There’s only a few weeks left to “take a hike” in St. Lucie County through the Environmental Resources Department guided hike program. Led by knowledgeable volunteers and county staff, these scheduled guided hikes offer the opportunity to explore and learn about the more than 10,000 acres of preserves that St. Lucie County maintains.
Hikes for May and June include:
- Friday, May 3 from 7:30 to 9 a.m.: “Plants of the Air” Hike at Gordy Road Recreation Area, 3650 Gordy Road, Fort Pierce. Florida is home to a myriad of plants which don't live on the ground but up in the canopy...no soil required. Which plants live in the canopy and how do they do it? What are they called and are they parasitic, symbiont or just cuddly neighbors? Are air plants and epiphytes the same thing? This hike features hands-on activities with live plants.
- Saturday, May 4 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.: Morning Hike Along the River at Sweetwater Hammock Preserve, 4100 South 25th St., Fort Pierce. Get an early start to the weekend by taking a hike to the banks of the St. Lucie River. Enjoy an eye-opening walk among the live oaks and cabbage palms in this beautiful preserve as the world awakens around you.
- Monday, May 6 from 9 a.m. to noon: White City Kayak Tour at White City Park, 2081 W. Midway Road, Fort Pierce. Paddle with us down the St. Lucie River towards Oxbow Eco-Center, while taking in the breathtaking sights and sounds of nature. Kayaks, U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices and paddles are provided (you may also bring your equipment if desired). This trip is for ages 12 and older. All minors must be accompanied by an adult. The cost is $10 per person. No online registration; please call 772-462-2536 to reserve your space. Reservations are a must.
- Friday, May 10 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.: Twilight Chorus Hike at Sweetwater Hammock Preserve, 4100 South 25th St, Fort Pierce. The twilight chorus of bird calls awaits us in the evening as the sun begins to set. This is the time when diurnal birds are foraging their last meals of the day, communicating and readying for nightfall. A leisurely hike in this riparian preserve allows us to watch and listen for them.
- Saturday, May 11 from 7 to 9:30 a.m.: Early Bird Hike at Spruce Bluff Preserve, 611 SE Dar Lane, Port St. Lucie. Are you new to bird watching or just want to try some new birding techniques? This tutorial and hike is for you. Learn about the equipment you can use, the best time of day and year for viewing, and other considerations which will help you become a more experienced birder.
- Wednesday, May 15 from 9:30 a.m. to noon: Up the River Kayak Tour at Richard E. Becker Preserve, 3398 Selvitz Road, Fort Pierce. Most tours take us down the river, but this tour will take us up river by George LeStrange Preserve and through a stretch of waterway with little development. Numerous bird species will be seen and if you're lucky, an alligator. Kayaks, U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices and paddles are provided (you may also bring your own equipment if desired). This trip is for ages 12 and old. All minors must be accompanied by an adult. The cost is $10 per person. No online registration; please call 772-462-2536 to reserve your space. Reservations are a must.
- Friday, May 17 from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.: Weekend Serenity Stroll at Citrus Hammock Preserve, 6511 SE Citrus Ave., Fort Pierce. If you enjoy the peace and serenity that only nature can provide or you love to view wildlife in its natural habitat, then this “silent hike” is for you. We’ll have both as we walk silently from Jones Hammock Preserve and up to Platt’s Creek Preserve. This restored wetland is known for its incredible wildlife and promises not to disappoint. This will be a great way to relieve stress.
- Saturday, May 18 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.: Sunrise Beach Hike – Part 1 at Ocean Bay Preserve, 7600 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach. This two-part hiking experience can be done together or separately. There’s no better way to start the day than to watch as the world wakes up around you. Take a tour through the sandy dune habitats as we make our way to watch a peaceful sunrise along beautiful ocean vistas. Feel free to bring your camera, binoculars or just enjoy the moment without extra technology, while enjoying the seasonal flowers that are adapted to an upland environment.
- Saturday, May 18 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.: Sunset Lakeview Hike – Part 2 at George LeStrange Preserve, 4911 Ralls Road, Fort Pierce. This two-part hiking experience can be done together or separately. Finish your day enveloped in warm golden rays and a sense of Zen as the sun sets over the lake. This preserve is one of the top spots in St. Lucie County to enjoy sunsets and watch as the wilderness changes around you. Feel free to bring your camera, binoculars or just enjoy the moment.
- Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, June 2 from 7 to 9 a.m.: Turtle Tracks Beach Excursion at Ocean Bay Beachside, 7600 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach. Spend a morning at the beach looking for sea turtle tracks from visitations during the preceding hours. Discover which species of sea turtles have been visiting St. Lucie County’s beaches, how to identify their track patterns, learn about their conservation history and how these much-beloved reptiles can benefit from the community’s helping “hands.”
- Friday, May 31 from 7 to 9 a.m.: The Dawn Chorus Hike at George LeStrange Preserve, 4911 Ralls Road, Fort Pierce. Enjoy the rising sun while being serenaded by the “dawn chorus” - courtesy of the area’s resident and migrant bird species. Discover the seasonal flowers and pollinator activity that abounds during the early part of each day.
- Saturday, June 1 from 8 to 10 a.m.: Hiking 101 at Donald B. Moore Heritage Preserve (formerly St. Lucie Village Heritage Park), 305 Torpey Road, Fort Pierce. Celebrate National Trails Day on an exceptionally beautiful St. Lucie County trail. Learn the ins and outs of hiking, proper trail etiquette and cool tools that make your trek even more enjoyable. As we hike, we’ll be picking up refuse and learning about Leave-No-Trace principles.
For more information and to find the link for registration, please visit www.slchikes.org, call 772-462-2526 or email slchikes@stlucieco.org.
Programs are usually limited to 15 people helping to allow participants to immerse themselves into the county’s beautiful natural areas. 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.stlucieco.gov/erd. For a list of all St. Lucie County parks and preserves visit the interactive map at http://gis.stlucieco.gov/parkspreserves.
