Welcome to Tomoka State Park
Native
Americans once lived off the fish-filled lagoons surrounding Tomoka
State Park, and fishing remains one of the favorite activities for
visitors to the park today. The Florida Marine Institute has identified
90 separate species of fish in the Tomoka River, and anglers will
delight at catching red drum, black drum, sea trout, snook and tarpon,
to name only a few. Manatees are seen in the river in spring and
summer, and other residents of the park include river otter, alligator
and the occasional bottlenose dolphin.
In
addition to fishing, hikers find Tomoka State Park's trails among
the best in the state. The park features trails ranging from easy
½ mile strolls to more arduous 6-mile treks. Along the Timucuan
trail, visitors pass by the site of the ancient Indian village of
Nocoroco, which was once a thriving community along the banks of
the Tomoka River. Wildlife abounds in the park, creating great opportunities
for nature study. Over 165 species of birds have been observed,
including bald eagles, peregrine falcons, herons, wood stork and
white ibis. Canoeing the rivers and tributaries in the park offers
another great way to observe the varied bird and marine life. Canoe
rentals are available from the ranger station on a first come, first
served basis. Canoeists are advised not to venture into the Tomoka
basin, as the water can get quite choppy on windy days.
Camping in the park offers
a delightful retreat from a busy vacation schedule. The campground
features 100 combination tent and RV sites, each with picnic table,
grill and water. Sixty-four of the sites also have electric hook-ups.
In addition, five separate picnic areas are located throughout the
park, all with tables, grills and pavilions for larger groups.
|
|