The heart of the Treasure Coast, Fort Pierce is flanked by a number of state parks and natural lands along the Indian River Lagoon and Atlantic Coastal Ridge, as well as its vast prairies near the Kissimmee River.
Nearby: Okeechobee, Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach
Trails and Parks in Fort Pierce
Avalon State Park- With a sandy strand more than a mile long, Avalon State Park offers an escape to an uncluttered seashore along the Treasure Coast where sea turtles retreat to lay their eggs.
Coastal Hammock Trail- At a beach best known for great surfing, the Coastal Hammock Trail at Fort Pierce State Park is a gentle introduction to a seaside semi-tropical forest. 
D.J. Wilcox Natural Area- In pine flatwoods and scrub along the Indian River Lagoon, D.J. Wilcox Natural Area features the ghost town of Indrio along its 2.3-mile loop
Fort Pierce Inlet State Park- When the waves start crashing at Fort Pierce Inlet State Park, surfers command the beach. Offshore shoals beat the surf to froth, and the wind coming past Dynamite Point creates just the right cocktail for South Florida surfing.
George LeStrange Preserve- Along Ten Mile Creek west of Fort Pierce, George LeStrange Preserve protects uplands and floodplain forest along the edge of a restored sand mine turned into a lake.
Halpatiokee Nature Trail- In Port St. Lucie, Halpatiokee Nature Trail at Savannas Preserve State Park provides an intimate look at ecosystems along the North Fork of the St. Lucie River.
Heathcote Botanical Gardens- Site of the Crimmins Nursery in the 1930s, the 3.5 acres of gardens at Heathcote Botanical Gardens are a peaceful retreat within the city of Fort Pierce, offering wandering pathways through a variety of themed plantings, with many whimsical mosaic benches on which to sit and relax. 
Indrio Savannahs- Only a mile from the Indian River Lagoon, Indrio Savannas has 3.5 miles of hiking around freshwater wetlands where sea breezes wash across the landscape.
Indrio Scrub- Atop the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, Indrio Scrub is a place where unique scrub species thrive. A short interpretive loop trail leads you through the preserve
Jack Island Preserve State Park- Along a network of trails that follow old mosquito impoundments, explore the mangrove forest that covers Jack Island Preserve, an island in the Indian River Lagoon.
Ocean Bay Beachside- At Ocean Bay Natural Area, immerse yourself in a coastal dune environment on a short shady walk that tunnels through a tropical canopy of sea grapes, gumbo limbo, strangler fig, and sugarberry.
Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area- Lush tropical hammocks, great birding, and a dash of history along the Indian River Lagoon make Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area a diverse and interesting place to explore
Oxbow Eco-Center- Protecting 225 acres of natural habitats along the North Fork of the St. Lucie River amid busy Port St. Lucie, Oxbow Eco-Center provides a 3.8-mile hiking loop. 
Savannas Preserve State Park- Spanning two counties along a slender 10-mile strip, the fragile freshwater savannas and open prairies of Savannas Preserve State Park are just a few miles from the Atlantic Ocean and lie behind a line of ancient sand dunes.