Holton Creek Wildlife Management Area

ABOUT THIS PLACE

Holton Creek Wildlife Management Area sits in south central Hamilton County and covers more than 2,000 acres along the upper Suwannee River. It was bought under the Save Our Rivers program specifically to protect the limestone outcrops and the seepage slopes along this stretch, ground that is easy to damage and hard to replace. Two first-magnitude springs rise on the property, which is unusual for one tract. The habitats are river bluff hardwoods and pine plantation, and wild turkey, eastern cottontail, gopher tortoises, alligators and red-tailed hawks all live here. Several miles of the Florida Trail run along the riverfront, and this is among the better stretches of that trail for scenery. The area opens an hour and a half before sunrise and closes an hour and a half after sunset, except during hunts. Entry is by Road 20-1, by the Florida Trail or off the river itself. Hunting here is set aside for mobility-impaired hunters, with fall gun hunts and spring turkey. Fishing runs all year with a Florida license. Horses, bicycles, hiking and wildlife viewing are all allowed, with horses restricted to daylight on designated roads outside hunting periods. Camping is not permitted in the management area, but Holton Creek River Camp next to it has five screened shelters, a picnic pavilion, hot showers and a tent area