Fulfill that New Year’s resolution to exercise more and enjoy nature with St. Lucie County’s Environmental Resources’ award-winning guided hikes program. These free nature programs allow hikers to explore the county’s more than 10,000 acres of preserves, while learning about the history and wildlife that reside there.
Hikes for January 2020 include:
- Wednesday, Jan. 1 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Annual New Year’s Day Hike at D.J. Wilcox Preserve, 399 Wilcox Road, Fort Pierce. Ring in 2020 with a hike to immerse yourself in the relaxing benefits of nature. Whether you are an early bird or need to rest after some of the festivities, we have a fun hike for you. Join us for a leisurely stroll through a preserve featuring towering pine trees, live oaks, seasonal scrub wildflowers and an excellent opportunity to view various bird species.
- Friday, Jan. 3 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Serene Sounds Kayak Tour at Richard E. Becker Preserve, 3398 Selvitz Road, Fort Pierce. Enjoy the serene St. Lucie River by kayak on this guided adventure along our local aquatic preserve. Imagine life in old Florida as we leave the hustle and bustle of civilization and paddle quietly listening to the sounds of nature. Appropriate for ages 14 and older. Kayaks, U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices and paddles provided (you may also bring your own equipment if desired). The cost is $15 per person. No online registration, please call 772-462-2536 to reserve your space. Reservations are a must.
- Saturday, Jan. 4 from 9 to 11 a.m.: Tracking 101 Hike at Indrio Savannahs Preserve, 5275 Tozour Road, Fort Pierce. Discover the wildlife around you in this tracking for beginners program. It is often difficult to observe wildlife species in their natural habitat. Participants will learn the tricks that hunters, naturalists and biologists use to track, monitor and gain information about these evasive critters.
- Sunday, Jan. 5 from 5 to 6 p.m.: Intro to Nature Healing at Indrio Savannahs Preserve, 5275 Tozour Road, Fort Pierce. Is there a benefit to spending time in nature? Doctors seem to think so. Come along as we explore the world of nature healing while enjoying a leisurely hike through our very own local preserve. Along the way, we’ll discuss the need for natural spaces and practice a few unique ways to dive deeper into these outdoor settings.
- Tuesday, Jan. 7 from 7 to 8 a.m.: Moving Meditation Series (Trail Run) at D.J. Wilcox Preserve, 300 Michigan St., Fort Pierce. Who says meditation has to be done while sitting? Our moving meditation trail run gives you the opportunity to disconnect from the worries of everyday life while leading an active lifestyle in the outdoors. This activity is perfect for anyone who is capable of running at least one mile. And don’t worry, this is not a race. All levels welcomed on this one-mile run and cool down hike.
- Thursday, Jan. 9 from 4:30 to 6 p.m.: Family Sunset Hike at Sheraton Scrub Preserve, 2222 North 41st St., Fort Pierce. As the scrub cools off in the evening and activity picks up, we’ll use our senses throughout the hike and then watch the moonrise and the setting sun from the Observation Platform. All are welcome, but this hike is most appropriate for families with children ages 5 and older. An adult must accompany all minors.
- Friday, Jan. 10 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Nocturnal Neighbors Night Hike at Steven J. Fousek Natural Area, 7601 VPI Grove Road, Port St. Lucie. Every preserve has a myriad of critters that are affected differently by light. We’ll watch and listen for owls, nighthawks and all manner of plants and smaller critters with interesting nighttime colors under a naturalist’s black light. Learn about how wavelengths of light have the power to render a plant or animal’s exterior different colors and how nature can “change clothing” between day and night.
- Saturday, Jan. 11 from 9 a.m. to noon: Life after Fire Hike at Bluefield Ranch Preserve, 30501 Bluefield Ranch Road, Port St. Lucie. Last year there were two prescribed burns and one wildfire at this large western preserve. Experience the recovery process of the plants and animals that thrive in this post-fire ecosystem.
- Sunday, Jan. 12 from 9 to 11:30 a.m.: Wild River Kayak Tour at Richard E. Becker Preserve, 3398 Selvitz Road, Fort Pierce. Discover the picturesque St. Lucie River by kayak on this guided adventure along our local aquatic preserve. Learn to identify numerous birds, trees and flowers along the way. Appropriate for ages 14 and older. Kayaks, US Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices and paddles provided (you may also bring your own equipment if desired). The cost is $15 per person. No online registration, please call 772-462-2536 to reserve your space. Reservations are a must.
- Friday, Jan. 17 from 9 to 11:30 a.m.: Morning Paddle Adventure at Richard E. Becker Preserve, 3398 Selvitz Road, Fort Pierce. Start your morning off on a guided kayak adventure, discovering wildlife, trees and flowers along the North Fork. Appropriate for ages 14 and older. Kayaks, US Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices, and paddles provided (you may also bring your own equipment if desired). The cost is $15 per person. No online registration, please call 772-462-2536 to reserve your space. Reservations are a must.
- Saturday, Jan. 18 from 3 to 5 p.m.: Hammocks Full of History Hike at Steven J. Fousek Preserve, 7601 VPI Grove Road, Port St. Lucie. Spend the late afternoon exploring and discovering why native peoples, cowboys and farmers used islands of shady trees called hammocks that are elevated just a few inches above the surrounding wetlands.
- Sunday, Jan. 19 from 8:30 to 10 a.m.: Riparian Plants & Animals Hike at Richard E. Becker Preserve, 3398 Selvitz Road, Fort Pierce. Journey through one of the county’s newest preserves to explore plants and animals on this unique site. Enjoy a hilly trail created for hiking enjoyment and views of the St. Lucie River. We’ll enjoy finding the flowering plants in the hammock and at the water’s edge.
- Tuesday, Jan. 21 from 9: to 11 a.m.: Botany Basics Hike at Ancient Oaks Preserve, 4650 Oleander Ave., Fort Pierce. Discover the adaptive ins and outs of plants in this immersive plant ID hike for botany beginners and enthusiasts. This preserve offers an abundance of hammock trees, epiphytes and lichens that participants will be able to see up close and personal.
- Wednesday, Jan. 22 from 9 to 11:30 a.m.: Take a Break Kayak Tour at Richard E. Becker Preserve, 3398 Selvitz Road, Fort Pierce. Take a break mid-week with a relaxing paddle on the North Fork of the St. Lucie River. Enjoy the peace of our local aquatic preserve while learning to identify numerous birds, trees and flowers along the way. Appropriate for ages 14 and older. Kayaks, U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices and paddles provided (you may also bring your own equipment if desired). The cost is $15 per person. No online registration, please call 772-462-2536 to reserve your space. Reservations are a must.
- Wednesday, Jan. 22 from 4:30 to 6 p.m.: Dusk Light Fitness Hike at Indian Hills Recreation Area & Preserve, 52 Savannah Road, Fort Pierce. Adventure outdoors and get in shape at the same time by joining us on this moderately paced fitness hike along the Preserve’s north lake and south trails. Participants should anticipate hiking approximately 1.5 miles.
- Friday, Jan. 24 from 6:30 to 8 a.m.: Sunrise Sensory Hike at Indrio Savannahs Preserve, 5275 Tozour Road, Fort Pierce. Immerse yourself in nature as we enjoy a quiet and relaxing morning hike through the varied landscapes of Indrio Savannahs Preserve. Listen closely as nearby wildlife begins to stir, signaling the start of their day. Don’t forget to take a deep breath and soak in the warmth of the sunrise. At the end of this one-to-two mile hike, we will discuss the sounds that we heard and the wildlife that we may have spotted along the way.
- Friday, Jan. 24 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.: Ultra-Violet Adventure Hike at Citrus Hammock Preserve, 6511 SE Citrus Ave., Fort Pierce. Immerse yourself in the ultra-violet ambiance given off by the preserve’s nighttime plant life and small creatures. Through the guidance of the Naturalist’s black light, learn about how wavelengths of light have the power to render a plant or animal’s exterior different colors and how nature can “change clothing” from day and night.
- Sunday, Jan. 26 from 8 to 9:30 a.m.: Morning Light & Song Along the River Family Hike at Sweetwater Hammock Preserve, 4100 S. 25th St., Fort Pierce. Slip on your walking shoes and bring the family out to listen to melodic bird songs, trilling insects and the occasional splash of a fish in the St. Lucie River. We'll take our time to see and hear the world around us while we learn about the local ecology and discover the preserve’s air plants, wild flowers and animals. All are welcome, but this hike is most appropriate for families with children ages 8 and older. An adult must accompany all minors.
- Wednesday, Jan. 29 from 5 to 7 p.m.: Twilight Stand Up Paddle Boarding at George LeStrange Preserve, 4911 Ralls Road, Fort Pierce. Glide gently through the water as we enjoy a flat water paddle during Florida’s infamous “golden hour.” Take a moment to watch as the sky blends a series of red, yellow and pink hues. As the sun sets, listen for the chorus of the frogs to come alive that will be our cue to paddle back. No experience necessary. Appropriate for ages 14 and older. Stand up paddle boards, US Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices and paddles provided (you may also bring your own equipment if desired). The cost is $15 per person. No online registration, please call 772-462-2536 to reserve your space. Reservations are a must.
- Friday, Jan. 31 from 9 to 11:30 a.m.: Wild River Kayak Tour at Richard E. Becker Preserve, 3398 Selvitz Road, Fort Pierce. Discover the picturesque St. Lucie River by kayak on this guided adventure along our local aquatic preserve. Learn to identify numerous birds, trees and flowers along the way. Appropriate for ages 14 and older. Kayaks, US Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices and paddles provided (you may also bring your own equipment if desired). The cost is $15 per person. No online registration, please call 772-462-2536 to reserve your space. Reservations are a must.
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.stluciepreserves.com.
