Opened in 2023, Oyster Bar Marsh Conservation Area is the result of different agencies working together to protect land on the Indian River Lagoon from further development.
Habitats that were likely originally salt marshes on the intracoastal side of the barrier islands were enclosed by impoundments decades ago for mosquito control.
The main trail at the preserve travels along the impoundment, offering multiple views of the lagoon and the interior mangrove swamp.
Bench along the walk through the mangrovesResources
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Overview
Location: Vero Beach
Length: 3.6 mile round-trip
Trailhead: 27.565944, -80.327361
Address: 1955 SR A1A, Vero Beach
Fees: Free
Restrooms: None
Land manager: Indian River County
Phone: 772-567-8000
Open 7 AM to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome.
Directions
Exiting Interstate 95 at SR 60, head east for 8.3 miles before turning right onto Indian River Blvd. In 0.4 mile, turn left onto 17th St. Cross the Indian River Lagoon, and turn right at SR A1A in 1.4 mile. Continue on SR A1A for 5 miles. The park entrance is on the right side of the road.
Hike
A picnic bench sits under the shade of an impressive strangler fig at the trailhead, its thick roots wrapped around and radiating from the base of a host tree.
Nearby, a crushed shell pathway weaves through a showcase of native plants with signs to identify the species and their ecological benefits.
Trailhead kioskThe shiny leaves of wild coffee cluster around tall stalks of seaside goldenrod alongside Simpson’s stoppers and a small gumbo limbo tree.
Clusters of beach sunflowers bloom year-round, attracting bees and butterflies with their bright yellow blooms.
Native plant gardenTurn left at the end of the native plant garden, following a sandy access road leading towards a forest of tall mangroves.
A large sign along the trail shows close-up pictures and descriptions of black, red, and white mangroves, three separate species that thrive in the conservation area.
Tall mangrovesBrackish waters in the interior of the preserve are home to alligators, and it is not unusual for them to climb onto the trail to bask in the sun.
Keep this in mind while rounding a set of curves around the half mile mark.
Before the first curve, a shady boardwalk cuts across the swamp, tunneling through a dense stand of mangroves with intertangled roots.
Alligators can be anywhereAt 0.6 mile, turn right onto another boardwalk, following the sturdy structure around to a covered overlook with benches.
Herons wade tactfully in the shallow waters, hoping to sneak up on an unsuspecting snack as osprey soar high above, calling loudly with distinctive high-pitched chirps.
Covered overlookShortly after you rejoin the main trail, another boardwalk to the left provides a very different view overlooking the Indian River Lagoon.
Choppy waves lap at the edge of the rocky embankment as distant boats glide across the shimmering waterway.
Indian River LagoonBenches along the route offer quiet spots to rest and observe an impressive number of migrating and resident bird species.
In a few spots, small plank bridges branch from the main trail, extending into the swamp for a few feet to provide a closer look inside the mangrove forest.
At 1.8 miles, turn around where a metal gate marks the trail’s end, enjoying a peaceful stroll back to the trailhead.
Side trail into the mangrove forestTrail Map
Explore More!
Video
A walk through Oyster Bar Marsh Conservation Area
Nearby Adventures
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. 
Pelican Island NWR The birthplace of the National Wildlife Refuge system, Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge protects more than 5,400 acres along and in the Indian River Lagoon off Sebastian.
Indian River Lagoon Greenway A scenic trek in Vero Beach to an observation deck on the Indian River Lagoon provides the option of longer immersion in the coastal mangrove forest.
McKee Botanical Garden Established as McKee Jungle Gardens by local legend Waldo E. Sexton in 1929 with the guidance of landscape architect William Lyman Phillips, this carefully designed tropical garden is a Florida gem
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