The Jena Unit of the big Bend Wildlife Managenment Area is a nice side trip when you're in the Jena/Steinhatchee area. Its one of the units of over 5 million acres managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as Wildlife Management Areas for both recreational and conservation purposes.

The area is part of the Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail. Check it out at myfwc.com/recreation/big_bend/paddling_trail.asp

One of the most interesting aspects of this trip is the variations of eco-systems. you're already down far enough to be out of the Oak Hammock that occupies most of Dixie County so when you arrive at the entrance you'll be in pretty much pine forests and driving through some beautiful tall stands of pine trees.

When you get closer to the marshes that border this region of the Gulf of Mexico the tall pines open up and you go into more of what's called in Florida, "Scrub", with a few pines here and there. Great habitat for the elusive and rare Scrub Jay. Finally you'll break out into the mysterious and ever changing salt marsh flats.

This trip does go through some pretty narrow dirt roads that could be closed at high water. Just be prepared. Nothing worse than that. The main road, once you enter the WMA shown on the current map, is Sand Ridge Road. When the explorers and camera crew from SeeNorthFlorida were here last Pine Log Road was closed but we hear that's even nicer so we'll be trying again on our next trip to the Jena/Steinhatchee area.

Website: myfwc.com/recreation/big_bend/default.asp

GPS Coordinates