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  • Torreya State Park, FL

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    Torreya State Park is located on the Apalachicola River near Bristol, FL, about 40 miles WNW of Tallahassee. The 30-site campground sits on a height of land back from the river. For the hiker there are about 15 miles of trails; out along them are three back-country primitive campsites.

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    We got here about 3 PM on a Sunday afternoon and found plenty of sites from which to choose. Site 17 struck us as the best in the campground, with its view off to the north.

    Date of visit: Feb 2013

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    Right behind site 17 in our ranking is site 16, which also has a view.

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    Sites 6 and 7 are more typical of most of the sites around the camping loop - fairly close together and without the view that 16 and 17 offer.

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    Here are sites 26-28. All the sites are back-in. Water spigots are shared between pairs of sites, so for some folks they're on the wrong side.

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    Sites 1-3.

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    Sites 19-22.

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    There is one YURT available for rent.

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    There are two bathhouses in the campground. Each provides free hot showers. This is the older one.

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    A smaller, newer facility provides handicapped accessability.

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    The campground office is housed in this former CCC barracks building dating from the 1930's. It includes a community room with a wood stove.

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    About half a mile from the campground one finds the historic Gregory House. The house was built in the 1840's about a half miles downstream and on the other side of the river. Abandoned in the 1920's the house fell into disrepair. In the 1930's the state dismantled the house and moved it to its current location.

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    Tours of the house are provided daily. The house is furnished with pieces that date from the mid-1800's, including a few things that belonged to the Gregory family.

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    That's the Apalachicola River as seen from the second floor veranda of the house.

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    We walked about three miles on one of the trails. One needs to be alert - we came across a Copperhead snake sunning himself right in the center of the path. We gingerly stepped around him. Copperheads are supposedly fairly non-aggressive and will not bite unless one steps on them or very close to them.

    Amenities

    30 sites with W/E(30/50A) - $16

    Dump station available, hot showers

    Good Verizon cell coverage

    Coordinates: 30.568830 N, 84.949751 W