Florida Hikes

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Port St. Lucie

With natural lands along its barrier islands and rivers, Port St. Lucie and surrounding St. Lucie County has many hikes to showcase its preserves.

Resources

Resources for exploring the area
50 Hikes in South Florida book cover South Florida Explorers Guide book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover Paddlers Guide Florida
 
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Exploring Port St. Lucie

While a virtual maze of subdivisions stretching from the Indian River Lagoon west to Interstate 95, Port St. Lucie has a smattering of natural preserves tucked in unexpected corners.

The largest expanse of natural habitat is a strip of freshwater savannas between the lagoon and US 1, primarily protected by Savannas Preserve State Park.

Parks and Trails

Lush forest of ferns Ancient Oaks Preserve On an easy mile loop amid the grandeur of an ancient hydric hammock, savor shade, shape, and form in a hidden wild space in the St. Lucie River floodplain in Fort Pierce.
Narrow path between tree trunks Bluefield Ranch Preserve Atop an ancient ridge between Lake Okeechobee and the Atlantic Ocean, Bluefield Ranch Preserve hosts a surprising diversity of habitats.
Launch access by sidewalk past picnic table Evans Creek Launch into a tributary of the North Fork of the St. Lucie River from state park land along US 1 in Port St. Lucie.
Pine flatwoods with prairie beyond Kiplinger Conservancy A network of well-maintained trails surrounds a gopher tortoise sanctuary, meandering several miles across a wild mosaic of pine flatwoods and ephemeral marshes.
Path through pine forest McCarty Ranch Preserve Near the outskirts of Port St. Lucie, this city-run preserve presents a variety of opportunities for outdoor recreation, from camping and hiking, to fishing, kayaking, and disc golf.
Shaded trail in tropical hammock Oak Hammock Park Buried in a sea of development in Port St. Lucie, Oak Hammock Park is one of those little gems that shouldn't be missed, thanks to its dense hammock of live oaks.
Sea grapes Ocean Bay Natural Area A quarter mile immersion in coastal dune habitats offers a tropical canopy with shade adjoining beach access at Ocean Bay Beachside on South Hutchinson Island.
Bridge surrounded by tropical vegetation along a hiking trail Oxbow Eco-Center Preserve A network of nature trails circles natural habitats along North Fork of the St. Lucie River, radiating from an environmental center with family appeal.
Berm with palms Paleo Hammock Preserve Discover a maze of wild coffee, an observation tower, and an archaeological site along a short loop, or walk miles more into scenic habitats within Stephen J Fousek Preserve.
Broad path into palmetto savanna Savannas Education Center Trails Explore the Glass Lizard Trail and Gopher Tortoise Trail for different takes on the patchwork of habitats protected by Savannas Preserve State Park.
Vista of open marshes from bench Savannas Hawks Bluff Trail Scramble up and down the Atlantic Coastal Ridge on this hike with scenic views of the southern end of the freshwater basin marshes stretching from Fort Pierce to Jensen Beach.
Pine with white blaze in pine flatwoods Savannas North End Trails Expansive panoramas of wetlands and pine savannas define the North End Trails, a network of loops exploring the northern reaches of Savannas Preserve State Park.
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.
Waterway with palm island and vast marsh beyond Savannas Recreation Area Camp, paddle, bike, or hike to explore the north end of a tall, narrow basin of freshwater marshes and pine savannas west of the Atlantic Coastal Ridge in Fort Pierce.
Pine savanna Savannas White Trail South Immerse in a vast pine savanna on a walk to the southern edge of the freshwater basin marshes protected by Savannas Preserve State Park.
Pathway through pines Spruce Bluff Preserve At Spruce Bluff Preserve, 2.3 miles of trails lead to the site of a pioneer settlement and the largest Ais mound in South Florida amid scrub and wetlands in Port St. Lucie.
Trail through row of cabbage palms Teague Hammock Preserve Stepping back in time before the arrival of extensive agriculture in South Florida, the trails at Teague Hammock cross open prairies and loop through shady hardwood hammocks.
Shell path through pine flatwoods The Preserve at Port St Lucie Alongside the St. Lucie River, a partly accessible set of trails and boardwalks wind across surprisingly diverse natural habitats at The Preserve.
Sandy trail in sand pine scrub Walton Scrub Preserve Explore the high ground between the bluffs above the Indian River Lagoon and the basin marshes of Savannas Preserve State Park atop the Atlantic Coastal Ridge.

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NEARBY: Fort Pierce, Okeechobee, Stuart | ALONG: St. Lucie River | PART OF: Southeast Florida