Fort Clinch State Park
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Fort Clinch State Park | |
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IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area) | |
Location: | Nassau County, Florida, USA |
Nearest city: | Fernandina Beach, Florida |
Coordinates: | |
Area: | 1,100 acres |
Established: | April 21, 1905 |
Total Visitation: | 167,000 (in ???) |
Governing body: | Florida Department of Environmental Protection |
The Fort Clinch State Park is a Florida State Park, located on a peninsula near the northernmost point of Amelia Island, along the Amelia River. Its 1,100 acres include the 19th century Fort Clinch, sand dunes, plains, maritime hammock and estuarine tidal marsh.
Contents |
[edit] The fort
A pentagonal brick fort with both inner and outer walls, Fort Clinch lies to the northeast of Fernandina Beach at the entrance to the Cumberland Sound. The fort was briefly re-activated in 1898 for the Spanish-American War. In 1935 the State of Florida bought 256 acres that included the then-abandoned fort and the surrounding area. The park opened to the public in 1938.
[edit] Recreational activities
Activities include pier fishing, sunbathing, hiking, surfcasting, camping, birding, and shelling. Visitors can also enjoy picnicking, swimming, bicycling, beachcombing, and wildlife viewing. Park personnel reenact military life at the fort. Among the wildlife of the park are the rare Purple Sandpiper, alligators, white-tailed deer, and other birds. Visitors can also see dolphins and manatees.
Amenities include a 1/2 mile pier, several miles of beach, 3.3 miles of paved road, and a six-mile hiking trail. The park has two campgrounds, one on the Amelia River, the other on the beach. The Amelia River campground has 41 campsites in an oak hammock. The beach campground has 21 sites with a ramped boardwalk. The park also offers primitive camping and youth camping.
The park is a 'gateway site' for the Great Florida Birding Trail.
[edit] Hours
The park is open from 8:00 am till sundown year round.
[edit] External links
- Nassau County listings at National Register of Historic Places
- Nassau County listings at Florida's Office of Cultural and Historical Programs
- Fort Clinch State Park at Florida State Parks
- Fort Clinch State Park at Florida Parks
- Fort Clinch State Park at Absolutely Florida
- Florida Historic Places - Fort Clinch at The National Park Service - Links to the Past
- Exploring Florida - Fort Clinch Photo Gallery at The Florida Center for Instructional Technology
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