Visiting Boneyard Beach, Florida: The Perfect Nature Escape Day Trip in Jacksonville
Boneyard Beach is located on the outskirts of Jacksonville, in Big Talbot Island State Park. It makes the perfect full- or half-day trip from the centre of the city, and its fallen trees on the Nassau Sound are a delight for photography and nature lovers alike.
Getting up close and personal with the skeletons of oak and cedar trees on Boneyard Beach
Travel has opened me up to so many different sights and experiences over the years. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from all of my travel experiences, it’s that each corner of our world is filled with so many unexpected corners of natural beauty. As much as I love visiting, learning about and living in big cities, there are some truly memorable experiences that come from a nature getaway that feel so grounding.
On our recent trip to Jacksonville, Chris and I loved all of the things there were to do in the city. But given that Jacksonville is the largest city geographically in the continental United States, it’s a shame if you only spend your time in the city’s core. Our half-day trip to Boneyard Beach gave us a renewed sense of appreciation for the natural beauty in this part of Florida, and offered an opportunity to check out the hiking and walking trails available in so many of the parks in and around this city.
Boneyard Beach is aptly named for all of the southern oak and cedar “skeletons” that have fallen along the beach. The way these trees have been sun- and ocean-bleached over time really makes for a moody scene. On the day we visited, there were low clouds which made the skeletons look all the more dramatic.
If you’re looking to take a weekend getaway to Jacksonville, or you’re just looking for memorable things to do on a trip to the city, Boneyard Beach cannot be missed.
How to Get to Big Talbot Island State Park
Big Talbot Island is home to a variety of bird species on the Nassau Sound
Big Talbot Island is a Florida state park in the northeastern part of Jacksonville, not too far from the Georgia state border. It’s just one of a collection of islands and Florida state parks in the surrounding area, making it a great place to visit before venturing out to more of Jacksonville’s northern coastline. Amelia Island State Park is another nice park and peninsula to visit on the Nassau Sound, a little farther north than Big Talbot Island.
To take a day trip here from Jacksonville, you’ll need a car. Whether you’re coming from downtown Jacksonville or Jacksonville Beach, there are a few route options that can get you to this stretch of the FL-105 highway. Depending on traffic, it’s about a 40 minute drive from downtown Jacksonville. You can also catch a car ferry across the St. Johns River to this area from Mayport, which I talk about in the section about the Mayport Shrimp Trail.
Whichever route you choose, to access Boneyard Beach within the park, you’ll want to enter at The Bluffs Scenic Shoreline Picnic Area. There’s a small park fee per vehicle to enter the park, which you can pay for electronically at the time you enter.
Hiking to Boneyard Beach from The Bluffs Picnic Area
The Bluffs Scenic Shoreline Picnic Area is a good place to park, and has a few amenities like covered picnic areas and portable toilets. It makes for a great excuse to grab a sandwich or picnic from somewhere in downtown Jacksonville (I personally loved the sandwiches and coffees at The Greenhouse Bar in town) to enjoy before you head out on the trail.
From the picnic area, the trail head to Boneyard Beach is north of the picnic area, or to the left of the area from the main road. There are a few small signs showing the way. It’s good to know that the trail is a packed sand path, but depending on the weather—there had been a big storm in the area before our visit—some parts of the path can be muddy or wet, so you want to make sure you’re wearing good shoes.
I’d say the relatively flat path to the beach is more of a walk than a hike, and will only take you about 20 minutes from the picnic area to reach the beach. It’s a nice walk through high and low-hanging trees. Once the trail reaches the beach, to your right is where you’ll find the “skeletons” of Boneyard Beach.
Appreciating the Beauty of the “Bones”
Chris and I on Boneyard Beach
Seeing all the massive southern oaks and cedars scattered across the beach is truly a beautiful sight. Many of the trees and their roots have been perfectly preserved thanks to the ocean and the sun, so you’ll want to take some time to admire the woven art that is their roots. Chris and I spent quite some time just slowly walking through all of the trees and looking at what makes each one unique from the next.
If you have a little extra time, this section of the beach is also a nice place to sit and enjoy the trees and the view. We saw a young couple sitting between a few trees with their camping chairs and a picnic looking out over the moody waters. It was picture-perfect, and looked like such a nice way to enjoy an afternoon.
Once you’re on the beach, you can really walk as far as you’d like in either direction. Further south is Black Rock Beach and Driftwood Beach, and to the north is the protected bird sanctuary, Spoonbill Pond. If you’re a cyclist, the paved Timucuan Trail also runs closer to the road and is an excellent way to appreciate the beauty of this area. You could easily park your bike at the picnic area before walking down to Boneyard Beach, too.
Don’t Forget to Make a Stop on the Mayport Shrimp Trail
While you’re in the area, there’s no harm in extending your trip by heading over to Mayport. It isn’t too far from Big Talbot Island, and it’s easy to get to. From Big Talbot Island, head south back down the FL-105 highway to Fort George Ferry Landing. You can catch the St. Johns River Ferry to Mayport, and bring your car across. It’s a short ferry trip across the St. Johns River, which departs every 30 minutes. You can find more information about the ferry here.
Once you’re in Mayport, the world is your oyster—quite literally! Commercial shrimping and seafood is a big part of the history here in Mayport, and there are a few different places to stop here and enjoy great seafood from the Mayport Shrimp Trail. There are stops on the trail all over Jacksonville, including Jacksonville Beach, but some good stops here in Mayport include Safe Harbor Seafood Restaurant and Singletons Seafood Shack.
I’d like to thank Visit Jacksonville for hosting Chris and I as media during this trip. All opinions expressed are completely my own.
Bri Mitchell
Bri Mitchell is a travel writer and content creator from Toronto, Ontario. She loves to highlight all things nature, food, wellness, sustainability and adventure in her work. Bri writes and shares her travel experiences from across Canada, the United States and around the world on Instagram and TikTok (@brimitchelltravels), and in her articles for travelingmitch, Ultimate Ontario, and We Explore Canada.