Following are some nice running routes I found while vacationing on Amelia Ilsand. Each involves some trail running and some running on the beach. If, like me, you are not used to running on the beach, it is different than running on any other surface. The beaches on Amelia Island are hard packed sand as long as you stay close to the water line, which feels good under the feet. I wore running shoes, but I did see people running barefoot. What surprised me is how trashed my legs felt after a few days. I think the give of the packed sand is deceiving. Something about it took a toll on my legs that I haven’t experienced with road or trail. It could also be that beaches are always at a bit of an angle – maybe compensating for the pitch was part of it. If I had it to do over again, I might try running the beach portions barefoot. The other challenge was the fact that sand inevitably filtered in through the mesh in my shoes. This is a slow process, but results in a build up of sand in the footbed, affecting the cushion and contour of the shoe. After five days of it, my feet feel a bit bruised. In spite of all that, running along the surf is exhilarating, and added nice variety to some spectacular runs.

I did not have any detailed maps of the island or surrounds, but have included sources of maps for each run. My kit was a little different that what I bring on mountain runs. Sunglasses and sun block are must-haves, and plenty of water. I’m used to a much drier climate, so had to remind myself to keep drinking.

The Fort Clinch Loop

While my taste leans towards foul weather and steep climbs, this route goes down as one of my all-time favorites. FOrt Clinch State Park is a verdant tropical paradise bounded by dunes and marsh. While the choices of trails are pretty limited, they are beautifully maintained and perfect for running. The trail never reaches more than 10 meters above sea level, but it undulates up and down, providing nice variety and a good workout. There are frequent sightings of bobcat, armadillo and other creatures in the park, and alligators in the marsh. I saw an armadillo and a variety of birds. I suspect that if I had timed my runs at dawn or dusk, I would have seen a lot more.

From the park entry on Atlantic Avenue (see map link below) to the fort, trails run along both sides of the road. Since the trail is also used by cyclists, the park maintains both trails so that one can be for north-bound cyclists and the other for south-bound. A nice alternative to the loop I have mapped out would be to do an out-and-back to the fort, staying on trail and skipping the beach portion.

There are a few parking spots near the ranger station at the entry to the park, but if you park at the public lot at the intersection of Atlantic and Fletcher, you can save yourself a few bucks and only pay the $1 pedestrian fee to get in the park. The ranger station has a brochure with a simple map. I also strongly recommend doing a detour around the Magnolia Loop, part way between the ranger station and Fort Clinch. I fully expected to see John Laroche from the Orchid Thief pop out onto the trail.

A little info about Fernandina Beach, on Amelia Island:

Egan's Creek Greenway

This route by itself is pretty short, but could be added on to the Fort Clinch loop or some variant to make for a longer run. Egan’s Creek runs along much of the length of Amelia Island, and provides a nice escape from the holiday cottages and bustle along the shore. In contrast to the tropical feel of Fort Clinch State Park, the Greenway runs through marsh and is home to a dramatic array of wetland birds. The greenway is a swath of trimmed grass that runs from Atlantic Ave almost to Sadler. The route I’ve shown includes a bit of a tresspass on the Sadler end, between kilometers 3 and 4. As of this writing, they have not yet extended the path all the way to Sadler, but intend to. From what I could tell, the tresspass is well-used, and based on the torn-down signs and fence, there appears to be no love lost between locals and the private development whose land my route crosses. If you choose not to trespass, you will have to backtrack back up to Jasmine to exit the Greenway.

In addition to birds, I saw clear evidence of an alligator having crossed the path. There are a number of signs warning not to harass alligators (which I had no intention of doing), so I suppose they are no great danger if you stay out of their way. One comical aspect to the run: the southern portion of the creek is heavily populated with turtles, which plunked one-by-one into the water as I ran by. My run was therefore punctuated by the plunking of hundreds of turtles.

The Greenway is well marked, with maps signposted at trail/road intersections. There may even be a map/brochure at the trailhead, though they were all out  when I was there.

Little Talbot Island

Talbot Islands State Park is just to the south of Amelia Island. The run listed here is a 20-25 minute drive, if you are coming from Fernandina Beach or thereabouts. The starting point on my map is the ranger station, and has a few parking spots. There is also a large parking area close to the beach access. The park entry fee is $4 for a car/$1 for a pedestrian/cyclist. The rangers like you to check in if you are doing the trail, just in case you get into it with a feral armadillo or something, I guess. The first half of the trail goes through a mostly wooded area – similar to Fort Clinch, but with more pine trees and a higher canopy. The ranger reported bobcat, alligator, armadillo and indigo bunting spottings the day I was there, but I didn’t see anything that exciting.

The second half of the trail runs along the beach. The north end of the beach section is quite remote. If you turn left instead of right when you get to the water, you may find yourself completely alone on a beautiful wild length of Atlantic-facing beach. There are not many places in the US you can experience an empty isolated sandy beach, so I recommend a little diversion. Heading south gets you back to the ranger station pretty quickly. If you feel like a little more distance, you can run to the southern end of the island, then come back up the beach access road to the ranger station, or just do the loop twice. I’d be inclined to the latter, as the trail section is worth a second go-round.