This story is part of our weekly Hidden Gems feature series as the USA TODAY Network-Florida takes readers around the state to highlight some of our most interesting attractions.
Legend has it that the northern tip of Big Talbot Island State Park is haunted by a mini-van that endlessly drives up and down A1A trying to find the elusive Boneyard Beach.
That’s not really true, of course, but the beach that is littered with the skeletons of scores of dead trees in not an easy place to find. There are no “Boneyard Beach” signs on A1A and you’ll only find the nearby Bluffs Picnic Area parking lot if you happen to see the picnic table/binoculars sign on the roadside. Even when you find the lot, a stout fence and a 15-foot bluff block you from the beach; you’ll still have to walk 10 minutes on a wide, sandy trail that cuts through woods so thick that you have no clue that the Atlantic is a couple hundred feet away.
What makes Boneyard Beach special?
The beach you’ll find at the end of the trail is worth the hunt, unlike any other you’re likely to stumble across in Florida. It’s the extreme northeast corner of Duval County, gently curving northward toward the bridge that carries A1A to Amelia Island, and covered with dead trees that have been bleached by salt and sun into giant driftwood sculptures. Some stand upright on a bed of bleached roots, others look like life-sized Kraken skeletons, tentacles reaching for the sea. Rootballs stand 10 or 15 feet high, tall enough that you can stand in their shade.
The trees on Boneyard Beach — mostly oaks, cedars and palmettos — lived and died right there. Erosion and accretion caused by storms and currents washed away the soil in which they were growing. Salt and sun did the rest. (And no, you can’t take a piece of the park home. Visitors are prohibited from collecting driftwood, a protected feature of the park.)
Because of its remote location, it’s not unusual to find yourself alone or nearly so on Boneyard Beach (a real rarity in Florida), making it a popular destination for bird watchers and nature photographers.
As long as it’s not high tide, you should have plenty of walking space. You’ll want to note where the entrance is, though, because it is the only way to get off the beach for miles due to the high bluff. Walk north toward the bridge and the trees peter out as the beach becomes a barrier between sea and marsh. Turn south and it’s like a natural jungle gym, with nearly a mile of dead trees to climb on.
For the most part, the sand is just like any other Atlantic Coast beach in Florida. But there are spongy black rock-like formations at the waterline. It’s not a rock and it’s not lava; it’s a spodosol, a rare type of soil caused by decaying organic material. Sections of shoreline are also studded with the eroded stumps of long-dead oaks, cedars and palmettos.
But unlike Florida’s other beaches, Boneyard Beach might be the worst for swimming in the whole state. Some of the dead trees are submerged at high tide, strong currents flow in and out of Nassau Sound and there are no lifeguards on duty on the beach.
When to go and how to get there
The drive to Boneyard Beach is part of the experience. From I-95, take I-295 from the Northside or Southside or take Zoo Parkway to scenic Heckscher Drive, which follows the St. Johns River, to A1A. Or, take the St. Johns River Ferry from Mayport to connect to A1A and continue past Huguenot Memorial Park to Little Talbot Island and finally, Big Talbot Island.
Parking at The Bluffs lot is limited, with just a few dozen spots, and a $3 parking pass is required. There is also parking available at the Big Talbot Island boat ramp near the base of the bridge. A paved path runs to the Bluffs lot and, at low tide, visitors can access the northern end of Boneyard Beach from a trail near the bridge.
The beach is open from 8 a.m. to dusk. No pets are allowed on the beach. Bring your own food and water because it’s a long way to the nearest restaurant. The path from the parking lot, the ramp down to the beach and the beach itself are not wheelchair-accessible. A paved bike path runs the length of Little Talbot and Big Talbot Islands.
Fallen trees and driftwood dot the shoreline at Boneyard Beach at Big Talbot Island State Park in Jacksonville, Florida.
What: Boneyard Beach
Where: East side of A1A (Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway) at the north end of Big Talbot Island State Park, Jacksonville
Hours: Big Talbot Island State Park is open from 8 a.m. to dusk.
Entrance fees: There is no entrance fee, but there’s a $3 fee to park.
More info: For more information, visit floridastateparks.org.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Boneyard Beach in Jacksonville: How to access unique beach in Florida
