In contrast with the shady tropical canopies and salt marshes north of Oslo Road, South Oslo Conservation Area showcases open scrubby flatwoods and xeric oak hammocks.
The trails can be accessed from the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area parking lot or from the Pelican Island Audubon Society building, open to the public weekdays.
A portion of the trail system leads across their property, providing a scenic route to the loops.
Audubon Society groundsResources
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Overview
Location: Vero Beach
Length: 1.4 miles
Trailhead: 27.586583, -80.374750
Address: 200 9th St SE, Vero Beach
Fees: Free
Restrooms: None
Land manager: Indian River County
Phone: 772-567-8000
Open 7:30 to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome. Mosquitoes can be fierce; use plenty of protection. Parking is not allowed at the eastern trailhead along Oslo Rd.
The Audubon Society building is open Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
Directions
From the intersection of Oslo Rd and US 1 south of Vero Beach, head east on Oslo Rd for 0.2 mile, and the parking area will be on the left side of the road.
Hike
Starting at the main parking area, carefully cross over Oslo Rd and head east for a hundred feet, where a sidewalk leads to a kiosk at the edge of the woods.
Past the trailhead signage, follow a leaf-strewn pathway as it winds behind the Audubon Society building.
Enter a wide clearing where a former citrus grove is undergoing habitat restoration.
North trailheadStacked rocks or cairns designate a route through this open area as the path sweeps to the east and into a mixed canopy of oaks and cabbage palms.
At a quarter mile, the trail enters a pine forest before reaching the first loop.
Cairns leading through the gardenTurn right, following a dirt road lined with saw palmettos and sand pines into the scrub.
In the springtime, lupines bloom along the edges, producing showy stalks of lavender-tinted flowers.
Lupine in bloomAt a half mile, cross a small bridge over a ditch to the beginning of the southern loop.
Turn left or right, following a wide, sandy pathway through scrubby flatwoods, returning to this spot in 0.3 miles.
Scrubby flatwoodsCross the bridge once more and take the first right to explore the eastern half of the north loop.
In a tenth of a mile, a deeply shaded boardwalk with built-in benches spans a swampy depression, reaching a oak hammock at the far end.
Boardwalk benchesLook up into the epiphyte-covered live oaks to spot clusters of native orchids among the air plants and resurrection ferns.
The trail curves northward, transitioning into scrubby flatwoods dotted with lyonia, largeflower false rosemary, and goldenasters.
Butterfly orchidsA square kiosk with interpretive signage and a map designates the north end of the preserve.
From this point, follow the loop south for 0.2 miles before turning right onto the approach trail, which leads back to the trailhead in another 0.3 miles.
East kioskTrail Map
Explore More!
Learn more about Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area
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.Video
Hiking South Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area
Nearby Adventures
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
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.
Hallstrom Farmstead Encircling the historic Hallstrom House, sand pine scrub provides a unique habitat for a rare and endangered species of native mint along this 1.4 mile loop.
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.
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