09/09/2026
Florida's tallest natural cliff rises 135 feet above the Apalachicola River, and the only way to reach it is on foot. The Garden of Eden Trail at Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve in Bristol climbs and drops through terrain most visitors never associate with this state. The route runs roughly 3.75 miles round trip through longleaf pine and wiregrass uplands before plunging into steephead ravines, deep sand-walled canyons carved as ancient Gulf shorelines receded about two million years ago. Wooden stairs and switchbacks carry hikers down to seepage streams, then back up again.
The Nature Conservancy protects more than 6,400 acres here, safeguarding one of North America's recognized biodiversity hotspots. The preserve shelters the Florida torreya, the second rarest conifer in North America, along with gopher tortoises and reintroduced eastern indigo snakes. The trail earned its name from a local minister who believed this stretch of the Apalachicola was the biblical Eden. Bring plenty of water and expect a serious workout, because this is widely considered one of Florida's toughest day hikes. Have you visited the Garden of Eden Trail at Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve?
⭐Garden of Eden Trail at Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve
📍 Garden of Eden Road, Bristol, FL 32321
