Camping at Hontoon Island This Weekend

[trouttouter]

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]

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

[M12Gunboy]

Very cool. It's close to us in East Orlando too.... Gonna check it out!

[Triple Creek Reaper]

I was thinking the same thing. I could drop the boat in at Lake Monroe and be up there in no time.

[cshunter1908]

Sounds like it was a great time. I might go do the primitive camp tomorrow night. Get a little fishing and canoeing in.

[trouttouter]

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.

[cshunter1908]

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.

[trouttouter]

Have fun! Let us know how it goes.

[cshunter1908]

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.

[trouttouter]

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.

[cshunter1908]

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.

[Triple Creek Reaper]

It was a good time. Next time I will bring someone with me.

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........

[trouttouter]

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]

Are the cabins ON the water? And if so I assume you can bring your own canoe?

[cshunter1908]

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.