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Bulls Bay Preserve — Hiking with Kids in Jacksonville

Bulls Bay Preserve

4.3(421)4.3 out of 5 stars, 421 reviews Jacksonville, FL

About Bulls Bay Preserve

Bulls Bay Preserve offers a naturally beautiful and peaceful outdoor experience with scenic views, including waterfalls, and trails that provide a challenging workout with inclines and opportunities for both hiking and mountain biking.

What parents should know

Summarized from real visitor reviews.

Best for: Families with older children or teenagers who enjoy challenging hikes or mountain biking.Individuals or groups looking for a workout in a natural setting.Best suited for older children, teens, and adults due to challenging inclines, exposed tree roots, and potential slippery conditions. Younger children may struggle with the terrain and the complete lack of functional restrooms.

Why families love it

  • Beautiful natural scenery and views.
  • Features waterfalls, which are a 'great thing to see'.
  • Trails include challenging inclines, offering a good physical workout.
  • Described as a 'peaceful and calm place' with a relaxing atmosphere.
  • Trails are suitable and enjoyed by those who ride bicycles.
  • No reported issues with mosquitoes or 'crazy animals' on the trails.

Insider tips

  • Wear good, sturdy shoes with ankle support due to inclines, tree roots, and potential slippery conditions after rain.
  • Be prepared for absolutely no functional restrooms; plan accordingly before your visit, especially with children.
  • Bring a map, compass, or use a reliable navigation app, as trail markings are insufficient and users report getting lost.
  • Consider visiting on a dry day to avoid slippery trails.
  • If mountain biking, the trails are well-regarded and offer a good experience.
  • Be mindful of your surroundings for exposed tree roots on the trails.

Good to know before you go

  • Families with very young children or toddlers due to challenging terrain (inclines, roots, slippery conditions) and the complete lack of functional, clean restrooms.
  • Anyone sensitive to litter or expecting pristine, clearly marked trails and well-maintained facilities.
  • Visiting immediately after heavy rainfall if you prefer less slippery and hazardous trail conditions.
  • Significant issue with trash and litter piled up and left along the hiking trails.
  • Public restrooms are non-functional; the building exists but facilities inside are unusable and described as 'disgusting' by users who still attempt to use them.
Crowds
No explicit information on crowd levels was provided. Reviews emphasizing a 'peaceful and calm' atmosphere suggest it may not be overly crowded, but this is an inference, not a direct observation from the reviews.
Value
No specific pricing information is available from the reviews. While the natural beauty is praised, the significant issues with trash, non-functional restrooms, and poor trail markings might diminish the perceived value for some visitors.
Food
Picnic tables are available, suggesting that outside food for picnics is allowed. No specific restrictions on bringing food or drinks were mentioned.
Accessibility
No specific accessibility accommodations mentioned. The presence of challenging inclines, tree roots, and potentially slippery conditions suggests the trails are not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers. No sensory-friendly information is available.
Safety
No specific safety features (e.g., staff patrols, emergency call boxes) were mentioned. The lack of clear trail markings and reports of visitors getting lost could be a safety concern, especially with children.

What parents say

Anita Waters
5.05.0 out of 5 stars
"Loved this hike but seeing all the trash made me sad. People need to learn to appreciate nature and not trash it! With that being said... it was still a Beautiful Hike! I liked the challenge of the inclines... Definitely gave me a workout! Make sure you wear good shoes when doing this hike. Also if you ride bicycles you will love this trail."

2 months ago

Dennis Fox
4.04.0 out of 5 stars
"The trails are taken care of nicely. It is a peaceful place to hike and ride bikes . The water falls are a great things to see . The only bad thing about this place it says public restrooms. There is a building there where they use to be but nothing on them inside to use to go to the bathroom . So they should not list on the site saying there are public restrooms to use ."

2 months ago

Rebecca Farra
2.02.0 out of 5 stars
"There is no bathroom and it was rather disgusting site in there. People still used it. 🤢 Trash piled and trash left through the hiking trails. Also people kept getting off track on trails as there isn’t many markings so people are creating “new trails” as a cause of this and everyone was lost. I’m happy that people are aware of this now but it isn’t taken care of at all."

2 months ago

Reviews sourced from public Google data.