Hiking the Garden of Eden Trail

Last Sunday I went biking in hell, so this Wednesday I went hiking in the (alleged) Garden of Eden.  Here's Atlas Obsucra's take on the matter, including handy directions to get to the trailhead.  The history of this place is eccentric to say the least, but here in the early 21st Century the zeal has mellowed a bit and now it's just a hiking trail.  A really cool hiking trail.

Panoramic view from the Apalachicola River bluff.  No actual gravitational singularities were involved in producing this degree of curvature, it's just a camera trick.

The key thing I have to add to all the other online reviews is that this trail, while not difficult, is far more challenging than the casual hike most sites imply.  Take a look at the map on this trail brochure and you'll see two ravines to climb down into and back out of on the way to the main river loop.  They have wooden steps in places, and things get steep here and there.  Not hard for the fit among us, yet not a stroll in the park either.  Once you get out to where the trail forks into the river loop, the right fork is the easy option to the bluff, while the left fork will take you into the most challenging part of the trail.  This will eventually lead you around to the bluff, after you pass through another ravine and some beautiful lowlands.  Either way of course it makes a loop, but know that taking the right fork, seeing the view from the main bluff, then turning back is an option for those who are close to reaching their fun limit for the day.

Be sure to take along a trail brochure, either from the link in the previous paragraph, or just pick one up at the trailhead.  There are 19 numbered trail markers pointing out things of interest along the way.  I neglected this, and regretted doing so about two markers in.  Probably missed a lot, so I'll have to go back and re-hike soon.  (Darn.)  Also, you can follow your progress toward the bluff, which is a morale booster.

Figure on 2 to 3 hours total hike if you're doing the whole trail.  A quart or so of water and maybe a snack or even a picnic lunch will keep things happy.  Decent trail shoes and a hiking pole will help too.

Finally, there is a Nature Conservancy donation drop box near the trailhead.  Be sure you have a few small bills to slip in there, because they do a great job acquiring and maintaining sites like this one.

Here's one more view from the bluff, over on the "easy" side:

No serpents nor unusual fruit trees spotted.  Still worth the hike.