Angus Gholson Nature Park

A great hiking area just south of Bainbridge in Chatahoochee, Florida is the Angus Gholson Nature Park, named for Chatahoochee’s world renowned botanist. Angus Gholson has spent his life exploring the rugged ravines of the Apalachicola River in search of unusual plants.

Angus Gholson Nature Park is a short hike; however, it leads you through various terrains. The trail begins at Chattahoochee Spring, where residents used to swim in a pool that was created from the overflow from the spring. This pool is no longer in use. The park has some deep ravines leading down to the Apalachicola River. Starting in February, you will find trout lilies and trillium. While walking the trail in April, I saw many red Indian Pink flowers lining the trail.

The park has a number of young torreya trees. Torreya trees were subject to a blight, so there are not very many mature trees in Florida. Other trees that form a beautiful canopy on the trail are yellow popular, sycamore, hickory and Southern magnolia. Farther along, the trail flattens out with spruce pines overhead.

There are a number of wooden bridges and benches along the trail where you can stop and enjoy all the nature around you.

From US 90 in downtown Chattahoochee, take Morgan Avenue south. It goes down a steep hill and makes a long curve. Park Street is to your right along the curve, with a sign for the nature park. At the parking area are restrooms and picnic tables that are under a covered pavilion. There are no fees to use the park. The trails are considered moderately difficult.