Ferry over to a serene place on Hontoon Island

Don’t be surprised if a guest at a picnic table is sitting on a bench in no hurry to leave and is helping herself to your food, which you stored in a cooler.

In the heart of DeLand, on the outskirts of Orlando, is Hontoon Island State Park. You have to cross the St. Johns River via passenger ferry to enjoy.

It’s a mother bear and her cubs and at Hontoon National Park. Cheryl Potts, the park ranger, says this furry family has been known to help themselves to the al fresco dining at the park’s campground in the winter.
 
Snuggled in the heart of DeLand, on the outskirts of Orlando, is Hontoon Island State Park. You have to cross the St. Johns River, Florida’s largest river, on a passenger ferry to reach the island, where campers and hikers can throw their equipment onto the platform and enjoy the spectacular views of the water as the ferry approaches the island.
 
Once the ferry reaches the other side, campers pile their belongings into wheelbarrows and wait for vans to take them to their reserved campgrounds. 
 
”Peace, serenity, a quiet back to nature kind of thing,“ said Potts as she looked out the window in the park ranger’s office and watched the kayaks passing in the calm waters. ”Hontoon Island is not a big visitation park because we don’t have the swimming activities. But we get a lot of people who just want to get back to nature and relax.“
 
Relaxing is unavoidable once you step onto the island because any nature enthusiasts can be seduced by the stillness of the environment and the calls from the wild within the island’s forests.

Cheryl Potts, the park ranger, waits by the ferry dock and assists in taking people back and forth to Hontoon Island all day until 7 p.m.

As night falls, the chirping sounds of insects and a single owl cries as the sun exits and a layer of color paints the swamp with colorful shadows.
 
It’s even hard to remember Interstate 4’s buzzing traffic and the small town of shops and restaurants passed while driving through DeLand to the park.
 
Alone and still, surrounded by the creations of Mother Nature, you have arrived to a place of tranquility and history.
 
”It was home to Timucuan Indians way, way back and when the Spanish settlers came -- they kind of moved off the island,“ Potts said. ”Later, a Civil War soldier purchased the island, which is how the island got its name.“
 
Then the land was used for orange groves, cattle and a boat repair shop.
 
”In 1967, the state purchased the park and opened it to the public in January of 1970,“ she said.

Jon Thaxton, from left, and Csaba Osvath observe at ground level the millions of snail shells which have formed a massive mound at the end of the nature trail on the island.

And in January the park is ready to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
 
But on this particular weekend in November, people have come to camp, hike and fish for bluegill, brim, bass and catfish.
 
There’s no sign of alligators and bears having a picnic, but they are around and, for the most part, mind their own business.
 
”They do get kind of a bad rap,“ Potts said, with a little smile. ”They are not as aggressive and mean as people make them out to be.“
 
The word from the park ranger is this: If you leave them alone, they will leave you alone.
 
After an evening of story telling around the fire and gourmet cooking over an open flame, perhaps even a toast to well spent time away, the morning beckons you on a three-mile hike around the island by way of the Hammock Hiking Nature Trail.
 
The description page for Hontoon Island describes the trail as relatively short and good for a pleasant hike or bike ride. Because it is believed that the Timucuan Indians were the first inhabitants of the island, evidence of their presence can be seen by the large shell mounds that still exist. 

People visit Hontoon Island to camp, hike and fish, while relaxing in Mother Nature's serenity.

The page also says that snails gathered from the shallows of the St. Johns River were a staple food of the Timucuans. Their discarded shells accumulated over time to form large mounds, one of which can be seen at the end of trail.
 
After the hike, kick back and relax, and maybe take a nap or sink into a good book.
 
Florida green lodging is available on the island and very affordable, accommodating four to six people. The cabins are equipped with beds, electric, fans and a screened lanai, but be sure to bring your sleeping bag and pillow. The camp sites are even more affordable and have fire pits and water access for cleaning up those dirty dishes. Bathrooms and showers are relatively clean and convenient.
 
No cars are allowed on the island, but bring your dog and make sure you get to the ferry dock by 7 p.m. Rangers take people across to the island and they also need to sleep, too.
 
”Come out to Hontoon Island; we prefer that you camp with us,“ Potts said. ”It’s just so peaceful.“