Earl Simmons County Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
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Summary
Earl Simmons County Park is located in Jacksonville, Florida, and is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The park covers over 500 acres of land and features a variety of recreational activities.
There are several good reasons to visit Earl Simmons County Park. The park is home to several hiking and biking trails, as well as fishing ponds and picnic areas. Visitors can also take advantage of the park's multiple playgrounds and sports fields, making it a great destination for families.
One of the most popular points of interest in the park is the Lake Bethesda Dam, which offers great views of the lake and surrounding area. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, alligators, and several species of birds.
Interesting facts about the area include the fact that the park was named after Earl Simmons, a prominent Jacksonville businessman and philanthropist. In addition, the park was once a part of the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, which is a protected area that includes some of the last unspoiled coastal wetlands in the United States.
The best time of year to visit Earl Simmons County Park is during the fall and winter months when temperatures are cooler and the humidity is lower. However, the park is open year-round and offers a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy no matter the season.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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