Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park is a 2400-acre natural area in Clay County with sandhills, marshes, ravines, lakes, and scrub vegetation. The grounds span between Gainesville and Jacksonville and connect multiple natural habitats within a single landscape.

The park developed in the 1930s when the Civilian Conservation Corps built many structures including cabins during the economic crisis of the Great Depression. These constructions form the backbone of the park's infrastructure today.

The buildings throughout the park showcase National Park Service rustic design using materials that blend naturally with the surroundings. Visitors encounter wood and stone structures in simple forms that reflect the park's early construction era.

The park features four marked hiking trails along with fishing, horseback riding, canoeing, and swimming at different locations throughout the grounds. The varied offerings let visitors explore different sections based on their interests.

A steep ravine near the park's center holds seepage springs that form Gold Head Branch, dividing the grounds into distinct sections. This natural water feature creates a striking separation between different parts of the landscape.

Location: Clay County

Inception: 1935

Architectural style: National Park Service rustic

Website: https://floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/mike-roess-gold-head-branch-state-park

GPS coordinates: 29.83190,-81.95310

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:48