Saturday, August 17, 2024
Bug War!
The bugs were out in force on this sunny hot day in Jacksonville. I decided to hike around the Betz-Tiger Point Preserve in the 7 Creeks Recreation area this morning.
The 7 Creeks Recreation area has over 30 miles of trails across seven parks and preserves (and seven creeks!). The area encompasses 5,600 acres.
I parked my car at the Pumpkin Hill Creek Day-Use Area. I sauntered up to the information board and map and was immediately ambushed by an army of mosquitoes. They must have known I was coming, ‘cause they were ready to suck my blood. I went back to my car and sprayed mosquito repellent all over me. The mosquitoes were hungry and not happy. Sorry, I didn’t come here to feed the mosquitoes.
Hammock Trail South
I decided to take the Hammock Trail to the right all the way to its southern terminus. It didn’t take long as it was only a mile. However, some monster spiders tried to entangle me in their humongous webs. Thankfully, I spotted them before crashing face first into them. (I hate when that happens.)
Finding a stick, I took down the web, and I kid you not, that spider was the size of my palm! It was none too happy, I am sure. It didn’t get fed today either. It probably posted something on social media about the big one that got away.
Several other smaller spiders had decided to spin their traps across the trails I hiked today. So I found another stick and just keep waving it up and down in front of me as I walked down the trail. I hate running into spider webs face first. I really do. Thankfully I avoided that today, though I had a few close calls.
Well, I soon arrived at the southern terminus of the Hammock Trail where there was supposed to be some kind of overlook or scenic view of something, but it wasn’t anything to get excited about. The end of the trail was just grassy with some trees overlooking a meadow or wetland or something. It was really hard to tell. No place to sit or relax or anything like that. So I turned around and returned to the parking lot.
Hammock Trail North
Then I took the Hammock Trail straight towards the river and it curved to the left. A little ways up was another side trail to an overlook that was gorgeous and had a place to sit down. It was at the edge of the river and several people in canoes or kayaks were paddling by.
I continued up the trail and the mosquitoes were still trying to get some breakfast from me. And somewhere up there they enlisted the help of some small yellow flies. Now, these flies looked like insects, but I guess they didn’t consider themselves as insects, because the insect repellent I put on wasn’t repelling them. Maybe I need to try using insect repellent with 100% DEET?
I finally draped my hand towel down the back of my neck, secured by my baseball cap. The towel covered my neck and ears, which helped. I also started whipping my spider web-detecting stick around my head, which helped a little bit. You’d think a guy would know when he’s not wanted, right?
Well, I kept waving the stick back and forth in front of me and around my head, but the flies seemed not to mind too much. They were intent on keeping me company on this hiking trip and wouldn’t take no for an answer.
There weren’t tons of them swarming, but there were enough of them to be really annoying. They weren’t biting me or anything, maybe because I was doing a great job of swatting them away. I also had on a long-sleeved shirt. But I’ve just read that yellow flies do bite and their bite is painful. Thankfully, none of them bit me. They didn’t get fed either. Sorry, guys, but I didn’t come to feed you either.
So if you decide to hike here, I would suggest wearing a long-sleeved shirt and pants, a hat with a bandana or towel to drape around your ears and neck, and/or a bandana or something around your neck. Wear a pair of glasses or sunglasses to keep them out of your eyes. And bring something to swat them away. Or maybe get a head net. I just ordered one on Amazon!
I finally made it to the northern terminus of the Hammock Trail. Besides the bugs, I enjoyed the trail. The trees covered most of the trail in shade. The trail was wide and dry, flat and easy to walk on. Not many views of the river nearby as the trees and shrubbery blocked the views. It would have been a fantastic hike if it wasn’t for the bugs.
Tiger Point Trail
At the end of the Hammock Trail I took the Tiger Point Trail to the river and met a couple of young guys who were fishing. The scenery was beautiful.
Another parking area is here with a gazebo and picnic tables to rest and relax. I did take a long rest at the gazebo. Thankfully, in peace, without the bugs.
Flatwoods Trail and Piney Loop Trail
After my long break, I took the Flatwoods Trail back south. The mosquitoes and yellow flies soon were attacking me again. I took the Flatwoods Trail to the Piney Loop Trail and did the loop-de-loop back to the Flatwoods Trail. At the southern point of the Piney Loop Trail was another scenic overlook, but this one wasn’t particularly spectacular either. Compared to the other ones, this one was just meh.
Although most of the trail is earth, dirt, and pine needles, several spots had some tall grass. I’m not sure where I picked up a hitchhiker, but going back down the Flatwoods Trail back to the Hammock Trail, I looked down and saw a tick had embedded itself just above my knee (I was wearing shorts). I tried flicking him off, but he was definitely attached. My tick removal tool was in my car, unfortunately.
But it wasn’t too long before I was back at my car. I got the tool and removed the tick. Another tick had attached itself on my sock line, so I disinvited him as well. They were not going to go home with me. Sorry, but I have a strict no-tick policy at home. Thankfully, I didn’t find any other ticks.
Overall the Betz-Tiger Point Preserve is a beautiful trail. I would suggest coming when the bugs aren’t out, probably in the winter or early spring. But if you do decide to hike here in the summer, just be prepared for the mosquitoes, yellow flies, and maybe a tick or two.
Yellow Flies and Ticks
South Walton Mosquito Control has a great article on what you need to know about yellow flies: https://www.southwaltonmosquitocontrol.org/everything-you-need-to-know-about-yellow-flies-and-yellow-fly-season.
Jacksonville Mom calls yellow flies, “winged spawns of Satan”: https://jacksonvillemom.com/tips-tricks/winged-spawns-of-satan
Always have a tick removal tool with you somewhere. You can get one from Amazon, REI, or other camping and hiking stores. The sooner you remove a tick, the less chance it will have transmitted any diseases. For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control a tick needs to be attached over 24 hours to transmit Lyme disease. But according to WebMd, Rocky Mountain spotted fever can be transmitted in as little as two hours or as long as 96 hours. WebMD also says Lyme disease can be transmitted in as little as 4 hours. So the quicker you remove the tick the better.
Florida Health.gov also has an informative brochure on different ticks in Florida: https://www.floridahealth.gov/Diseases-and-Conditions/tick-and-insect-borne-diseases/_documents/tick-brochure.pdf
Park Information
Park Address: 13990 Pumpkin Hill Road,
Jacksonville, FL 32226
Web Address: For more information about 7 Creeks Recreation Area, maps and more, go here: https://www.timucuanparks.org/7-creeks-jax/
For more information on Betz-Tiger Point Preserve, maps and more, go here: https://www.timucuanparks.org/parks/betz-tiger-point-preserve/
Difficulty Level: Easy/Beginner
Distance: Distance stated is actual mileage recorded on my GPS.
Hammock Trail: total length is 2.4 miles. From the Pumpkin Hill Creek Day-Use Area parking lot to the southern terminus is 0.9 miles or 1.8 miles round trip. From the parking lot to the northern terminus is 1.5 miles or 3 miles round trip.
Tiger Point Trail: 0.3 miles one way, 0.6 miles round trip.
Flatwoods Trail: 1.1 miles.
Piney Loop Trail: 0.8 miles.
Overlook Spur from Hammock Trail: 0.1 miles one way or 0.2 miles round trip.
Taking the Flatwoods Trail from its northern terminus at the Hammock Trail to doing the Piney Loop back to the Pond Trail to the Hammock Trail and back to the parking lot at the Pumpkin Hill Creek Day-Use Area is 2.4 miles.
Waypoints and Coordinates
Hammock A is also parking at the Pumpkin Hill Creek Day-Use Area:
30° 29.165’N; 81° 29.419’W
Hammock B is the southern terminus of the Hammock Trail:
30° 29.086’N; 81° 29.900’W
Hammock C is the northern terminus of the Hammock Trail:
30° 29.947’N; 81° 29.866’W
Parking 7C is another parking lot at the north end of the preserve:
30° 30.001’N; 81° 29.883’W
Scenic is the scenic overlook at the end of the Tiger Point Trail:
30° 30.045’N; 81° 29.830’W
Flatwoods Tr A is the northern terminus of the Flatwoods Trail:
30° 29.907’N; 81° 29.759’W
Piney Loop A is the intersection of the Flatwoods and Piney Loop Trail:
30° 29.443’N; 81° 29.747’W
Flatwood B is the southern terminus of the Flatwoods Trail at Pond Trail:
30° 29.484’N; 81°29.467’W
Overlook 7C is the overlook spur off the Hammock Trail:
30° 29.334’N; 81° 29.344’W
What To Do Next
If you’ve hiked in the Betz-Tiger Point Preserve, share your experience below. Please include the date of your hike and the trail conditions you experienced.
To read more about my other adventures, go here.
If you have an outdoor business, go here to see how I can help your business grow.