Florida Hikes

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Footpath in a hydric hammock

Donald B Moore Heritage Preserve

Along the Indian River Lagoon on a site farmed by one of the earliest settlers in what is now Fort Pierce, Donald B. Moore Heritage Preserve interprets regional history.

Fort Pierce (27.50830, -80.34688)   1.6 miles  

Strangely, the predominant feature of this preserve’s open space facing Old Dixie Highway is a disc golf course.

As an interpretive sign explains, disc golf is a historic artifact of sorts. But the bulk of the preserve lies beyond the grassy playing field.

Entrance sign and fence along parking area Preserve trailhead

After a linear entrance path leads to the backbone of the trail system, a duo of loops reveal the preserve’s unique botanical and historic features.

Formerly St. Lucie Village Heritage Preserve, this preserve was renamed for a long-time community leader after his death.

Bridge to a waterfront kiosk Trails extend to the shores of the Indian River Lagoon

Resources

Resources for exploring the area
South Florida Explorers Guide book cover 50 Hikes in South Florida book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover Paddlers Guide Florida
 
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Overview

Location: St. Lucie
Length: 1.6 miles
Trailhead: 27.50830, -80.34688
Address: 305 Torpey Rd, Fort Pierce
Fees: Free
Restroom: None
Land manager: St. Lucie County
Phone: 772-462-2526

Open daylight hours. Leashed dogs permitted. Expect copious mosquitoes; use insect repellent.

Picnic tables in the shade adjoin a playground. A Little Free Library is in front of the trailhead.

Directions


 
From the intersection of US 1 and Orange Ave (SR 68) in downtown Fort Pierce, drive 4.5 miles north on US 1. Turn right onto Old Dixie Hwy and make an immediate left over the high-speed rail tracks onto Torpey Rd. Do not try to beat the gates if the warning lights start flashing. Park on the right near the picnic area.

Hike

Start off at the parking area adjoining the playground, following a graveled path on slightly raised ground as it weaves between cabbage palms.

It heads towards a gap in the wall of vegetation edging the south side of the grassy area. Beyond the gap, the character of the preserve changes.

Tall grasses flank an entrance to a forest Leaving the grassy expanse for the woods

A broad footpath leads under the shade of oaks and palms, curving left to meander between dense walls of grasses and willows.

The trail joins a boardwalk with railings to traverse a willow marsh under a smattering of tall cabbage palms. Loblolly bay leans overhead.

Tree with ferns leaning over boardwalk at a curve The entrance boardwalk

After several jogs, the boardwalk ends on a sometimes-damp footpath. Meet a trail junction at 0.2 miles and make a left.

This upper loop is the driest in the preserve, best to tackle first. At the loop junction, walk straight ahead.

Grassy path in forest Upper Loop

This easy-to-follow path under a young oak hammock was once the entrance road to the small settlement on this land.

Curving slightly under the cabbage palms and oaks, the shaded corridor meets a junction.

Straight ahead leads to a locked gate facing the village of St. Lucie. Turn right instead.

Shaded grassy path under trees Grassy path

The grassy footpath winds through the hammock, a portion of the homestead undoubtedly once used for farming or grazing cattle.

The oaks are mature enough the entire loop is deeply shaded. Occasional posts have numbered markers corresponding to an interpretive brochure.

Interpretive marker along shaded trail Passing Marker 14

Enter a denser thicket of forest, moister underfoot with tall marsh ferns in clumps under some mature live oaks.

Wild coffee and American beautyberry sprout beneath cabbage palms with trunks draped in shoelace fern. Closing the loop, turn left.

Ferns and palms along path on dark soil Palm hammock

At a half mile, return to the three-way junction. Continue straight ahead. Ferns line a curve in the footpath before it turns into a straightaway edged by grasses.

Coming to a fork under the oaks and palms, bear left to begin the clockwise side of the hammock loop.

Broad spot at trail junction Fork in the trail

Carved through densely-packed ferns and shrubs, the footpath hits the first of many low spots where tannic water pools. Portions of this loop can be a wade.

Past a bench, the trail splits at 0.7 miles where a spur heads towards the observation tower.

Turn left, following the straightaway two-track adjoining a ditch from pioneer days.

Puddle across footpath Soggy spot

White mangroves sprout within it, signaling the brackish Indian River Lagoon is near.

Cross a wooden deck bridge over the ditch to emerge at a small beach with a mangrove-framed view across the lagoon.

White sand along expanse of water Lagoon beach

Surrounded by red mangroves with their prominent cage-like roots, a low observation tower has a staircase leading to its covered deck.

From the top, enjoy a panorama of the lagoon, North Hutchinson Island on the far horizon.

Stairs leading above the tree canopy Observation deck

Return up the spur path on the causeway. At 0.9 miles, make a left to start the loop through the hammock. This portion of it is where the homestead once stood.

Water levels in the lagoon have shifted in the past century, making a wade on portions of this broad trail likely.

Soggy footpath lined with ferns Start of the Hammock Loop

It remains the low spot in a hydric hammock, thick beds of ferns bounding damp sand beneath the cabbage palms.

Follow the sharp curve through the palm hammock, water pooling ankle-deep in spots.

A rich growth of resurrection fern sprouts from the archway of live oak limbs above.

Tannic water beneath cabbage palms Wading may be necessary on this loop

Cross a bridge over tannic waters flowing towards the ditch, emerging into a mowed corridor under open skies.

By 1.3 miles, merge in to the connector path, returning north to the three-way junction.

Wooden bridge in low spot Bridge over the ditch

Make a left to exit via the bayhead boardwalk and shady footpath. Emerge along the open green space of the disc golf course

Follow the graveled path across the course back to the parking area to complete a 1.6 mile hike.

Graveled path under cabbage palms Graveled path

Trail Map

Donald B. Moore Heritage Preserve Trail Map
Green: Upper Loop. Red: Main Trail.

Explore More!

Video

A walk through Donald B. Moore Heritage Preserve

Slideshow

See our photos from Donald B. Moore Heritage Preserve

Nearby Adventures

Red blaze on tree in oak hammock D.J. Wilcox Preserve Discover the natural beauty of a mosaic of habitats nourished by a freshwater spring near the Indian River Lagoon at what was once the town of Indrio.
Scrub hickory canopy Indrio Scrub Preserve Atop the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, Indrio Scrub Preserve is a place where unique scrub species thrive. A short interpretive loop trail leads through the preserve.
Wetlands with pine forest on far shore Indrio Savannahs Preserve A haven for wildlife dependent on fresh water savannas scarcely a mile west of the Indian River Lagoon, Indrio Savannahs illustrates a success story in habitat restoration.
Low palmettos edged by palms and oaks Sheraton Scrub Preserve Explore an easy loop in scrubby uplands in residential Fort Pierce to search for scrub-jays from ground level and from an observation tower.

Official Website

Sandra Friend
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