Camping at Hontoon Island This Weekend
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- trouttouter
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Camping at Hontoon Island This Weekend
I'm taking the wife and my daughter up to Hontoon Island on the St. John's River this weekend. We rented one of that cabins there. I've never been, but heard it is a cool place. I'll report back and let you all know.
- trouttouter
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Re: Camping at Hontoon Island This Weekend
So this place is awesome. We stayed in one of the rustic cabins for $30 a night. Really cool place. I brought my mountain bike and road all of the trails. You can even ride up to the top of one of the mounds on the Dead Hontoon River. Saw the most buck sign I've ever seen (since you can't hunt there). The park rangers are good and the bathrooms are clean. My wife says I can just sell the tent. She is only cabin camping. Great place for the kids, too. My three year old daughter had a blast.
http://floridastateparks.org/hontoonisland/default.cfm
http://floridastateparks.org/hontoonisland/default.cfm
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Re: Camping at Hontoon Island This Weekend
Very cool. It's close to us in East Orlando too.... Gonna check it out!
- Triple Creek Reaper
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Re: Camping at Hontoon Island This Weekend
I was thinking the same thing. I could drop the boat in at Lake Monroe and be up there in no time.
3rd Tine Lucky Hunt Club
Bradford County, FL & Port Washington, OH
EST 2013
Bradford County, FL & Port Washington, OH
EST 2013
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Re: Camping at Hontoon Island This Weekend
Sounds like it was a great time. I might go do the primitive camp tomorrow night. Get a little fishing and canoeing in.
"Cursum Perficio" I accomplish the course.
Before all else, be armed. - Niccolo Machiavelli
Before all else, be armed. - Niccolo Machiavelli
- trouttouter
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Re: Camping at Hontoon Island This Weekend
Got some really good weather for it. I guess the fishing is pretty good there, too. People were wearing it out from the bank.
Oh, and bring your binoculars if you have them. You can look out across some huge flats just outside of the campground and see all kind of wildlife including deer and turkey.
Oh, and bring your binoculars if you have them. You can look out across some huge flats just outside of the campground and see all kind of wildlife including deer and turkey.
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Re: Camping at Hontoon Island This Weekend
Awesome! I just reserved my site for tomorrow night. I am gonna do a little bug out practice too. Whatever fits in and on my backpack and vest is what I am bringing. Including one MRE in case my fishing doesn't go so well.
"Cursum Perficio" I accomplish the course.
Before all else, be armed. - Niccolo Machiavelli
Before all else, be armed. - Niccolo Machiavelli
- trouttouter
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Re: Camping at Hontoon Island This Weekend
Have fun! Let us know how it goes.
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Re: Camping at Hontoon Island This Weekend
It was a good time. Next time I will bring someone with me. Got there at 1430 hit the trails. Saw a couple of doe some armadillo, and heard a bunch of things walking around the trail. It was quite cold at night (in tent) and the ground never warmed up. I just went hiking and camped this time. Canoe rentals are 20 bucks for two hours and 40 for the day. They have a no dig and no chopping policy. So you have to bring your own firewood or you can buy some from them. Well I got pictures and will post if you want to see what the area looks like.
"Cursum Perficio" I accomplish the course.
Before all else, be armed. - Niccolo Machiavelli
Before all else, be armed. - Niccolo Machiavelli
- trouttouter
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Re: Camping at Hontoon Island This Weekend
Did you make it up the indian mound? Those backwater swamps on the way up the mound are pretty cool looking.
I found all the small kindling I could ask for around the camp areas. I did pay the $6.25 for a bundle of wood each night. The guy who drives the ferry, Caleb (I think was his name), threw in a few extra pieces for me. Not a bad little camp store either if you need some of the essentials.
Glad you had a good time. Like I said this just moved up near the top of my camping destinations.
I found all the small kindling I could ask for around the camp areas. I did pay the $6.25 for a bundle of wood each night. The guy who drives the ferry, Caleb (I think was his name), threw in a few extra pieces for me. Not a bad little camp store either if you need some of the essentials.
Glad you had a good time. Like I said this just moved up near the top of my camping destinations.
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Re: Camping at Hontoon Island This Weekend
No, I didn't find the mound. I guessed three different trails that branched off from the camping area and all dead ended into the ST. Johns and it was getting dark.
"Cursum Perficio" I accomplish the course.
Before all else, be armed. - Niccolo Machiavelli
Before all else, be armed. - Niccolo Machiavelli
- Triple Creek Reaper
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Re: Camping at Hontoon Island This Weekend
Myself and the family might be up for this if it cools off again. Keep me in mind. I might be able to arrange a whole crew actually......It's always a good time when I bring the whole troop........cshunter1908 wrote:It was a good time. Next time I will bring someone with me.
3rd Tine Lucky Hunt Club
Bradford County, FL & Port Washington, OH
EST 2013
Bradford County, FL & Port Washington, OH
EST 2013
- trouttouter
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Re: Camping at Hontoon Island This Weekend
Come down to River to River Road and take a right. When the road ends at the river you'll take the walking path to the left.
- dixie
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Re: Camping at Hontoon Island This Weekend
Are the cabins ON the water? And if so I assume you can bring your own canoe?
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Re: Camping at Hontoon Island This Weekend
No they aren't on the river, they back up to some palmetto shrubs. Yes you can bring your own canoe You have to get a boat slip which I think is 8 dollars (not positive though). The only way to the island is by water so you would have to find a place to drop your canoe at.
"Cursum Perficio" I accomplish the course.
Before all else, be armed. - Niccolo Machiavelli
Before all else, be armed. - Niccolo Machiavelli
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