UPDATE: February 8 — The FWC is planning to continue the burn on the Aucilla River Sinks area of the Florida Trail, on SATURDAY, 2/9/08. Trail closure notices will be posted.

(NOTE: Scroll down page for information on BRADWELL BAY BURN.)

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UPDATE: January 29 — The FWC has burned approximately 1/3 of the area, the west part of the unit, mostly north of the Trail. Depending on the weather they will attempt to burn the rest of the unit next week.
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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will prescribe burn the Aucilla Sinks area, including the area through which the Florida Trail passes, as early as Friday, January 25. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, they will burn it sometime soon, likely before the end of February. The FWC will post signs at the trailheads.

We have shared with the FWC the geographic location of the existing bridges and boardwalks along this section of the trail, and have asked the FWC to take measures to protect these structures.

The FWC does not believe that the burn will interfere with the Aucilla Trail work day scheduled for Saturday, January 26, but there might be some residual smoke in the area.

If you have any specific questions about the burn, please contact Morgan Wilbur of the FFWCC at (850) 421-1883 or cell: (850) 819-4518 or at morgan.wilbur@myfwc.com.

Click here for 1-13-08 Tallahassee Democrat article (http://tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080113/NEWS01/801130331/1010 reformated) about Richard Graham’s 1-12-08 FNST hike in Apalachicola National Forest East.

UPDATE: March 24 — The Bradwell Bay prescribed burn has been completed and the Florida Trail through the Wilderness is open to hikers.

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UPDATE: January 29 — They are burning Bradwell Bay beginning today. The Florida Trail through the Wilderness is closed until further notice. See below for directions for THRUHIKERS.

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The US Forest Service is planning to burn Bradwell Bay in January (this month). As of today the start date of the burn has not been determined. The expected duration of the burn is 5 days from the start, but possibly longer. For information about whether the burn has started, contact Cathy Briggs of the Apalachicola NF at (850) 926-3561 extension 6509, or cbriggs@fs.fed.us

The Florida Trail through Bradwell Bay will be closed during the burn and will probably be DIFFICULT-to-IMPOSSIBLE to follow afterwards, until the blazes are repainted.

THRUHIKERS: detour around Bradwell Bay by following Forest Service roads around its perimeter. Click here http://tinyurl.com/2jk22m then scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on ‘Click here for trailheads map and directions’ to see a map of the roads and trailheads mentioned in the following directions:

SOBO: At the Bradwell Bay West trailhead on the west side of Bradwell Bay, continue south on FR 314 instead of turning east into Bradwell Bay. Follow FR 314 just over 1 mile to FR 329 (the 1st intersection encountered), and turn left (east) on FR 329. Follow FR329 just under 10 miles (with lots of twists, and passing several trailheads on the left) to the Sopchoppy River bridge. The trail turns south along the Sopchoppy near the west end of the bridge. Turn right (south) and rejoin the trail at the blazes there. Possible camping off the access trails at “Bradwell Bay South” and “Monkey Creek” trailheads on FR 329.

NOBO: When the trail reaches FR 329 just west of the Sopchoppy River bridge, the trail turns left (west) along FR 329. Follow the blazes. When the trail turns north into Bradwell Bay at a small trailhead after a short distance, DO NOT follow the blazes, but continue west on FR 329 just under 10 miles (with lots of twists, and passing several trailheads), to its intersection with FR 314. Turn right (north) on FR 314 and follow it just over 1 mile until the trail comes out of Bradwell Bay on the right at a trailhead. Then continue to follow the blazes north and west. Possible camping off the access trails at “Monkey Creek” and “Bradwell Bay South” trailheads on FR 329.