Florida Hikes

Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

Pine flatwoods with footpath and interpretive sign

Haney Creek Preserve

Conceptualized to use wetlands for stormwater filtration in a rapidly growing corner of Stuart, Haney Creek Preserve also provides wildlife habitat and recreation.

Stuart (27.22287, -80.25762)   4.4 miles  

Although it’s bounded by major roads, Haney Creek Preserve was a surprise to come across on a turn off US 1 not far north of downtown Stuart.

Across 157 acres, natural wetlands within wet prairies, pine flatwoods, and bayheads are supplemented by man-made ponds and channels. All drain towards the St. Lucie River.

Natural wetlands edged by pines Wetlands along the South Trail

Resources

Resources for exploring the area
Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover 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: Stuart
Length: 4.4 miles in three circuits
Trailhead: 27.22287, -80.25762
Address: 391 NW Baker Rd, Stuart
Fees: Free
Restroom: At the trailhead
Land Manager: City of Stuart
Phone: 772-288-5340

Open sunrise to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome. There is access to a dog park along the North Trail. Be cautious of traffic at road crossings, particularly for the South Trail.

Pine forest

Directions


 
From downtown Stuart, take US 1 northbound across the Roosevelt Bridge over the St. Lucie River. Turn right onto NW Baker Rd at the second traffic light. Haney Creek Park is on the left at the Haney Creek Trail sign immediately after the entrance to Felix A. Williams Elementary School. Park here to access all trails.

About the Preserve

Although Haney Creek Preserve is biscected by Baker Rd, the city has built a series of well-marked interpretive trails through an array of natural habitats.

What isn’t as clear is its name. A prominent sign says “Haney Creek Trail” at the entrance to Haney Creek Park.

Signs at the entrance drive to a park Entrance to Haney Creek Park

Central to the surrounding preserve, this park serves as its trailhead, with restrooms, a picnic pavilion, and easy access to the dog park.

Along the East Trail, we found a monument calling it Haney Creek Preserve, the most practical name of all. Parts of it are surprisingly wild.

Monument in front of bridge Monument along the East Trail

The North and South Trails begin from Haney Creek Park. The East Trail has a walk-in entrance off the East Coast Greenway bike path along Dixie Highway.

Expansion of the trail system will soon add a West Trail near the corner of US 1 and CR 707.

Walk in kiosk with grassy mound beyond The West Trail will be southwest off the East Coast Greenway from this walk-in kiosk for the East Trail

Hike

Of the three trails presently in place, the North Trail is easiest to follow and involves no road crossings.

Enter the large gate at the end of the parking area and turn right, walking along the pond. Follow the North Trail signs to and past the dog park.

Royal palms at pond Entrance Pond

In the opposite direction from a spillway at the farthest pond, the North Trail continues through a beautiful sand pine scrub.

Posts with color bands and interpretive signs guide your way along the route, which has social trails leading off it to nearby neighborhoods.

White sand trail between pines Sand pine scrub

Looping through the driest habitats in the preserve, the North Trail enters scrubby flatwoods with a large wet prairie at its center.

Emerging along a man-made pond, it continues along a berm to a turn past a natural swamp to end its loop after 1.3 miles. Turn left along the pond to reach its starting point.

Wet prairie between pines Wet prairie

The South Trail starts in the opposite direction, a left along the pond from the parking area. It’s a bit trickier to follow.

Reaching the fence between preserve and school, it follows the fence towards the school entrance road and crosses it.

Trail posts pointing across road Crossing the school entrance

West of the school it sticks close to the fence adjoining Baker Rd until it skirts around a residence, revealing views of a large natural marsh.

Cross Baker Rd at a pedestrian gate. There is no crosswalk to the gate on the south side.

Signage and trail entrance with fence The trail resumes south of Baker Rd

When it turns away from the road to edge a marsh, the South Trail begins to get wild, more so once it crosses a stone weir to its loop.

Traversing wet flatwoods and bayheads, the loop has standing water in several places. Carnivorous plants grow in several spots.

Footpath between loblolly bay South Trail loop

Finishing the loop, the return route is how you came in. We followed the sidewalk back to Haney Creek Park for a 1.4 mile hike on the South Trail.

One more loop remains, and that’s the East Trail. It requires a walk to the traffic circle east along Baker Street.

Fence and sign next to sidewalk Follow the sidewalk east from the front gate of Haney Creek Park

Use the crosswalk to continue south on the East Coast Greenway bike path along Dixie Hwy. A pedestrian gate is on the right just past the townhomes.

The loop here is simple, following berms and boardwalks around an expanse of man-made wetlands.

Boardwalk over lily dotted open water of marsh Boardwalk along the marsh

Signs alert you to the possible presence of alligators and snakes. Since the trail sits low to the water, watch your surroundings.

Crossing the boardwalks, enjoy the views. Meet a broad grassy berm to circle the remainder of the wetlands, crossing a bridge over a stream to the monument.

Grassy berm along marshes Birding is great from the berm

A man-made hill provides perspectives. Exit at the kiosk and return up the East Coast Greenway along Dixie Hwy to the traffic circle, and back to Haney Creek Park.

While the East Trail is only a quarter mile, getting to it and back along sidewalks stretches this walk to 1.7 miles.

Hike the circuit of all three trails in Haney Creek Preserve in one go to tally 4.4 miles.

Wide bike path edged by willow marsh Along the East Coast Greenway bike path back to the traffic circle

Trail Map

Haney Creek Preserve Trail Map
Red: North Trail. Green: South Trail. Blue: East Trail.

Explore More!

Video

A walk through Haney Creek Preserve

Slideshow

See our photos from Haney Creek Preserve

Nearby Adventures

Pine savanna grassy understory beneath pines Savannas Preserve State Park At Savannas Preserve State Park, a grand expanse of wet prairies and pine flatwoods extends across two counties to the west of the Indian River Lagoon.
Bike along bike path in greenway East Coast Greenway Stuart Linking Port St. Lucie with Jensen Beach, Stuart, Port Salerno, and Hobe Sound, this 17.6 mile segment of the East Coast Greenway has dedicated bike paths at both ends.
Marshy pond rimmed with pines Kiplinger Preserve Tunnel through mangroves after pausing to watch birds in a freshwater wetland in this habitat-rich preserve along the St. Lucie River.
White path through pine woods with dense understory Delaplane Preserve An easy trail through pine flatwoods and mangrove marsh leads to an overlook at the confluence of waterways.

Official Website

Sandra Friend
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