Haw Creek Preserve State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Haw Creek Preserve State Park is situated in Flagler County, Florida, and is a 1,005-acre nature reserve that primarily protects the Haw Creek Watershed.
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Summary
The park is a popular destination for nature lovers, hikers, and bird watchers.
Some of the main attractions of the park include the 2.3-mile-long hiking trail that runs along the Haw Creek and offers scenic views of wetlands, hardwood hammocks, and pine flatwoods. Visitors can also enjoy fishing at the creek or explore the park's wildlife habitats, which include several species of birds, snakes, turtles, and alligators.
One of the unique features of Haw Creek Preserve State Park is its diverse array of plant life, which includes the Florida blueberry, southern magnolia, and longleaf pine. The park also harbors several rare and endangered plant species, including the Florida bonamia, a small, yellowish-white flower that is only found in a few locations in Florida.
The best time to visit Haw Creek Preserve State Park is during the fall and winter months when the weather is cooler and the park's wildlife is more active. Visitors are advised to bring bug spray and watch out for snakes and alligators while hiking or exploring the park.
Overall, Haw Creek Preserve State Park is a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts seeking to explore Florida's diverse ecosystem and enjoy its natural beauty.
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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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