On the western edge of St. Lucie County, the trails of Bluefield Ranch Preserve weave through scrub, pine, and bayhead forests to a tall tower overlooking freshwater marshes.
Previously a cattle ranch and private hunting grounds complete with a dedicated airplane landing strip, Bluefield Ranch was purchased by the county to protect over 3,000 acres of diverse natural landscapes.
In addition to its extensive network of multi-use trails, the preserve provides two primitive campsites near the southern end of the property.
Approach to observation towerResources
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Overview
Location: Port St. Lucie
Length: 7.3 miles
Trailhead: 27.250694, -80.638083
Address: 30501 Bluefield Rd, Port St. Lucie
Fees: Free
Restrooms: None
Land manager: St. Lucie County
Phone: 772-462-2526
Open sunrise to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome. Reservations required for camping, call for information.
Directions
From the intersection of SR 70 and US 441 in downtown Okeechobee, head east on SR 70 for 11.8 miles, before turning right onto Bluefield Rd. Follow Bluefield Rd. for 4.4 miles, then make a right onto an unnamed dirt road at a sign for the preserve. Continue along this road for 1.3 miles to a large grassy parking area.
Hike
Passing through a fence gap near the trailhead kiosk, stay to the left, following a grassy access road.
Paw paws, prickly pears, and palmettos dot the pine lined pathway as it follows a straight route southward, passing a wooden bench along the way.
Trailhead kioskA carpet of green grass gives way to patches of soft white sugar sand and tufts of wiregrass as the trail enters a drier habitat toward the end of the white loop.
At 1.6 miles, continue straight as a short connector trail leads to the blue loop in 0.2 mile.
Scrubby flatwoodsSand pines signal a change in natural communities as the trail begins to circle Christmas Tree Scrub.
In a quarter mile, keep an eye out for a spur trail that leads out to an observation platform overlooking a large grassy marsh.
View from the marsh towerBlue blazes mark the path as it snakes through a labyrinth of scraggly oaks, sand pines, and Florida rosemary surrounded by carpets of reindeer moss. ‘
Clusters of largeflower false rosemary thrive on these ancient dunes, several miles from the Altantic Coastal Ridge where they are typically found.
False rosemary in bloomThe terrain changes quickly descending towards a baygall swamp on the southern portion of the loop.
A lush fern jungle collects on the forest floor under a shady canopy of bay trees and slash pines as the trail traces alongside seasonally flooded wetlands.
Reach the access road at 3.8 miles. From this junction, a white blazed trail leads southward for 1.5 miles to the hike-in campsite.
Baygall swampFollow the Blue Loop and connector trail northward, returning to the White Loop in a mile. Turn west to explore the other half of the loop.
Tall golden grasses and sporadic clusters of showy lupine border the wide pathway as it winds through a scrubby flatwoods pine savanna.
At 2.8 miles, the trail takes one final turn to the east before ending at the parking area.
Lupine in bloomTrail Map
Explore More!
Video
A walk through Bluefield Ranch Preserve
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