There are a lot of hiking opportunities in the Bulow Woods. While we have hiked starting from where the Fairchild Oak is in Ormond Beach, we haven't done it from where the Plantation Ruins Historic State Park is in Flagler Beach until this week. When you go to the Blow Plantation Ruins State Park, you will find the hiking trail area right before the gate for the ruins. There is a trail map and a kiosk to get paper maps and info. You can hike from there all the way over to the Fairchild Oak area (7 miles), which is a straight hike and you will need a way back. Or you can take a shorter hike from there. We took the loop trail, which is a 5.2 mile hike. 

The loop trail follows the yellow blaze for 1.55 miles, then you come to a fork in the road. We went right, which picks up the green trail. You follow it until it merges back into the yellow trail and follows along a stream. After about two miles you will find yourself back at the fork where you had first turned off to go right. From that point, you have about 1.5 miles to get back to the trailhead where you started. 

This trail is beautiful and a little challenging. It's loaded with roots, so you really need to be mindful of where you are walking. There are many beautiful large oak trees, wildflowers, birds, small bridges, and more. Some of the huge live oaks you come across are over 200 years old and they are beautiful. The trail is mostly shaded from the canopy overhead. The trail is well blazed and easy to follow. The yellow trail is the same course that is followed for the Bulow Woods Trail Run half marathon. My husband has run it twice and says it's the best course he's ever done. I ran the 4.25 Mile Bulow Woods Trail Run and absolutely loved it!

Along our hike we heard many birds, saw loads of lizards, deer, and some other small creatures. We saw some wildflowers in bloom, and saw a snapping turtle. The most impressive thing were the beautiful old oak trees that are back there. They were awesome!

There are no restrooms at this hiking area, but there are if you go a minute down the road into the plantation ruins entrance. There is a $4 fee to go into the ruins area, but there's no fee to go into the hiking area. The trail is not stroller friendly, but it's a great hike. If you have small kids and want to make it shorter, you could hike the yellow blazed trail back to the fork, which would be around 1.55 miles and turn around there. That would make for around a 3 mile hike round trip. Before or after hte hike, you can also choose to go into the ruins area to check out the historic structures.

The Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park is located at 3501 Old Kings Road in Flagler Beach. The hiking trailhead is just outside the gate that leads back to the ruins, after driving back in off the main road.