man…she did it again! Mom knew how to get results […]
There are many great hiking trails to choose from in the Jacksonville area, but when the daytime temperatures are in the 90’s or higher, it becomes more of a challenge avoiding the heat. Here are some suggested hikes to keep the heat at bay:
If you’re a 7:00am hiker or runner, the […]