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Dutton Island Preserve I

4.5 ★★★★★ 62 Google reviews · Running trail in Jacksonville, Florida · Dawn to dusk

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Boardwalk
Loop distance
Not reported
Shape
Loop
Shade
Not reported
Access
Dawn to dusk

Confirmed from Dutton Island Preserve I's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

BoardwalkLoopScenicRestroomsWaterTrailhead parkingQuiet

Scenic preserve, noted for the fishing, camping and hiking trails.

What runners say about Dutton Island Preserve I

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (62 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 5 mentions

“Beautiful & peaceful trails, 2 fishing areas & a kayak launch, plus rustic camp sites 😎”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“Beautiful & peaceful trails, 2 fishing areas & a kayak launch, plus rustic camp sites 😎”

I feel like this is a hidden gem tucked away into Mayport. Each time I visit day or evening, there’s usually only a couple of people or none. It’s pretty quiet in my opinion. There’s walking trails, picnic areas and tables, camping, kayaking, grilling, fire pits, a fishing pier, bird watching, and restrooms.

★★★★★ — Everywhere , Nov 2024

Great little park off the beaten path. Walking trails, you can bike ride the streets, and they have two kayak launch points. The eastern point has a dock to hook up a boat if you visit by river. It's basically marsh land and is prone to flooding. Be careful during high tide as the access road can flood as well.

★★★★☆ — Jonathan , Sep 2023

Nestled behind a Mayport neighborhood is the Dutton Island Preserve. It's underrated due to its close proximity to Hanna Park. You drive on a long, bumpy road back all the way into the trees and will find more parking by a bathroom and picnic area. Hiking trails and scenic lookouts are scattered around.

★★★★★ — Noel , Oct 2024

Beautiful & peaceful trails, 2 fishing areas & a kayak launch, plus rustic camp sites 😎

★★★★★ — Shirley , Mar 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 62 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 8 mentions

“Beautiful & peaceful trails, 2 fishing areas & a kayak launch, plus rustic camp sites 😎”

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🚻 Restrooms 5 mentions

“There’s walking trails, picnic areas and tables, camping, kayaking, grilling, fire pits, a fishing pier, bird watching, and restrooms.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 4 mentions

“You drive on a long, bumpy road back all the way into the trees and will find more parking by a bathroom and picnic area.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 4 mentions

“Beautiful & peaceful trails, 2 fishing areas & a kayak launch, plus rustic camp sites 😎”

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🔁 Loop trail 3 mentions

“Overall, a beautiful, easily traversed trail loop.”

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🪵 Boardwalk

“Mostly unpaved, a small area consists of a boardwalk and a viewing platform.”

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🚰 Water fountains

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Plan your run at Dutton Island Preserve I

The practical stuff

  • AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
  • SurfaceBoardwalk — flat and scenic, and slick when wet, so watch your footing
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
  • Trail mapOfficial trail map
  • Websitetimucuanparks.org
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 8 AM–8 PM
Tuesday 8 AM–8 PM
Wednesday 8 AM–8 PM
Thursday 8 AM–8 PM
Friday 8 AM–8 PM
Saturday 8 AM–8 PM
Sunday 8 AM–8 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Dutton Island Preserve I

Dutton Island Rd W, Jacksonville, FL 32233

Get directions

Running trails near Jacksonville

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Dutton Island Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 385 reviews

Atlantic Beach, FL

1.5 miLoopBoardwalkShaded

Scenic park with trails, a fishing spot, a pier, and campsites.

under a mile away

Tide Views Preserve

4.6 ★★★★★ 241 reviews

Atlantic Beach, FL

MixedScenic

Fishing, canoeing and hiking spot featuring a deck-lined gazebo.

1.0 miles away

Johansen Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 123 reviews

Atlantic Beach, FL

ShadedScenicDog-friendly

1.8 miles away

Howell Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 202 reviews

Atlantic Beach, FL

Natural surfaceShadedScenicDog-friendly

Skate park with a playground, plus hiking paths and spots where turtles can be fed.

1.8 miles away

Jarboe Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 774 reviews

Neptune Beach, FL

Scenic

Neighborhood park with playgrounds, a lake & pavilion, plus walking trails & sports courts.

2.5 miles away

Hanna Park Bike Trail Head

4.6 ★★★★★ 18 reviews

Jacksonville, FL

LoopNatural surface

2.5 miles away

All running trails in Jacksonville, FL →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.