Get outdoors and explore St. Lucie County Preserves with award-winning Guided Nature Programs

Guided Nature Programs within the St. Lucie County Environmental Lands project began with the passage of a $20 million local bond program approved by voters in 1994. Since then, the County has succeeded in more than tripling the initial funding through local, state, and federal partnerships.

To date, more than 11,000 acres of land has been preserved. These lands are managed in their natural state, creating corridors for wildlife, protecting water quality, and providing recreational space for both citizens and visitors.

The St. Lucie County Environmental Resources Department is dedicated in its efforts to identify and acquire environmentally significant lands to continue in this endeavor.

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Nature hikes and family programs are FREE!

Kayak program fees $20 per person.

Reservations are required and space is limited. Guided Nature Programs run October through June. There are various topics, locations, and distances all designed for different ages and abilities!

Kayak programs are listed in BLUE

 Click here to sign up!

February Programs

• Friday, Feb 6 – 2-in-1 Hike at Ten Mile Creek and Gordy Road Preserves (8:30am-11:30am) - These two preserves have incredibly different habitats even though they are less than 1 mile apart. Witness the variety of sights and sounds through riverine hammock forest through to scrubby uplands. In this program, hikers will enjoy an extended excursion to explore both locations!
• Saturday, Feb 7 – Our Brackish Backyard Hike at Donald B. Moore Preserve (8:00am-9:30am) - Come enjoy this beautiful coastal hammock trail that leads to the Lagoon while learning about the preserve’s history and the importance of this coastal ecosystem. You will also learn about the Lagoon’s Aquatic Preserves, the spoil islands, and the challenging balance between recreation and protection of our coastal resources.
• Sunday, Feb 8 – Tracking 101 for Kids Walk at Indrio Scrub Preserve (8:30am-10:00am) - Discover which animals played in the preserve while you were sleeping! On this fun morning adventure, kids will learn how to track animals out of sight and investigate their unique behaviors and adaptations.
• Wednesday, Feb 11 – Challenge Yourself Hike at Bluefield Preserve (8:00am-1:00pm) - John Kennedy said of the space program, "We do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard."  We could watch nature on our streaming service, but we don't.  Why?  Because we enjoy the accomplishment of doing something that others will not do.  There is only one way to see the heart of Bluefield Ranch, and it is not easy.  Hike will be up to 8.5 miles.
• Friday, Feb 13 – Morning River Hike at Petravice Family Preserve (9:00am-11:00) – Venture through a previously a commercial plant nursery, featuring riverside views, a bridge spanning the St. Lucie River, and a mix of native and remnant tree stock vegetation. Cross into Captain Hammond’s Hammock Preserve, an island showcasing a view of "Old Florida" complete with epiphytes and old-growth native trees. A great way to start the day!
• Saturday, Feb 14 – Cupid’s Arrow Kayak Tour at Richard E. Becker Preserve (8:00am-11:00am) - Bring a loved one or two on the water for this relaxing paddle as we make our way through the North Fork of the St. Lucie River. This enchanting kayak tour will make you appreciate the raw beauty of Florida and captivate your adventurous heart. All necessary equipment provided. You are welcome to bring your own kayak or PFD if you prefer! $20 per person fee required at time of booking. Space limited.
• Saturday, Feb 14 – Sunset Walk at Sheraton Scrub Preserve (4:00pm-5:30pm) - Enjoy a peaceful afternoon walk through a pineland forest with stunning sunset views. Share this walk with loved ones, or our wild preserve residents (gopher tortoises, scrub jays, and more)!
• Wednesday, Feb 18 - Midweek Meandering on the St Lucie River at Petravice Family Preserve (8:30am-11:00am) - Join us for a relaxing paddle in the heart of St Lucie County. We'll look for turtles, gators, and lots of our feathered friends.  All necessary equipment provided. You are welcome to bring your own kayak or PFD if you prefer! $20 per person fee due at time of booking. Space limited. 
• Friday, Feb 20 – Wetland Birding Excursion at Savannahs Recreation Area (7:30am-10:30am) - We're on the lookout for birdlife! How many different species can we find? This natural wetland environment is a treasure trove of wild surprises. Bring a friend and witness the life and beauty of this amazing place.
• Saturday, Feb 21 – Easy Walk at Petravice Family Preserve (3:00pm-5:00pm) – Join this easy wander through open trails. As we walk, we’ll examine how habitats function through the unique dynamics of this preserve.
• Sunday, Feb 22 – Urban Meets Wild Hike at Sheraton Scrub Preserve (10:00am-11:30am) - Sheraton Scrub Preserve is a beautiful refuge tucked in an urban space and is often over-looked by visitors. Along this leisurely hike, we will talk about the plants, animals and history of the Sherton area and the impacts we can see from the development around the preserve.
• Sunday, Feb 22 – Splash and Dash Kayak Adventure Tour at Petravice Family Preserve (2:00pm-4:00pm) - This easy 2 hour paddle is perfect for beginners, families, or adventurers who just want a quick and quiet nature reset on the water. We will get to explore the North Fork of the St. Lucie River on this midday excursion and hopefully encounter some native wildlife. All necessary equipment provided. You are welcome to bring your own kayak or PFD if you prefer! $20 per person fee required at time of booking. Space limited.
• Wednesday, Feb 25 – Experience Pinelands at Pinelands Preserve (8:00am-12:00pm) – Join an experienced hike specialist and learn about native plants, animals, and ecosystem of this beautiful 750-acre nature preserve only accessible through the Guided Nature Program series. You will be chauffeured from the meeting point via air-conditioned vehicle then hike the natural rugged trails through this unique preserve filled with birds and wildlife. This is a can’t miss experience!
• Friday, Feb 27 – Magical Forest Patch Walk at Sweetwater Hammock Preserve (9:00am-10:30am) – Perfect family adventure for grandparents, parents, and children alike. This 8-acre accessible, easy-to-transit site features beautiful "Old Florida" trees to admit a view of the St. Lucie River, birdlife, and seasonal flowers. Leisurely pace for exploration and enjoyment.
• Saturday, Feb 28 - River Place Run Paddle at Petravice Family Preserve (8:30am-11:00am) - A peaceful paddle on the St Lucie river to the hidden waters of an oxbow behind River Place Park. Enjoy nature and all the "feels" of being on the water in Florida! All necessary equipment provided. You are welcome to bring your own kayak or PFD if you prefer! $20 per person fee due at time of booking. Space limited.
• Saturday, Feb 28 – Afternoon Wind-down Walk at Citrus Hammock Preserve (4:00pm-5:30pm) - An afternoon walk welcoming the evening. Our journey around a lively pond and into the riverine hammock woodland brings us beautiful skies, wildlife, and wildflowers. Close out the month and wind-down in nature with us.

March Programs

• Tuesday, March 3 – Lunar Eclipse Before Work Walk at Oxbow Preserve (6:00am-7:30am) – Get an early start to your busy day with a sunrise hike at the Oxbow Eco-Center during a full lunar eclipse. This hike will wind us through the preserve to give us rare glimpses of the moon and evidence of the crepuscular animals enjoying this lunar event. This is the last time to see a full lunar eclipse until December 2028! You won’t want to miss it!
• Tuesday, March 3 – World Wildlife Day Hike at Savannas Recreation Area (8:30am-10:30am) - This event celebrates wild animals and plants, recognizing the unique roles and contributions of wildlife to people and the planet. Ecosystems function due to the ecological roles plants and animals serve in habitats, and as we hike, we learn about Florida's wildlife and habitats.
• Friday, March 6 – Owls, Frogs & Bats, Oh My! Night Hike at Citrus Hammock Preserve (5:30pm-7:00pm) - Under the waning full moon, this adventure will take us through the hammock to listen for all sorts of nighttime creatures – owls, frogs, and bats, oh my! Participants will be provided with animal-friendly lighting options to illuminate their way.  
• Friday, March 6 – Firefly Bioluminescence Evening Experience at Steven J. Fousek Preserve (7:30pm-9:30pm) - Fireflies have enchanted humans since the beginning of time, and this is the season to enjoy the flashes of twinkling lights in the twilight hours of the early evening. Experiencing the magic in the air will make you feel lucky to be in St. Lucie County.
• Saturday, March 7 – A Life in the Wild Walk at Oxbow Preserve (3:00pm-5:00pm) - Come join us at the Oxbow Eco-Center Preserve for a fun hike centered around exploring what kinds of animals we may find in an environment like this. Focused primarily around mammals, we will talk about how animals use the urban environment, and continue to survive and thrive in green patches like the Oxbow. 
• Saturday, March 7 - Firefly Bioluminescence Evening Experience at Steven J. Fousek Preserve (7:30pm-9:30pm) - Fireflies have enchanted humans since the beginning of time, and this is the season to enjoy the flashes of twinkling lights in the twilight hours of the early evening. Experiencing the magic in the air will make you feel lucky to be in St. Lucie County.
• Sunday, March 8 – Wings on the Water Paddle at Richard E. Becker Preserve (2:00pm-5:00pm) - Unwind on the water as we paddle down enchanting paths through the North Fork of the St. Lucie River. This 3 hour kayak adventure will hopefully bring us the good fortune of seeing many varieties of Florida Wildlife. We should encounter birds, bats, turtles, and if we are lucky, a very elusive River Otter. Come and enjoy one of St. Lucie County's best kept secrets. All necessary equipment provided. You are welcome to bring your own kayak or PFD if you prefer! $20 per person fee due at time of booking. Space limited.
• Saturday, March 14 – National Save a Spider Night Hike at Spruce Bluff Preserve (7:00pm-9:00pm) - As we transit through the preserve, we'll meet members of the "small wildlife" community - resident spiders - to see them in the natural world and learn about their behaviors and their architectural feats (webs). For those fortunate enough to have spiders as roommates or neighbors, we’ll uncover their ecological roles, why these small wild friends sometimes inhabit our homes, and how to humanely return them outdoors.
• Saturday, March 14 – Ancient Invertebrates: Horseshoe Crabs Walk at Donald B. Moore Preserve (8:00am-9:30am) - The Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) is a fascinating creature that has gone unchanged for millions of years. This preserve lies along the Indian River Lagoon, which is an estuary home to many aquatic animals including horseshoe crabs. Come learn about this “crab” species that isn’t a true crab, and how they’re a key to modern medicine.
• Sunday, March 15 – National Buzzard’s Day Hike at George LeStrange Preserve (9:00am-11:00am) - What's in a name? These are marvelous birds with qualities not found in other large, soaring birds. With Florida's "buzzards" overhead and their habitat beneath our feet, we explore their aerial and terrestrial habits while tracking their movements as we hike.
• Sunday, March 15 - Midday Foray to White City Park and Beyond! at Petravice Family Preserve (1:00pm-3:30pm) - Sleep in. Take your time. We'll hit the water after lunch. Bring the family and enjoy a relaxing afternoon on the river. All necessary equipment provided. You are welcome to bring your own kayak or PFD if you prefer! $20 per person fee due at time of booking. Space limited. 
• Wednesday, March 18 – Experience Pinelands at Pinelands Preserve (8:00am-11:30am) – Join an experienced hike specialist and learn about native plants, animals, and ecosystem of this beautiful 750-acre nature preserve only accessible through the Guided Nature Program series. You will be chauffeured from the meeting point via air-conditioned vehicle then hike the natural rugged trails through this unique preserve filled with birds and wildlife. This is a can’t miss experience!
• Saturday, March 21 – Ecosystem Engineers: The Gopher Tortoise Walk at Gordy Road Recreation Area (9:00am-11:00am) - Considered the "Landlord of the Uplands", the mighty gopher tortoise creates burrows that help species survive Florida's harsh conditions. We will discuss how they build their burrows, and why other wild species might use them. Get your hard hats on to investigating this earth moving reptile!
• Saturday, March 21 – Splash and Dash Kayak Tour at Petravice Family Preserve (10:00am-12:00pm) - This easy 2 hour paddle is perfect for beginners, families, or adventurers who just want a quick and quiet nature reset on the water. We will get to explore the North Fork of the St. Lucie River on this midday excursion and hopefully encounter some native wildlife. All necessary equipment provided. You are welcome to bring your own kayak or PFD if you prefer! $20 per person fee due at time of booking. Space limited.
• Sunday, March 22 – What’s Up with Florida Seasons Walk at Steven J. Fousek Preserve (10:00am-12:00pm) – Did you know Florida has seasons? It’s not as traditional as you might expect. On this hike through the Preserve, we’ll discuss climate and seasonality in Florida, and how vegetation responds to the changing seasons.
• Friday, March 27 – Spring Stroll at Sweetwater Hammock (8:00am-9:30am) - Many migratory birds are present in Florida at this time of year, and native vegetation is sporting spring foliage and flowers. This program is intended as a leisurely stroll through this charming preserve, affording opportunities to stop, look, and listen for birdsong, take in the view of the St. Lucie River, and enjoy spring blooms.
• Saturday, March 28 – Top Secret Topic Hike at Donald B. Moore Preserve (8:00am-9:30am) - Wondering what this hike is about? To get your answer, come along and join! We will enjoy a morning stroll through this tranquil preserve. Our hike will eventually lead us to an observation tower, where we'll take in the beauty of our Lagoon. Let your curiosity be your guide--come and enjoy the mystery!
• Monday, March 30 - 10 Mile Creek Afternoon Paddle and Buzzard Watch at Petravice Family Preserve (1:30pm-4:00pm) - In honor of National "Buzzards" Day we'll paddle 10 Mile Creek where there is rarely an absence of our favorite winged scavenger. All necessary equipment is provided. You are welcome to bring your own kayak, canoe or paddleboard if you prefer. $20 per person fee due at the time of booking. Space is limited.

Click here to sign up! 

Want to get involved? 

Get outside and make a difference in St. Lucie County Preserves! A wide range of opportunities are available including:

• Trail stewardship
• Litter clean-up
• Invasive species removal
• Building/fixing fences, boardwalks  and other preserve amenities
• Citizen science
• Species monitoring/inventory
• Assistant for guided nature hikes and kayaking tours

 Click here to Volunteer with the Environmental Resources Department

GNP refund policy: Refunds offered to those who notify of cancellation 48 hours or more before the start of paid program.

For questions or to book a private guided hike:

Call 772-462-2536  

Tuesday - Friday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm.

or email slchikes@stlucieco.org