In the fall of 1876, Reuben and Sara Jane Long established a homestead on Pat’s Island, this high spot in the Big Scrub.
Shaded by longleaf pine and turkey oak, they grew crops for themselves and raised a family on the Florida frontier. Their son Melvin found and adopted a fawn he named Dogwood.
When author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings visited the Long family in the 1940s, she spun the family stories into The Yearling, her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.
When the novel became a movie, Pat’s Island became a set for some of the scenes.
Protected as part of Juniper Prairie Wilderness, Pat’s Island is now a destination for learning about life in the Big Scrub, with The Yearling Trail providing two loops around it.
Resources
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Overview
Location: Juniper Prairie Wilderness
Length: 5.3 mile loop
Trailhead: 29.244700, -81.648283
Fees: Free
Restroom: None
Land manager: National Forests in Florida
Phone: 352-625-2520
Leashed dogs welcome. Bears are frequently seen in this area.
The segment of the Florida Trail along this loop, as well as south of here to Juniper Springs, is in the Juniper Prairie Wilderness.
If backpacking, the National Forest requires you to bear bag or use a bear canister. Bears have become savvy to bear bags so a bear canister is preferred.
Directions
From the traffic light at the intersection of SR 40 and SR 19 in the Ocala National Forest, drive north on SR 19 for 6.2 miles to the trailhead across from Silver Glen Springs.
Hike
Start at a kiosk at the parking area. Follow the trail into the sand pine scrub. As the young sand pine forest grows, it’s a perfect haven for the rare and colorful Florida scrub-jay.
At the trail junction with the “Jody’s Trace” sign, turn right to follow the yellow blazes into the longleaf pine forest of Pat’s Island.
Kiosk at the Yearling Trail trailheadPast a couple of sinkholes in the scrub, the trail comes to Calvin Long’s cattle dip, a concrete trough set into the ground at Marker 2.
The trail veers left and rises into an oak hammock to meet another trail at a T. This is a decision point. You can shorten your walk to 3.5 miles by turning left here and left again at the next intersection.
Continue the outer loop to the right, quickly reaching the edge of one of the most notable features of Pat’s Island.
This gigantic sinkhole is where the settlers collected their drinking water from a seep spring in the bottom.
Sinkhole at Pat’s IslandWhere the trail forks at Marker 5, stay left. It and Marker 6 note the location of the post office and the home of postmaster Patrick Smith, for whom the island was named.
Wandering off the island and into the scrub, you reach the Florida Trail at a post after 2.3 miles. Turn left to stay on the loop
Follow the orange blazes along the Florida Trail as it winds through the scrub and over a couple of ridges, passing a large clearing that makes a good dry camp for backpackers.
At the next trail junction, which is marked with a post, turn left to continue the loop. Marker 8 is in front of what little is left of Reuben Long’s homestead, a cistern outlined by a fence.
At Marker 9, turn right and wander down the side trail to see the Long Cemetery. Most of two generations of this pioneer family are buried here.
Long Cemetery along The Yearling TrailReturning to the trail junction, turn right – the trail in front of you is the incoming cross-trail from the sinkhole.
Marker 10 notes the site of Calvin Long’s homestead, where Marjorie visited and was inspired by the family stories.
When the movie The Yearling was filmed in 1946, this was the location used as the movie set.
The opening in the forest at Marker 11 is the site of Cora Long’s homestead.
Reaching a post at 4.6 miles, return to the start of the loop at Jody’s Trace. Continue straight into the scrub to reach the parking area at 5.3 miles.
Trail Map
Explore More!
Learn more about the Ocala National Forest and Pat’s Island.
Ocala National Forest Established in 1908 as the first National Forest east of the Mississippi, the Ocala National Forest is a mecca for hikers and campers, and the birthplace of the Florida Trail.
Pat’s Island A ramble through Pat's Island on the Yearling Trail brings home the reality of forest fires sweeping across a once-lush landscape. Slideshow
See our photos from this hike
Nearby Adventures
Florida Trail, Juniper Springs to Hopkins Prairie 10.6 miles. Marvel at a mosaic of ancient scrub forest, vast prairies, and pine islands while crossing the Juniper Prairie Wilderness north of Juniper Springs.
Lake George Trail Connecting Silver Glen Springs with the river it feeds, the Lake George Trail provides an easy day hike to picturesque views of Lake George on the St. Johns River.
Florida Trail, Hopkins Prairie to Salt Springs 9.6 miles. Sweeping along the shoreline of one of the largest prairies in the Ocala National Forest, this section of the Florida Trail lingers on prairie panoramas.
Salt Springs Loop Savor the beauty of the Big Scrub and habitats along crystalline Salt Springs Run on this easy loop on the outskirts of Salt Springs.
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