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Description:
Canoe or hike along
portions of this 10-mile long wetland near Fort Pierce, which features
marshes, lakes, wet prairies, pine flatwoods and an upland sand pine
community along the Atlantic Coastal Ridge.
Watchable Wildlife:
Scan the wetlands
to see herons, egrets, anhingas and sandhill cranes. Spur trails off of the
main flatwoods trail at Sandhill Crane Park afford views of the wetlands. In
the flatwoods, look and listen for pine warblers and brown-headed
nuthatches. The sand pine scrub community on the southeastern portion of the
preserve (Hawk’s Bluff Loop Trail) is a good place to see scrub jays, gopher
tortoises and rare plants such as the fragrant wooly cactus. Ranger-led
canoe trips and hikes are occasionally offered.
Ownership:
Department of
Environmental Protection
Contact:
(727) 340-7530 or (772) 398-2779
Directions:
From Fort Pierce,
travel south on US 1 to Walton Rd. Turn left (east) and go 2 miles to the
pine flatwoods trail head at Sandhill Crane Park or access the trail from
the Environmental Education Center, located just east of Sandhill Crane
Park. The Center is open Mon. – Wed. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. To reach the
Hawk’s Bluff Trail, continue east on Walton Rd., turn right on Indian River
Drive and travel 4 miles to County Line Rd.. Turn right and follow County
Line Rd. through a residential area. This road becomes Savanna Rd. After the
last house on the right, at the top of a ridge, look for the Preserve sign
and gate. Park alongside the road to access the trail.
Related Sites:
Other East Central Florida Wildlife Sites
Florida State
Parks |
Wildlife Viewing Site
