May Nature Be With You, Thanks to St. Lucie County Guided Hikes

LUCIE COUNTY – Get out and explore St. Lucie County’s nature preserves before the Environmental Resources Department’s free guided hikes program wraps up for the season. This free program provides guided hikes on the county’s more than 11,000 acres of nature preserves covering everything from stargazing to kayaking.

Based on current best practices and because we cannot guarantee safe social distancing at all times during our hikes or paddles, masks are recommended to participate in one of St. Lucie County Environmental Resources Department’s Guided Nature Programs.

Topics for the May include:

Thursday, May 6 from 9:30 a.m. to noon: Morning Kayak River Adventure at the Richard E. Becker Preserve, 3398 Selvitz Road, Fort Pierce. Explore the ins and outs of this preserve’s newly restored river oxbow. Enjoy the river’s peacefulness while learning to identify wildlife, trees and flowers along the way. Appropriate for ages 12 and older. Kayaks, U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices and paddles provided (you may also bring your equipment if desired). The cost is $15 per person; $10 if you bring your own kayak. No online registration; please call 772-462-2536 to reserve your space. Reservations are a must.
Saturday, May 8 from 7:30 to 9 a.m.: Birding by Pond & Trail Hike at Citrus Hammock Preserve, 6511 South Citrus Ave., Fort Pierce. Water attracts birds, whether a retention pond or the floodplain of a river. We’ll be looking and listening for a variety of birdlife around the pond and present in the wooded trail along the river’s edge.
Saturday, May 8 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.: Starlight Night Hike at Bluefield Ranch Preserve, 30501 Bluefield Road, Port St. Lucie. Venture west to Bluefield Ranch Preserve where light pollution is low and the vistas are vast. We will watch as the golden hues of the setting sun transition to the twinkling glow of stars, lighting up the night.
Sunday, May 9 from 9 to 10:30 a.m.: The Stories of a Forest at Paleo Hammock Preserve: 8551 Carlton Road, Port St. Lucie. Travel back in time as you walk through old oaks, elms and palms in this unique preserve. As you enjoy this beautiful hike, you will learn about the geological and archeological history of the area and why it is such a special forest. This 1.5-mile loop will not disappoint with its towering trees, beautiful vegetation and an array of wildlife.
Friday, May 14 from 7 to 10 a.m.: Birder’s Morning Hike at Jones Hammock Preserve, 6511 South Citrus Ave., Fort Pierce. Adjacent to the North Fork of the St. Lucie River, this site boasts rich resident and migratory birdlife attracted to the river’s bountiful food supply and the stormwater pond. Birders, be sure to bring your binoculars, scopes, field guides and checklists.
Saturday, May 15 from 8 to 10 a.m.: What’s Up Hike at Indrio Savannahs Preserve, 5275 Tozour Road, Fort Pierce. What’s up in the morning? Find out as we explore trails along the canals and wetlands of this picturesque preserve.
Sunday, May 16 from 8 to 9:30 a.m.: Florida’s Diamondback Terrapins Hike at Donald B. Moore Preserve, 305 Torpey Road, Fort Pierce. As one of the most bio-diverse estuaries in the U.S., the Indian River Lagoon is home for many different species. One particular species, the diamondback terrapin, has a unique story intertwined with Florida’s history and culture. Come enjoy this beautiful coastal preserve that leads to the lagoon while learning about this beautiful and elusive turtle.
Wednesday, May 19 from 9:30 a.m. to noon: Bring Your Own Kayak Lagoon Trip at DJ Wilcox Riverside Preserve, 399 Wilcox Road, Fort Pierce. Explore the Indian River Lagoon in your own kayak with experienced guides. Appropriate for ages 16 and older. Bring your own kayaks, U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices and paddles. The cost is $10 per person. No online registration; please call 772-462-2536 to reserve your space. Reservation are a must.
Friday, May 21 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.: A Morning with the Florida Scrub-Jay Hike at Indrio Savannahs Preserve, 5275 Tozour Road, Fort Pierce. These charismatic, cobalt blue corvids steal the hearts of their admirers and are only found in Florida and nowhere else. Learn about this listed species, its habitat and the conservation planning to ensure they have a future in St. Lucie County for the next generation of Floridians.
Saturday, May 22 from 8 to 9:30 a.m.: Fun Fit Morning Hike at George LeStrange Preserve, 4911 Ralls Drive, Fort Pierce. Rise and shine for this fun fitness walk. We will pick up the pace for this hike to get our exercise and our steps in for the day while enjoying this beautiful preserve. We will discuss Leave No Trace techniques, the preserve’s habitats and the variety of wildlife while venturing around the lake along the river trail.
Wednesday, May 26 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.: Midweek Moonrise Night Hike at Steven J. Fousek Preserve, 7793 State Highway 613, Port St. Lucie. See the sunset and the moonrise over the stunning prairie and hammocks of the wild western preserve.
Saturday, May 29 from 7:30 to 10 a.m.: Nightwatch Excursion Hike at Ocean Bay Preserve, 6851 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach. At night, with a bright moon and constellations over the Atlantic Ocean, Florida’s beaches take on a different character. We’ll examine and identify constellations with the help of smartphone apps, while keeping an eye out for night-time beach roving wildlife Binoculars and a birding scope double as a telescope to watch the moon, while a pair of night-vision goggles helps enable us to watch, at a distance, for the emergence of nesting sea turtles.

For more information and to find the link for registration, please visit www.slchikes.org, call 772-462-2526 or emailslchikes@stlucieco.org.

Programs are usually limited to eight people helping to allow participants to immerse themselves into the county’s beautiful natural areas. Based on current best practices, masks must be worn to participate in one of St. Lucie County Environmental Resources Department’s Guided Nature Programs.

Programs target ages 12 and older unless otherwise noted. All minors must be accompanied by an adult. Proper footwear and water are required for all programs and please leave pets at home.

Purchased through a voter-approved bond referendum, St. Lucie County manages more than two dozen preserves that are open to the public for passive recreation. For more information about St. Lucie County’s Environmentally Significant Lands visit: www.stluciepreserves.com.