If you find this place, you’re in luck. I mean, unless you actually the know the name of this unpublished place, you will NOT find it. So here’s a strong call out to all of those primitive campers that want to rock it out in nature without a SINGLE soul within spitting (or hearing) distance. But you know what? I have a problem with primitive camping, because it often involves hiking MILES before reaching a non-descript patch of land that has ZERO amenities. It’s flat, there’s a clearing. And like, that’s it. Sorry, but I’m no caveman. So when I look for a kick-@ss primitive place to call home for the night, there’s got to be a few compelling reasons … other than fantastic nature and complete isolation.
That’s why I’m excited to have discovered (and now am sharing) Haw Creek Preserve. Sure, it’s remote (so tick that box), but unlike many other primitive campground sites, this particular spot is somewhat easy to access – in that there’s a perfectly fabricated wooden plank pathway to follow (read: whatever you typically plan to HAUL to your primitive campsite, here, rest assured, you can pull with a wagon or hand-trailer), albeit for at least a ¼ mile, although for nature enthusiasts, you will absolutely fall in love with the swamp-like vibe that will accompany you on this particular sojourn. This place features 6 distinct natural wonders, including: forests, hammocks, flatwoods, marshes, swamps and a blackwater stream. And if you are an angler, you’ll be delighted to find shellcracker, largemouth bass, speckled perch and catfish are easy for the taking in these parts (according to my tent-pitching bredren).
Once you reach the end of the constructed wooden pathway, you’ll enter a wide-open swath of pasture, wherein you can throw down any and all of your camping domiciles for the night. This empty and flat patch of land is also somewhat soft in some places, but rocky in others, so I would definitely recommend you come packing some cardboard to place underneath your tent(s) structures. There’s a small handful of fire rings here, but one HUGE bonus is the single-standing lodge that features a promenade with a single picnic table, and further inside, a fairly wide open picnic area (minus the picnic tables) offering up a single deck opposite of which, you’ll find a restroom and shower facility (granted, it’s absolutely gross, but I was surprised to find this nonetheless!). Here at the lodge, you’ll also discover a running water line with hose, where you can use as much of the non-potable water as you desire. There was also some freshly cut firewood here too (no charge!). Other than this, trust me, this place is as primitive as those primitive campers would imagine. But what I loved was the shelter, because the biggest downside to primitive camping is no where to go when the rain comes (and trust me, here in northern Florida, the rain's gonna come, so you best prep for this eventuality), so here at Haw Creek, you have plenty of shelter if you’d like to indulge in primitive camping.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) There’s a most excellent boat / kayak launch back from whence you came at Russell’s Landing (along with a fully functional his / her restroom and a single pavilion with a half dozen picnic tables) – my own personal recommendation would be to park your vehicle here at Russell’s Landing … and secure your canoe or kayak … and then explore the best of this natural 'water world' from there (read: there’s no need to haul your kayak or canoe to the primitive camping spot, as you’ll just have to haul it back to the boat launch – and that’s a quarter mile, so figure it out!; (2) If you are looking for restaurants or foodie stops out here you are simply SOL – so whatever you want / need to eat, bring it with you; (3) When hitting a ‘target’ is important to you, then check out Flagler Gun & Archery Club, which is located only about 2 miles away; and (4) If you have bicycles, bring ‘em! This place (and surrounding areas) have so many incredible places to explore by bike, that if you love to ‘ped’ than you are in luck – plus, all of the wooden pathways are perfect for biking on!
Happy Camping!
