Ranch Road

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Spring · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This is an uneven limerock surface with cattle grates interspersed along the way, but for those with strong ankles, it's a good route.

Stop in to the visitor center on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm October - May to receive a free daily permit to access the ranch road and trails. The main ranch road bisects the open pasture area of the preserve, where Crested caracara, sandhill cranes, deer and cattle may often be observed. It offers vista views of pastures bordered by native hardwood and cypress wetland forests. Parking areas identified on the preserve map allow visitors to access the varied trailheads located off the main ranch road.

In early October, stunning views of pastures filled with native southeastern sunflowers (Helianthus agrestis) can usually be viewed. A wet summer will vary the schedule of blooming but, almost always, the blooms arrive during the fist 2 weeks of October. Many foraging bird species can be observed in the isolated wetlands dotting the pastures, and Crested caracara, red shouldered hawks, eagles and sandhill cranes are typically seen. Deer are often present in the pastures with cattle.