Is Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Loop Lake first-come first-served or reservation?

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Loop Lake accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

What is the best time to visit Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Loop Lake?

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Loop Lake is open Park open daily 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year. The Turkey Oak campground is closed for renovations effective Nov. 1, 2025.. The best time to visit depends on your preferences—summer offers the warmest weather and most activities, while spring and fall provide fewer crowds and milder temperatures. Check current conditions before your trip.

Are there showers at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Loop Lake?

Yes, Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Loop Lake has shower facilities available for campers. Check the amenities section for details on hours and any fees.

Can I have a campfire at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Loop Lake?

Fire policies at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Loop Lake: Each campsite includes a fire ring/grill.. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

How many campsites does Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Loop Lake have?

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Loop Lake has 73 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Check availability online to find the best site for your needs.

Are dogs allowed at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Loop Lake?

Yes, pets are allowed at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Loop Lake. Dogs must typically be kept on a leash (usually 6 feet or shorter) and under control at all times. Be sure to clean up after your pet and check for any breed or size restrictions.

What amenities are available at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Loop Lake?

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Loop Lake offers: Showers, Potable Water, Dump Station, Electrical Hookups, Water Hookups, Pets Allowed. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Loop Lake?

Popular activities at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Loop Lake include Hiking, Fishing, Swimming, Biking, Boating, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Loop Lake

4.48

308 reviews

6239 State Road 21, Keystone Heights FL 32656

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

73 campsites

Season

Park open daily 8 a....

Cell

No Service

Pets

Pets Allowed

Partial HookupsShowers

Book on Florida State Parks Official Website

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

73 campsites

Season

Park open daily 8 a....

Cell

No Service

Pets

Pets Allowed

Partial HookupsShowers

Book on Florida State Parks Official Website

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Loop Lake

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Entrance fee: $5 per vehicle. See park for camping fees (park page lists fees link).

No paid fee categories listed.

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Florida State Parks

Provider

352-316-4286

I manage this campground

Plan a trip to Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Loop Lake

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Campground Map

6239 State Road 21, Keystone Heights FL 32656

No map location available

Weather at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Loop Lake

Best Time to Camp at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Loop Lake

Fall delivers the most comfortable conditions. Daytime highs run mid-60s to low-80s with less humidity than summer. Migratory and resident birds fill the ravines and hammocks, making this the best season for wildlife viewing and hiking. Fishing stays strong as water temps drop. Spring also brings good birding as warblers pass through. Summer sites without shade get hot. Cabins have gas fireplaces that operate October 1 through April 30. Crowds stay light to moderate except holiday weekends.

Best

Summer (Jun-Aug)

Peak season with warm weather, perfect for water activities. Book early.

Planning Tips

Operating Season: Park open daily 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year. The Turkey Oak campground is closed for renovations effective Nov. 1, 2025.

About Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Loop Lake

The Lakeview Loop at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park offers 73 campsites spread across three loops on Florida's north central sandhill ridge. Sites come with picnic tables, fire rings with grills, and potable water. Most sites include electrical hookups (30 or 50 amp), though sites 57 and 60–67 have no electric. Hot showers, laundry, and a dump station are available. The Turkey Oak campground closes for renovations November 1, 2025.

Gold Head has three developed campground loops (Sandhill, Turkey Oak, Lakeview) with 73 sites that accommodate tents, trailers and motorized campers; primitive campsites and primitive group campsites are also provided, and there are lakefront vacation cabins on site.

Historical Significance

The park is one of Florida's original state parks, developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Several lakefront cabins were built by CCC crews. The park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Weather and SeasonsFall delivers the most comfortable conditions. Daytime highs run mid-60s to low-80s with less humidity than summer. Migratory and resident birds fill the ravines and hammocks, making this the best season for wildlife viewing and hiking. Fishing stays strong as water temps drop. Spring also brings good birding as warblers pass through. Summer sites without shade get hot. Cabins have gas fireplaces that operate October 1 through April 30. Crowds stay light to moderate except holiday weekends.

Natural Features and SceneryThe campground sits atop rolling sandhills covered by one of Florida's last old-growth longleaf pine stands. A ravine carved by Gold Head Branch's seepage springs drops sharply into hardwood forest below. Little Lake Johnson and Pebble Lake anchor the park's 2,300 acres of mixed habitat. Marshes, sinkholes, and Devil's Wash Basin (a remote trail-only lake) add variety. Deer, turkey, woodpeckers, and bald eagles move through the pines and hammocks. The campground itself ranges from open sandy sites to more shaded areas under the canopy.

Geological RegionRolling sandhills on the north central ridge of Florida (sandhill habitat with longleaf pine, marshes, lakes and ravine/seepage springs).

Scenic ViewsRavine and boardwalk areas, Little Lake Johnson and other park lakes and marshes associated with the Gold Head Branch ravine system.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Total Campsites73 campsites

Best CampsitesSites 68–74 in the Lakeview Loop sit closest to Little Lake Johnson. Sites 46, 47, and 48 offer more shade. Sites 58 and 59 have paved sidewalks to the Lakeview bathhouse and are fully accessible. Sites 16–18, 58, and 59 feature 50-amp service. Sand Loop sites on the inside of the loop provide more shade but can get hot in summer. Some sites are sandy or unlevel but spacious.

Need help booking Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Loop Lake?

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Florida State Parks Guide

Booking tips & windows

When to Book

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Cancellation Alerts

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Amenities available

Campground loops provide site-level potable water, electrical service, centralized dump station, bathhouses with hot showers, laundry, picnic pavilions, playground and restroom facilities. Accessible amenities and cabins are also available on site.

Showers

Potable water

Electricity hookups

Water hookups

Dump station

Fire rings

I manage this campground

Activities you can enjoy

The park supports a wide range of outdoor activities including hiking on nature trails and a 5.44-mile stretch of the Florida National Scenic Trail, paddling and swimming at Little Lake Johnson, biking on paved park roads, birding and general wildlife viewing.

Hiking

Fishing

Swimming

Biking

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsVisitors are advised to watch for traffic at road crossings and obey traffic signals (explicitly noted on the park page).

No Cell ServiceCell phone service is not available at this campground. Plan accordingly for emergencies and download offline maps before arriving.

No Flush ToiletsFlush toilets are not available at this campground. Expect vault or pit toilets only.

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

From Booking Sources

4.5

308 reviews

Recommended

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Loop Lake is recommended, placing it in the top 40% of campgrounds based on reviews

Visitor sentiment is strongly positive: reviewers commonly praise the park's trails, well-maintained campgrounds and bathhouses, historic cabins, and abundant wildlife. Many guests describe the park as peaceful and scenic with clean facilities.

Review Summaries

Based on 308 reviews

What Campers Love

Clean, accessible bathhouses with hot showers and laundry; varied and scenic hiking trails including ravine and boardwalk features; well-maintained campsites with potable water, picnic tables and...

Based on 308 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Confirm site-specific hookups before booking (official site lists specific sites that lack electrical service or have different amp ratings); expect sandy or unlevel ground at some sites; Lakeview...

Based on 308 reviews

Camper Quotes

“Great park with very friendly volunteers!” | “Hot showers. Laundry. Big day use area.” | “The restrooms are very clean, the park is clean and it's not unusual to see a few deer!”

Based on 308 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

Be the first to review this campground

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Go if

Fall hikers and birders get the best of it here. The 5.44-mile Florida National Scenic Trail segment plus the ravine stairway give real texture for a flat state, and dropping humidity makes October and November genuinely pleasant. Sites 57 and 60-67 have no electric, so confirm y

Skip if

No cell service and no camp store make this a poor fit if you're not prepared to be fully off-grid. Sandy, sometimes unlevel sites frustrate RV owners trying to level up, and the dump station has tight turning reported by multiple reviewers.

Campgrounds

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Loop Lake

About Stony Gorge Reservoir

Context for the broader area surrounding Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Loop Lake, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.

<A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Stony+Gorge+Dam">Stony Gorge Dam</a>, <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=Orland+Project">Orland Project</a>, completed in 1928, is on Stony Creek about 18 miles downstream from East Park Dam and 5 miles west of Fruto in western Glenn county. The dam is a concrete slab and buttress structure with a height of 139 feet and a crest length of 868 feet. A warm-water fishery with an 18-mile shoreline. Excellent boating and shoreline accessibility. One boat ramp useable most of the summer, depending on water level. Free camping except for group camping area. Available bass species include largemouth and smallmouth bass of Texan strain that grow faster and mature earlier (10 to 12 pounds). A thriving bluegill and crappie population (2 to 3 pounds). Catfishing good year-round (up to 20 pounds). <A HREF="http://cdec.water.ca.gov/river/res_STG.html"> Reservoir levels.</a>

Directions

Located 21 miles west of Willows off Maxwell Stony Gorge Rd. Nearest highway, I-5.