Last updated on November 12th, 2025 at 09:20 pm
Gold Head Branch State Park is a curious dot on the map, out of range and off the radar, near an obscure little community called Keystone Heights, population 1,500.
There’s a cluster of little lakes, but no major highways or development, and none is anticipated, making this state park an ideal destination for getting away from it all.
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 among the year-round residents, and campers can’t miss their hoots interrupting 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.
Bicycling is restricted to three miles of paved roads, but there’s a paved six-mile connector to the Palatka-to-Lake Butler State Trail at the park entrance.
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 day-use area features well-maintained picnic pavilions overlooking the lake with lots of room for kids to play.
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.
The 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, and a futon/couch sleeps two more. The historic cabins are $65 plus a $7 daily utility fee with a two-night minimum.
There are five concrete block cabins built in the 1950s that 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, plus the $7 daily utility fee.
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, plus the $7 daily utility fee.
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. 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.
Can you kayak or fish in the lakes?
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 water levels limit fishing to small panfish.
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 with picnic table, fire ring/grill and water. Sites 57, 60-67 do not have electric. Camping fee: $20 plus a $7 utility fee for RVs (not tents). Cabins: $65-$100 per night plus $7 utility fee. Reservations: Florida residents can reserve a site up to 11 months in advance at reserve.floridastateparks.org or by calling 800-326-3521. The reservation window for non-residents is 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.
We did not find many restaurants, other than fast food, but we didn’t look very hard.
This state park would be a great place to camp when visiting the University of Florida in Gainesville, which is 30 miles away.
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.