Hidden by a suburban St. Augustine neighborhood north of the airport, Stokes Landing Conservation Area is a less-heralded gem of the St. Johns Water Management District.
Trails largely follow a network of pre-existing forest roads that Boy Scout Troop 787 initially signposted and blazed through this 274-acre preserve. Local students provided later upgrades.
Trailhead kioskWalking is sometimes soggy, but the setting is compelling, pine flatwoods giving way to a lush maritime hammock shaded by a stunning live oak canopy.
Along the cedar-lined marshfront, enjoy incredible panoramic views of the Tolomato River estuary from several vantage points.
One of the perspectives from the observation towerResources
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Overview
Location: St. Augustine
Length: Up to 2.7 miles
Trailhead: 29.999881, -81.360972
Address: 479 Lakeshore Dr, St. Augustine
Fees: Free
Restroom: None
Land manager: St. Johns Water Management District
Phone: 904-730‑6270
Open sunrise to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome. Expect outrageous squadrons of persistent mosquitoes and more than a few soggy mucky spots in the trails.
Directions
From St. Augustine, follow US 1 north for 6 miles, passing the St. Augustine Airport. Turn right on Venetian Blvd and follow it 0.3 mile to Old Dixie Dr. Turn right. Turn left at the next street, Lakeshore Dr. Continue 0.7 mile to the trailhead on the right.
Hike
Pick up a map and interpretive guide at the trailhead kiosk and slip through the adjoining stile. White diamonds mark the two-track entrance trail.
It loops around a small marsh, crossing a mucky expanse under the pines. Reaching higher ground in a hardwood hammock, pass through a thicket of saw palmetto.
Entrance TrailAt a prominently signposted junction at a tenth of a mile, you’re presented with four choices in two directions.
Turn left to hike towards the most significant point of interest at this preserve, the observation deck.
First trail junctionBroad and grassy, the white-blazed trail follows the ecotone between pine flatwoods and a dense, damp hammock. At a Y junction, bear right into a moister landscape.
A cluster of yellow cannas draw attention with their blooms. Leaving the pine flatwoods behind, enter softer ground, sometimes soggy underfoot.
Yellow cannasSpanish moss streamers sway from the live oaks shading the trail. Reach higher ground to edge along the pines again.
Where the pathway makes a gentle curve beneath the oaks, star rush grows in profusion trailside.
Four-way intersectionAt a half mile, a four-way intersection of the White and Yellow Trails under the live oaks has a prominent sign for the observation deck straight across. Follow the path it points to.
Southern red cedars and cabbage palms grace a curve past a wetland. On dark and sometimes damp earth, return to the shade of live oaks.
Transition to palm hammockPalm fronds dominate the understory as the habitat shifts to palm hammock. Hermit crabs scuttle across a low spot where the salt tang of the estuary infuses the breeze.
The sky opens up ahead, the elevated observation tower now in view at 0.7 mile.
The approach to the tower may be stickyWalk the shell path into the marsh to climb the two stories for an incredible panorama. The mazy sweep of the Tolomato River estuary lies at your feet.
On the far horizon, the treeline along the ribbon of river is at GTM Research Reserve, an outstanding hiking destination.
One of many perspectives from the observation towerLeaving the tower, return along the shell path to an opening on the right you may not have noticed on the way in. It’s marked with a double blaze on a post.
A narrow grassy trail curves away from the estuary under an archway of oak trunks. Dive into a tight corridor of tangled understory, palm fronds intruding and yaupon holly crowding.
Turn onto this footpath near the towerThat this is the White Trail is confirmed by a pair of white arrows on a curve overlooking a marsh ringed by cabbage palms.
Past the curve the path broadens to forest road width but is still rough underfoot. Gaining elevation slowly, rise into the maritime hammock with its moss-draped live oaks.
Arrows at the marshAt a T intersection, turn right, proceeding a tenth of a mile through the hammock. As the sky brightens approach a large shelter with picnic tables overlooking Stokes Landing.
A mile into this hike, it’s a cove off the Tolomato River between this peninsula and Medicis Island. The shelter affords a perspective on the estuary across open water.
Picnic shelter at Stokes LandingBacktrack to the T intersection and turn right. This perimeter portion of the White Trail edges close to the marsh-edged cove.
Expect armies of hermit crabs scuttling across low spots and squishy, wet sand. The forested rim of the marsh opens to views across the expanse.
Marsh viewShell material, perhaps from ancient middens, dots the two-track. Entering the shade of the showy live oak canopy, pass giant grapevines and thickets of bluestem palm.
At 1.3 miles, complete this loop by arriving at the four-way junction again.
Junction of White and Yellow TrailsProceed straight ahead to the right of the observation deck sign to start the Yellow Trail.
Edged by colorful wildflowers along impenetrable walls of forest, it tunnels through the maritime hammock.
Start of the Yellow TrailA broad, grassy forest road, the Yellow Trail has only a few lowlying spots of dark earth scored by District vehicle tracks.
A true immersion in the hammock, it’s a beautiful walk with occasional curves. Massive live oaks arch overhead, and palm fronds spill into the corridor from both sides.
A view down the Yellow TrailAn ascent into slightly drier habitat means more oak leaves and less grass underfoot.
Archways of oak limbs cross overhead, decorated with ferns and bromeliads. Native orchids bloom in late spring and summer.
Drier portion of the hammock beneath the live oak canopyThe unbroken corridor meets a junction marked with a double yellow blaze at 1.6 miles and a sign for Raccoon Run Loop and Marsh Point.
You’ve been following Raccoon Run Loop. It turns the corner to the right, quickly coming to the initial intersection at the entrance trail to exit to the trailhead for a 1.9 mile hike.
Trail junctionMarsh Point lies straight ahead, but water levels may prevent you from reaching the view at its end. With water levels high everywhere, we didn’t try on our recent revisit.
To go on to Marsh Point, continue straight through this intersection, passing under a large red mulberry tree.
Sign to Marsh PointFollow the yellow-blazed forest road through wet flatwoods, minding the Marsh Point signs.
The path ends in the salt marsh at estuary level, with another view across the massive Tolomato River basin.
Marsh Point circa 2001Backtrack to the T intersection and turn right at a double yellow blaze. Follow the forest road back to the “Raccoon Run Loop” sign.
Turn left. Stroll a quarter mile through the oak hammock along the edge of the pine flatwoods to the next trail junction.
It’s the initial intersection with the big sign for the four destinations in this preserve. Exit via the entrance trail. Reaching the trailhead, complete a 2.7 mile hike.
Exit via the entrance trailTrail Map
Explore More!
Video
A walk through Stokes Landing Conservation Area
Slideshow
See our photos from Stokes Landing Conservation Area
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