Solitude Hike in the Guana Tolomato Matanzas

One of the best ways to take time for yourself and contemplate issues important in your life is to hike in a beautiful setting, while considering your thoughts. If that’s what you’re looking for, the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM Research Reserve) is an option you should have on your list. This jewel is positioned in the county just south of Ponte Vedra and is one of only 30 National Estuarine Research Reserves in the country. Its protected lands provide for a great diversity of plants and animals.

The GTM provides an array of hiking options to consider – their Yellow, Blue, Orange and Blue trails are 2 to 3 miles in length round trip. If you’re looking for a little longer option, the Red trail is close to 6 miles in length and offers views of the Tolomato River. For those that want a short excursion with lots of ways to connect with nature, the .3-mile sensory trail could be the answer.

There are benches positioned along the hikes; make sure to take advantage of them to sit quietly and take in the natural environments. You might also want to start your hike out at the GTM’s Environmental Education Center where you will be introduced to the wide array of plants and animals you might encounter. The Center provides a range of interactive experiences that can help you build deeper connections as you are out on your hike.

GTM Location and Hours

Address: The GTM Environmental Education Center is located at 505 Guana River Road, Ponte Vedra Beach FL 32082 – for trail access keep straight once you turn on Guana River Road, stop at pay station for entry access, go past the Guana Dam parking lot on a dirt road which leads to the trail parking lot.

Entrance Fee: $3 parking fee

Hours: For the trails – 8am to sunset, for the Environmental Education Center 9am to 4pm from Tuesday to Sunday.

Website: https://gtmnerr.org/

Facilities Available: The Guana Trails provides easy parking, and the Trailhead Pavilion gives a mix of background information about the hikes. There are restrooms at the Pavilion and a variety of benches along the trails are great spots to stop and take in the natural beauty of the Reserve.

Tips From Experts

  • For easiest access, park at the west end of the Guana Dam, past the pay station, near the Trailhead Pavilion.
  • Take a look at the hiking options on the map at the Trailhead Pavilion, this information will help you choose the “right hike.”
  • Go before 11am. You will see more wildlife in the cooler parts of the day, and it makes for an easier time on the trail.
  • Make sure to stop into the Environmental Education Center either before or after your hike to learn more about this unique area.
  • Leave nothing behind and take nothing but memories, help protect these sensitive lands.
  • Don’t forget sunscreen and insect repellant.
  • Visit the Ponte Vedra Visitor Information Center at 200 Solana Road in Ponte Vedra Beach to learn more about the area’s experiences.