Gold Head Branch State Park has long been on my radar, a small dot on the map with a curious name in the middle of nowhere, out of range of any major highways but close enough to the University of Florida to be a great camping option on game weekends.
One of Florida’s earliest state parks, Gold Head Branch was developed in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, which was created to combat unemployment during the Great Depression.
The CCC planted trees, cleared areas for campsites, built roads and constructed many of the buildings still in use today, including nine of the park’s 16 rental cabins.
Gold Head Branch is the name of a creek that cuts a deep ravine through the park’s rolling sand hills, nurturing a hardwood forest flush with wildlife, ultimately flowing into a marsh and three lakes.
Birds are abundant, especially during the spring and fall migrations. Owls are year-round residents, and campers can’t miss their hoots amid the park’s tranquility.
Things to do at Gold Head Branch State Park
Gold Head Branch State Park has multiple hiking and nature trails, including a 5.4-mile section of the Florida National Scenic Trail (below).
I was in heaven on my e-Bike, both on- and off-road.
The park has three miles of paved roadways that are excellent for bicycling, and at the park entrance, there’s a six-mile connector that leads to the Palatka-to-Lake Butler State Trail.
And there are miles of off-road trails where you can hike or ride a bike, and there’s a 7-mile equestrian trail if you bring your own horse.
The day-use area features well-maintained picnic pavilions overlooking the lake with lots of room for kids to play.
The 73 campsites in three campground loops accommodate recreational vehicles, trailers and tents. Most sites have water and electric hookups. All sites include a picnic table, fire ring/grill and potable water.
The cabins at Gold Head Branch State Park
Gold Head Branch State Park has 16 cabins available to rent, nine of which date back to the 1930s when they were used by the Civilian Conservation Corps for housing.
These historic cabins have a combined living room/bedroom, a separate bathroom, a separate fully equipped kitchen and a screened porch. A full-size bed sleeps two people and a futon/couch sleeps two people. The historic cabins are $65 a night.
Another five concrete block cabins built in the 1950s sleep six. These cabins have a separate bedroom, a living room/dining room, a bathroom, a fully equipped kitchen and a screened porch. The bedroom has a full-size bed that sleeps two, and the living room has a bunk bed and one futon/couch that each sleeps two people. The bathroom has a standard-size bathtub and shower. These cabins are $75 a night.
There are two modern cabins that sleep six. These cabins are spacious with a living room/dining room, bathroom, two bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen and a screened porch. There is a full-size bed in the master bedroom, two twin beds in the second bedroom and a pull-out couch in the living room. The modern cabins are $100 per night.
We did not see inside any of the cabins, but their exteriors were clean, freshly painted and well-maintained. I would expect nothing less for the interiors.
The campground at Gold Head Branch State Park
Every campsite is suitable, even desirable, making this one of the easiest parks for selecting a site for your RV or tent. Just grab whatever is available on the days you need.
Most sites are shady and just enough vegetation to afford privacy. You can still see your neighbors, but you’re not on top of each other.
The campground is divided into three loops. We stayed in the Lakeview Loop.
Our picnic table was in pretty rough shape and in need of replacement, and the wrought-iron grill on the fire pit has seen better days. Consider bringing your own table and grill.
Can you kayak? Fish?
Despite the presence of three lakes, the water levels were below recreational use and have been for years, a park employee told me.
Should the lakes ever restore to prior levels, the paddling opportunities would still be limited by the small size of both lakes.
The low levels also limit fishing to small bass, crappy and panfish. A catch of large bass here is highly unlikely.
The trails at Gold Head Branch State Park
The 1.15-mile Ridge Trail descends into the ravine to the Gold Head Branch, which carved out the ravine and meanders to Little Lake Johnson and Big Lake Johnson.
The dense shade provides shelter to wildlife, making it a birding hot spot.
The Ridge Trail intersects with the Loblolly Loop, extending your hike another mile, a somewhat challenging course that connects with the Florida Scenic Trail, which cuts a 5.4-mile swath through the park.
The entrance to the Ridge Trail is off the main park road, before you get to the camping areas. A fourth trail, the Fern Loop, also originates at this point. There is parking at the trailhead, and the trailhead itself is a wooden stairway that descends into the ravine (below).
Gold Head Branch State Park, 6239 State Road 21, Keystone Heights FL 32656. Phone: 352-316-4286. 73 campsites in three campground loops. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring/grill and potable water. 20/30-amp electric at all campsites except sites 57 and 60-67 in the Lakeview campground loop. Sites 16-18, 58 and 59 feature 50-amp service, as well as 20/30-amp.
Camping fee: $20/night plus a $7 nightly utility fee for RVs and a one-time $6.70 reservation fee. (Utility fee does not apply to tents.) Cabins: $65-$100 per night plus $7 utility fee and a one-time $6.70 booking fee. Reservations Florida residents can reserve a campsite at Gold Head Branch up to 11 months in advance at reserve.floridastateparks.org or by call 800-326-3521. The reservation window for non-residents has been reduced to 10 months.
What’s nearby?
Not much, and that’s what adds to the charm of this rural park in my humble opinion.
The small town of Keystone Heights is about six miles south, where you’ll find a splash of fast-food joints and an auto parts store, and they do have one of the best Ace Hardware stores I’ve ever visited.
Like most RV campers, we have needs on the road, and Ace Hardware or Wal-Mart are my go-to retailers for camping gear.
We did not find many restaurants, other than fast food, but we didn’t look very hard. Had we stayed another day or two, I’m sure we would have found something. Every small town has at least one decent eatery.
‘The Swamp’ is 33 miles from Gold Head Branch
When I checked the Gators’ 2025 home schedule against campground reservations at Gold Head Branch State Park, there were still plenty of openings for cabins and campsites at all home games.
But I wouldn’t wait too long.
When I checked availability on April 4, 2025, I looked for openings arriving Friday and leaving Sunday (2 nights) for home games scheduled in The Swamp for the 2025 season.
- August 30 vs. LIU — 9 cabins; 45 campsites (available both Friday and Saturday nights)
- Sept. 6 vs. USF — 0 cabins; 48 campsites (both nights)
- Oct 4 vs. Texas — 5 cabins; 51 campsites (both nights)
- Oct. 18 vs. Mississippi State — 4 cabins; 32 campsites (both nights)
- Nov. 1 vs. Georgia in Jacksonville — 7 cabins; 41 campsites (both nights) *
- Nov. 22 vs. Tennessee — 6 cabins; 29 campsites (both nights)
- Nov. 29 vs. Florida State — 0 cabins; 8 campsites (both nights)
For campground reservations, go to reserve.floridastateparks.org or call 800-326-3521.
- Note: The annual Florida-Georgia game is played in Jacksonville in 2025, still fairly close at 50 miles from Gold Head Branch State Park.
I grew up camping at Gold Head and your photo of the entrance stairs to the Ravine Trail took me right back there. I had forgotten how fun it was to scramble down those steps with my siblings and cousins. Nice article about a sweet place.