St. Lucie County, FL
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Petravice Family Preserve
A beautiful 1.5-mile hiking trail guides visitors through a floodplain forest.
Once a botanical paradise of a tropical plant nursery, the 35-acre Petravice Family Preserve has transformed into a perfect destination for exploration with friends and family. A beautiful 1.5-mile hiking trail guides visitors through a floodplain forest, showcasing remnants of the previous tropical plant nursery. The site features two covered pavilions ideal for picnics, family-friendly lawn games, an observation platform for wildlife watching, and a kayak launch for river adventures. Additionally, Petravice Preserve links visitors to Captain Hammond's Hammock Preserve through a pedestrian bridge.
Amenities
- Nature trail
- ADA kayak/canoe launch
- Fishing access
- Picnic pavilions
- Lawn games (horseshoe/cornhole)
- Grills
- Restrooms
- Benches
- Wildlife observation platform
Trail and Habitat
- Trail
- Easy and Moderate. Experience a self-guided interpretive trail that spans 1.5-mile.
- Habitat
- Hammocks, and floodplain forest.
- Commonly seen wildlife
- Alligator, bobcat, pileated woodpecker, wood stork, green heron
Historical Interest
The site is named after Dr. Peter Petravice (1915-1999), who established this site as a plant nursery in the 1980s.
Before You Go
Restrooms are only available when staff or work campers are present onsite.