Ashley Hunter
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Jefferson County's roots run deep.
There is a rich history in the county and while downtown Monticello – with its classical Bed-and-Breakfasts, old storefronts and historic structures – is a charming slice of local history, there is much more to the story of Jefferson County than just Monticello.
Journey through that diverse cultural history with the Jefferson County Heritage Road Program.
Jefferson County has four Heritage Roads that cover a significant portion of the county; these roads are part of a driving tour that allow locals and visitors to tour the unique topography and historical lands of the rural county. It also takes a look at the often-forgotten historical elements of Jefferson County – such as a lost Spanish Mission, the site of a former community built for African-Americans, artifact-filled bodies of water and more.
These driving tours travel through scenic rolling hills with farms, ranches and timber lands. Those who take a drive on the roads will get to experience the old, rural roads that pass under old oaks draped with Spanish moss, will learn about the exploits of early settlers and explorers and view the rich agricultural, timber and ranching history of our county. The roads are meant for driving or cycling, but there are plenty of places to picnic on the bank of a lake or river or plan a longer stay and swim, boat and fish some of the beautiful waterways that pass near the roads.
The first road is the Miccosukee-Magnolia Trail. This route travels through the northwestern part of Jefferson County and follows a number a canopy roads. While driving this trail, there will be a variety of historical and recreational areas to see and explore. Some of those sites are the Ford Chapel Church, which was established in 1852 and served as a school during the 1950s; the former community of Festus, which was an African-American community with its own post office and African-American post master; and Hopkins Landing, a local park that provides a scenic view of Lake Miccosukee.
• This route takes about 45-minutes to travel and covers 26-miles of Jefferson County.
The second route is the Plantation Trail. This route travels through northeastern Jefferson County and covers a rich terrain of canopy roads, antebellum plantation and other historical sites. If you choose to drive through the Plantation Trail, you will get the chance to see: North Salt Road, the historic route that salt was delivered northward from a saltworks located near the Gulf of Mexico before the 
days of refrigeration; Snead's Smoke House, a recreational area that allows boating, canoeing and fishing; Elizabeth School, an African-American school that was in use from 1936-1965; and Honey Lake Plantation, an old plantation that has been turned into a luxury resort for horseback riding, hunting, fine dining and weddings.
• This route takes about and hour and 45 minutes to travel and covers a little over 53 miles of rural Jefferson County – it also takes a short trip into Georgia and Madison County (Florida).
The third route is the Spanish Trace Trail. This route travels through Central Jefferson County and includes a variety of local terrain – you'll see steep red-clay roads and old plantations as well as rivers and swamps. Those who drive this trail will get to see the DeSoto Trail Marker, which notes the area where Spanish Explorer Hernando DeSoto passed through in 1539; The old Lloyd Depot, which was built in 1858 and is the oldest brick railroad depot in Florida; and the Flatwoods, an area of timberland that was once coastal planes 30,000 years ago and less than 60 years ago was a grounds for free-ranging cattle and cowboys.
• This route takes about an hour and 45-minutes to travel and covers a little over 76-miles of Jefferson County.
The final route is the Flatwoods-Wilderness Trail. This is the longest route and it covers a large portion of the rural terrain of southern Jefferson County. This trail explores the rural and forgotten history aspects of Jefferson County, such as the Old St. Augustine Road, a beautiful canopy road that is the remaining fragment of an old Spanish Trail built 500 years ago; The now-gone Tungsten Plantation, which was a bustling “mini city” in the early 1900s but has since faded into history; and the site of the Old Spanish Mission of San Juan de Aspalaga, which was burned to the ground in 1704 by British forces.
• This route takes about two hours and 30-minutes to travel and covers a little over 77-miles of Jefferson County.
All routes begin and end in downtown Monticello and many of the routes include unpaved roads.
Before taking off for a day of touring Jefferson County, be sure to ensure that you have enough gas in your vehicle's fuel tank – you may be quite a distance from any gas station and there is limited cell phone service in some areas of the county.
It is also a good idea to stock up on water and light food items for a lunch or snack before starting your adventure – there are plenty of pleasant picnic areas that are perfect for enjoying an outdoor meal and stretching your legs.
For more information about Jefferson County's Heritage Roads, to view maps or read more about the different locations and routes, visit heritageroadsjeffersoncountyfl.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.