One of America’s prettiest beach campsites, Anastasia State Park offers 129 campsites for RVs and tents all located within the…
Make the most of your visit to St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights! Download the St. Augustine Nights of Lights App for maps, tips, and event details right at your fingertips. Avoid downtown congestion by using the Free Park & Ride Shuttle—it’s the easiest way to reach the festivities stress-free. Plan ahead, arrive early, and enjoy the holiday charm safely and smoothly!
Lace up your hiking boots and explore the natural side of Florida’s Historic Coast. With countless miles of trails to explore, hikers have plenty of options in St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra Beach. Our beautiful parks and nature reserves offer Florida vistas in their most natural form.
Here are our top suggestions for hiking Florida’s Historic Coast:
Just to the east of St. Augustine is Anastasia State Park. The Ancient Dunes Trail is a loop that leads you under the shade of ancient live oaks. The trail begins at the back of the park’s campground area and travels approximately seven-tenths of a mile, featuring some more strenuous climbs up and down the sandy terrain. Hit the beach after your hike for a refreshing dip in the ocean!
The Fort Matanzas Nature Trail offers a half-mile loop through natural habitats with amazing views. You can also take the ferry to Fort Matanzas, which was a colonial outpost near the Matanzas Inlet at the mouth of the Matanzas River running into the ocean.
Stokes Landing Conservation Area offers 5 miles of hiking and biking trails. One of the special highlights is an observation platform that overlooks the Tolomato River and the GTM-NERR, offering a unique view of the wildlife and marsh.
Nocatee Preserve features a 3.5-mile out-and-back trail for hiking, cycling, and horseback riding. It's situated on a natural estuary and boasts a variety of wildlife. Parking and restrooms are available at the trailhead.
With more than 15 miles of trails, the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM) sits on a beautiful peninsula between the Guana River and Tolomato River. Trails are open to hiking and biking and wind through a variety of habitats, offering plenty of wildlife viewing opportunities and gorgeous examples of native vegetation.
Matanzas State Forest borders Faver-Dykes State Park on US-1 and is across SR 206 from Moses Creek Conservation Area. This 16,000-acre conservation corridor is home to songbirds, bald eagles, deer, otters, turkeys, and more. The trails are open to horseback riding, hiking, and biking. Primitive camping is available with a permit.
Faver-Dykes State Park features a two-mile loop that is popular with birdwatchers. During spring and fall migration seasons, you can spot more than 100 species of birds throughout the park. Here’s a park trail map to help you plan.
Moses Creek Conservation Area offers nearly 16 miles of trails that feature pine flatwoods and a river, making them suitable for all skill levels.
Deep Creek Conservation Area features over 12 miles of hiking and biking trails. Deep Creek North (4,529 acres), the largest portion of the conservation area, includes frontage along the St. Johns River and the portion of Deep Creek that flows into the river. The uplands are dominated by pine flatwoods. Common wildlife species include the great blue heron, double-breasted cormorant, anhinga, common egret, tri-colored heron, boat-tailed grackle, red-winged blackbird, opossums, bobcats, and white-tailed deer.
Princess Place Preserve is a 1,500‑acre historic nature preserve that sits at the confluence of Pellicer Creek and the Matanzas River, offering over five miles of hiking and equestrian trails, an original 1880s lodge (Florida’s oldest intact in the county), the state’s first in‑ground spring‑fed pool, and ecosystems including salt marsh, hardwood hammock, sandhills, and freshwater springs.
Put Washington Oaks Gardens State Park on your must-see list. Sitting on a barrier island, this park features refined gardens complemented by venerable live oak trees. The Bella Vista Trail offers a 1.8-mile loop through several different habitats.
One of America’s prettiest beach campsites, Anastasia State Park offers 129 campsites for RVs and tents all located within the…
The Fort Matanzas nature trail is a tranquil, half‑mile accessible boardwalk loop through maritime forest and coastal scrub, featuring informative…
Stokes Landing Conservation Area, located just north of the Northeast Florida Regional Airport, runs along the Tolomato River and is…
The natural, 3+ miles of unpaved trails are ideal for walking, jogging, mountain biking, bird watching, photographing nature, or horseback…
The Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM Research Reserve) is one of only 30 national estuarine research reserves…
The Moses Creek Conservation Area preserves one of the few remaining undeveloped tidal creeks — Moses Creek, a tributary to…
On this site in 1565, the Spanish killed 245 French Huguenots in a struggle over control of Florida. In 1740…
Faver-Dykes State Park is located on the outskirts of St. Augustine, America’s oldest city, and close to the highway. The…
Deep Creek Paddles in Hastings offers guided and custom kayaking excursions through the scenic Deep Creek, featuring lush landscapes and…
Princess Place Preserve park offers 1,500 acres and four hiking loops among a canopy of indigenous vegetation.
The Atlantic Ocean and the Matanzas River provide the natural boundaries for the 410-acres of coastal scenery that comprise this…