Wild Places of Faver-Dykes

The wild places of Faver-Dykes State Park are a hidden gem in St. Johns County. Most people think they need to go far into the forest or away from the coast to find such places, but the diversity of flora and fauna found at Faver-Dykes is a nature lover's dream. 

Faver-Dykes State Park encompasses a wide array of habitat, from wet to dry, and the southern and eastern boundaries are made up by bodies of water. On the southern boundary we have Pellicer Creek, one of the main attractions at the park for boaters, anglers and bird-watchers.

Pellicer Creek is lined with cordgrass, black needle rush and black mangroves. These native plants have incredibly important roles to play in the ecosystem, including stabilizing the shoreline and providing critical habitat for the animals who rely on it. 

Along the creek edges you may find egrets, herons and alligators, hunting and basking in the sunlight. Overhead, you may see soaring eagles and osprey, kingfishers, Northern harriers and wood storks. One seldom-seen bird that makes its presence known by its loud call is the clapper rail. Clapper rails have chickenlike physical characteristics, and even special glands that allow them to drink saltwater. 

In the creek, you may see jumping mullets, tailing red fish, dolphins and the occasional manatee.

For those on a kayak or canoe, taking the creek to the east opens into a tidal flat that gets saltier as you get closer to the intracoastal. The salt flats on the northern bank of Pellicer Creek and the eastern boundary of the park are dominated by black mangroves, salt wort and salt pickle. Common birds in the salt flat are red winged black birds, roseate spoonbills, white pelicans and oyster catchers.

The salt flats are a maze of tidal creeks connecting to the intracoastal, and oyster bars and reefs in the creeks provide shelter to small fish while providing wading birds with prime hunting grounds.

These wild places of Faver-Dykes State Park are heavily influenced by tides, and getting stuck at low tide in boats is a real possibility. It's recommended that you explore these areas with someone who knows the body of water for your first excursion. Or you can stay on dry land and explore the hiking trails at Faver-Dykes for a look into the wild places of the forest. Here you may see white-tailed deer, gopher tortoise, wild turkey, pileated woodpeckers and even the carnivorous pitcher plant.

There is so much to learn within the wild places of Faver-Dykes State Park, so come out and explore!