MIKE ROESS GOLD HEAD BRANCH
STATE PARK

By  Mike Miller May 7, 2025

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park covers 2,300 acres in Keystone Heights, Florida. It’s one of Florida’s first state parks. The park features rolling sandhills, lakes, and a ravine.

The park’s name, pronounced “race,” honors Martin J. “Mike” Roess, who donated the original land. 

Visitors hike trails, swim, or camp. Wildlife thrives in marshes and scrub. The park blends nature and history.

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park

Established in 1935, the park joined Florida’s state park system. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) developed it during the 1930s.

CCC workers built cabins, pavilions, and trails. Their craftsmanship remains in use. The park opened officially on April 15, 1939.

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. The CCC’s work reflects New Deal-era recreation planning.

Located at 6239 State Road 21, Keystone Heights, FL 32656, the park is six miles north of town. It’s open daily, 8 AM to sunset.

Admission is per vehicle (2–8 people) or less for a single occupant. Camping sites are available as well as cabins. Reserve via the website or call 800-326-3521.

Pets are allowed but confirm rules on the park website. Bring water and bug spray for trails. Check the website for events. The park is ADA-accessible with restrooms and parking. 

• The park’s ravine, formed by Gold Head Branch springs, hosts rare ferns.  

• Little Lake Johnson, a sinkhole lake, allows swimming and canoeing.  

• The Florida National Scenic Trail spans 5.44 miles here.  

• Bald eagles and red-cockaded woodpeckers are spotted often.  

• The park’s longleaf pine stand is one of Florida’s last.  

• A 1960s rumor claimed a “lake monster” after a diving tragedy, later debunked.  

• CCC-built cabins, some with original logs, offer rustic stays.  

• The park’s night sky viewing draws stargazers.

MIKE ROESS GOLD HEAD BRANCH
STATE PARK WEBSITE