Opened in 2008, George Lestrange Preserve is named for Mr. George E. Lestrange (1912-1962) who was…read morean avid fisherman and nature lover. He used to own the land and his family sold it to the county. This site will connect several miles of proposed trail along Ten Mile Creek and the North Fork of the St. Lucie River. The 94 acre preserve is located at the end of an abandoned neighborhood building project, It has a 37 acre lake that was formed from an old sand mine. The area was restored by taking out exotic plants and replacing them with hundreds of slash pines and some palmetto. The lake has steep slopes and possible alligators so no wading or swimming is allowed. Boaters can launch canoes, kayaks, and boats with electric motors. If you are fishing the lake is catch and release only. Around the lake is a one mile hiking trail and there is at the north end of the preserve there is an additional one mile looping interpretive trail through makes a loop through pine flatwoods, palm hammocks, and floodplain forest. The preserve is home to ospreys and bald eagles. On my visit I saw rabbits, gopher tortoises, and a peacock. If you love nature and wildlife this is the perfect spot to feel removed from the stress of everyday life and experience the way Florida used to look.

This is the perfect quiet spot for nature lovers, fishermen, walkers or runners. There is a path…read morearound a lake that is about a mile. It is a catch and release lake. I've seen people kayaking and fishing. It is not very crowded... probably because it is a very tucked away place (around an abandoned neighborhood development and in the back corner of a seemingly residential road. There are natural trails also... but be sure to stay on the right path. No bathroom though.

Finding this state park was a very cool discovery. It is located about a mile north of the Fort…read morePierce Inlet. You go down a road and there is a small parking lot at the end. The cost to use the preserve is $2 cash on the honor system. From the parking lot you cross over a bridge that takes you over the Indian River lagoon on to the preserve. In the summer you can see manatees swimming but on the day I visited the waterway was being enjoyed by paddle boarders. This 1,342 acre preserve has been managed by the State of Florida since 1963. It has more than 4 miles of dirt and grass trails along mangrove lined canals. I saw so many mangrove crabs scuttling around. Little blue herons fly overhead and I also saw great blue herons, great egrets, snowy egrets, wood storks, and ibises. Osprey and roseate spoonbills have also been noted in the preserve, There are two trails to the the observation tower. A one mile direct trail or a two mile perimeter trail. I opted for the direct route to avoid an impending rain storm. The tower has stairs that take you 30 feet above the lagoon. From the top you can see the bird rookeries on surrounding islands. As you hike the island you will see culverts that are part of a system for flushing mosquitoes from their breeding areas. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in mud along the island and water is released through the big metal pipes to flood the areas normally used by the mosquitoes for breeding from April to October. Two other islands make up the preserve, Kings and Queens but they have to be explored from the water. Jack Island is the only one that offers hiking trails. Since Jack Island is located on the lagoon it gets fewer visitors than other state parks on the beach. I had the whole preserve to myself. I saw so many birds, it really is a paradise for bird watchers and photographers. The hike is an easy one and I would have stayed longer if it wasn't for the lightning. The island is also popular with anglers who fish for mullet, snook, and sheepshead and runners. You can walk for miles and never encounter any one else. Jack Island is the perfect place to enjoy Florida the way Mother Nature intended it to be.

Good hiking spot, there's multiple length hikes to choose from. You can either take a direct one…read moremile (one way) walk to the observation tower or take the loop which is 2 miles either way. The tower provides a 360 lookout over the mangroves and the river. Saw herons, crabs, butterflies and large flying fish. Dogs are allowed on short leash. Path is sandy and currently muddy due to afternoon showers today. If you're coming from Ft Pierce Inlet SP or the Avalon State Park this is a 10 minute drive from either one and is worth a stop. We created a state parks map and this was not on it. We saw a state park sign (pictured) and whipped a U-ie to check it out. Glad we did. It is a $2 honor system admission fee payable at entrance. Entrance is where a residential street dead ends and you'll see a McMansion on your left. Park anywhere, pay the fee and walk toward the bridge. No amenities. No restrooms or water fountains. If you're an outdoor person consider getting the Florida state park pass. It's $120 per family and lasts 12 calendar months.

Sandpiper Bay Park is an 11.5 acre open space park established in 1999 in Port St. Lucie. I was…read morehiking in the area and decided to stop by and check it out. There is no established parking area but I noticed people were parking on the grass. The park is located on a canal where fishing is permitted but there is a sign warning about alligators. There is a small trail through the woods that runs along the canal. Along the way you will trees, pinecones, and a view of the water. The park also has picnic tables near the parking area making it a nice place to eat lunch in nature. Port St. Lucie really excels in their nature preserves. Their newest one is The Preserve in the Port District. Sandpiper Bay Park is a great spot for local families to walk their dog, have a picnic, or just taking a relaxing stroll among the trees.

Osprey Acres Stormwater Park and Nature Preserve is an 83.7 acre park created in 2019 at a cost of…read more$7.4 million dollars. It serves the primary function of removing nitrogen and phosphorous from Osprey Marsh next door and from area canals. Since 2015 Osprey March has been removing dissolved nutrients from canal water and from the South County Water Treatment Plant's reverse osmosis brine discharge. Osprey Acres was going to be a 400 home development but was saved from development when Indian River County purchased the land to create a stormwater treatment facility to clean the water before it enters the Indian River Lagoon. While the main purpose of the park is to clean the reclaimed water, a welcome byproduct is that it attracts a lot of wildlife. Wetland parks are some of my favorite kind of parks because they attract a variety of wildlife including wading birds, migrating birds, lizards, turtles, and alligators. Osprey Acres preserved over 60 acres of native upland habitat and created 17 acres of aquatic habitat for fish and waterfowl. Some of the animals you might see here are gopher tortoises, osprey, southern black racer, alligator, river otter, coral snake, marsh rabbit, bobcat, water moccasin, great horned owl, racoon, and eastern indigo snake. Natural earth walking trails traverse through Florida ecosystems that include uphill pine, mesic oak hammock, a small scrub area, and manmade wetlands. There are five hiking trails totaling about 3.8 miles: a 1.8 mile main trail, two .6 mile trails called Marsh Rabbit Run and Bobcat Run, and two .4 mile trails called Woodpecker Way and Gopher Tortoise Trail. Osprey Acres brings together much needed stormwater treatment with recreational and wildlife viewing opportunities making them accessible to the community. Osprey Acres is open every day except Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Note that there are no restrooms and dogs are not allowed.

Located at the south base of the Stuart Causeway and across the street from Sewall's city hall,…read morethis lovely park is located on the shores of the Indian River Lagoon providing lovely water views and fishing opportunities. The town of Sewall is very small. It is only 1/3 of a mile wide and 3 1/2 miles long and this is the town's only park. Park amenities include a playground, swing benches, and a gazebo that can be rented out from the city for private events. There is a historical sign at the entrance to the park that explains the history of Sewall's Point. You can visit the home of Sewall's founder Henry Sewall at Indian RiverSide Park. The house used to reside here at Sewalls Point but it was moved to Indian RiverSide where there is another historical building. Sewalls home was restored and open to the public for tours in 2012.

Very nice park. Clean, neat worth to check out. You can…read morefeel the ocean breeze and enjoy the outdoors.

South Causeway Park is located at S A1A and South Bridge. It is across from Museum Pointe Park…read morewhere you can visit the St. Lucie Regional History Center and the St. Lucie County Aquarium. South Causeway Park is a linear beach park on the Fort Pierce Inlet. It has free parking, grills, picnic pavilions, restrooms, and showers. The real star of this park is the quarter mile long white sandy beach and calm gentle waters of the inlet which are ideal for the youngest of bathers. The waters off this park are busy with kayakers, sailors, and pleasure boaters. Pelicans, egret, and herons are some of the many birds you may see here. People flock to this beautiful park for swimming, picnicking, and fishing. I saw a lot of people setting up their own canopies and staking out their spots so they can make a full day of free fun here. The great thing about this park is there is room for everyone. South Causeway Park is a fantastic alternative to the beach parks when you would rather avoid the ocean.

This is a free park on A1A near the St Lucie History Museum and the St Lucie Aquarium. It has…read morepicnic areas, grills and a beautiful white sand beach. The park is on an inlet which makes it nice for families with young kids. Good for swimming and kayaking.

Grateful for the tribute to the man who took the time to submit to the state the reasons that this…read moreland along the Indian River Lagoon should be set aside and kept from being rezoned for industrial or commercial use. Went when the wild magnolia trees were blooming along the boardwalk path through the woods. Observation platform with picnic table once you reach the river shore from the park entrance.

This park was formerly named the St. Lucie Village Heritage Park. The name was changed to honor St…read more Lucie Village community leader Donald B. Moore who passed away in 2012. Moore was a veteran of the Coast Guard and Navy and served as the fire chief for the St. Lucie County Fire District. This 78 acre park is believed to be the site of the Russell/ Barker skirmish that led to the 3rd Seminole Indian War. John Barker was a trader who tried to cheat the Seminoles with faulty gun powder and bad alcohol. In 1849 he was walking with his brother in law William Russell when Barker was confronted by four Seminoles. They shot Russell causing the men to run. Barker was caught and stabbed to death Russell and family members of both men were able to escape by boat. The park is located along the Indian River Lagoon. It has a disc golf course, an observation tower and two hiking trails. The northern trail contains interpretive signs explains about the plant life while the southern trail contains historical signs relating to the skirmish and a small homestead, an illegal still, and the turpentine industry in the area. Unfortunately I wasn't able to explore the trails as much as I would have liked due to the heavy mosquito infestation. There are no restroom facilities or water so plan accordingly. The trails are natural ground which are not wheel chair accessible but are easy to hike for most people. Occasionally naturalists will lead hikes here.

My heart will always be fond of Rivergate as I have so many amazing childhood memories, especially…read morethe friendly squirrels, raccoons, and sea otters that were thriving here! Oh, and a big ole alligator that had no qualms about sunbathing and showing off to us onlookers! The brush has no long overgrown where he (or she) used to hang out for us all to see (and some people would feed him too ... but he was still a hunter ... and I would see him go after birds in the water which was cool and sad all at once ... like an episode of National Geographic). Since then things have changed a lot. I haven't seen any raccoons on my last few visits. I was told feral cats and fisherman ruined the population of cute animals that called this place home. They expanded on greatly to the walkway, which would be great, except that they didn't keep it wooden. It's metal and doesn't look great. It reminds me of being back up in NY with its cold appeal and just doesn't match the vibe at all. But the worse part and what is really affecting my rating is how utterly filthy it is! Sure, the area of the parking lot and ramps are nice. But walk the walkway.. there is endless trash everywhere. To the point I was taking pictures of birds down there and yes my pictured are ruined with trash but actual important thing is the poor wildlife walking around in this! Why?? Where are the funds going to clean this park? There is no excuse for this. It is unfair for us to build and use their homes for our leisure and then not treat it with the respect it deserves. Again, I went here almost everyday of my childhood and so did my family. The only "litter" you would see is some fishing string and bobbers from some people who snagged their lines where the water is. This was literally human garbage all over while looking down from the walkway that goes in and out from the parking lot to the water where the extended walkway is. I hope someone will see this and care and have this cleaned up. I reside in NY and have no idea who to contact or what to do but if someone is down there and has a point of contact ... please walk through the trees and look down at all of the trash and see if something can be done. Floridas wildlife deserves better than to live in our filth. On the plus side, it is still a peaceful place, there are two ramps to back your boat in, the parking lot is huge, there is an area next to the ramps to clean your fish and such, with a working hose. There's crab around which is fun for the kids to see (and adults if you're me), and when the sun is going down you can see gators swimming about by watching for their eyes. You can watch for smaller pretty creatures too in the flowers, like Florida lubbers (colorful and gentle grasshopper of a larger size). The best way to see all of these is to be still and quiet and mindful of them (which I find best achieved going alone). It is truly a lovely zen place but please please please clean it up and if you're visiting put your garbage in the appropriate garbage cans or bring it home with you. Don't make the lazy choice to litter. So many creatures die or are critically injured from our litter, you just don't see it happen as you drop it and walk away. It takes no extra effort just to walk your trash to garbage can. Be kind to our planet :)

Veterans Park at Rivergate is a delightful six acre park that offers many kinds of outdoor…read moreadventures for boaters, anglers, and nature lovers. If you are a boater, the park has three boat ramps along with free car and trailer parking. You can launch your watercraft right on to the beautiful St. Lucie River. For those coming to cookout, even large groups can be accommodated in the large pavilion with 10 six foot picnic tables, one eight foot tables, lights, electricity, water, and 2 large grills. Smaller groups can make use of three family pavilions with grills. My favorite part of the park was the boardwalk that leads you through the natural habitat of the St. Lucie River. Fishing is permitted and you can get a great view of the wildlife that calls the river home. The scenic views of the river add a serene backdrop that enhances the overall peaceful atmosphere of the park. Birdwatching is a popular activity here, with various species often spotted along the riverbank. This park is a hidden gem that has something for everyone to enjoy.