HomeFloridaPalm Coast › Long Creek Nature Preserve

Long Creek Nature Preserve

4.6 ★★★★★ 267 Google reviews · Running trail in Palm Coast, Florida · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Boardwalk
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Long Creek Nature Preserve'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.

BoardwalkShadedScenicDog-friendlyTrailhead parkingQuiet

Conservation area with access for canoes & kayaks, saltwater fishing, walking trails & wildlife.

What runners say about Long Creek Nature Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (267 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 6 mentions

“If you’re in Palm Coast you must come to Long Branch Nature Reserve park, It’s Very clean, quiet, gorgeous manatees, animals from birds to lots of deer 🦌 at night!”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 11 mentions

“If you’re in Palm Coast you must come to Long Branch Nature Reserve park, It’s Very clean, quiet, gorgeous manatees, animals from birds to lots of deer 🦌 at night!”

🌳 shaded & cool 3 mentions

“There are plenty of benches and shaded areas so that you can sit down and rest in the shade.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 6 mentions

“If you’re in Palm Coast you must come to Long Branch Nature Reserve park, It’s Very clean, quiet, gorgeous manatees, animals from birds to lots of deer 🦌 at night!”

Was just there not even a week ago, launched our paddle boards and I had a blast! It was a beautiful place! Love it! When we were done we took a walk around the path and watched the sun set. Will definitely go back.

★★★★★ — Catherine , Jun 2019

Beautiful park at the heart of the town. Hiking, biking, walking trails. Mesmerizing view of the waterfront. No entry fee.

★★★★★ — Nirmal , Nov 2023

This is a pleasant place to take a short walk, eat lunch, or fish off the dock. There is a little ramp available for launching kayaks or the like. Update Dec 2024: they are installing new walkways in previously unexplorable areas of the park. They are also adding a couple of gazebos near the canal.

★★★★☆ — Jenifer , Dec 2024

Clean and peaceful! Nice short walk for the dogs. Definitely wanna go fishing there one day looks like it is a good spot for that as well. There are plenty of benches and shaded areas so that you can sit down and rest in the shade.

★★★★★ — Justin , Jul 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 267 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 14 mentions

“If you’re in Palm Coast you must come to Long Branch Nature Reserve park, It’s Very clean, quiet, gorgeous manatees, animals from birds to lots of deer 🦌 at night!”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 6 mentions

“If you’re in Palm Coast you must come to Long Branch Nature Reserve park, It’s Very clean, quiet, gorgeous manatees, animals from birds to lots of deer 🦌 at night!”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“There are plenty of benches and shaded areas so that you can sit down and rest in the shade.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“The water always has good parking and I believe that it has boat access.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 3 mentions

“No bathrooms but really nice for walking dogs.”

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🪵 Boardwalk

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Plan your run at Long Creek Nature Preserve

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • 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.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitepalmcoast.gov
  • Phone+1 386-986-2323
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 6 am–9 pm
Tuesday 6 am–9 pm
Wednesday 6 am–9 pm
Thursday 6 am–9 pm
Friday 6 am–9 pm
Saturday 6 am–9 pm
Sunday 6 am–9 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 Long Creek Nature Preserve

1050 Palm Harbor Pkwy, Palm Coast, FL 32164

Get directions

Running trails near Palm Coast

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

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Mala Compra Greenway Trail

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Mala Compra Trailhead

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Waterfront Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 879 reviews

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PavedShadedScenicDog-friendly

Riverside park offering a fishing pier, walking/biking trails & a children's playground.

2.8 miles away

Washington Oaks Gardens State Park

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LoopPavedScenic

Park with hiking & biking paths offers a range of outdoor activities among gardens & live oak trees.

3.6 miles away

All running trails in Palm Coast, 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.