Hickory Bluff Preserve Loop Trail is a 1.4 mile loop trail located near Osteen, Florida that offers the chance to see wildlife and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
The 150-acre Hickory Bluff Preserve overlooks the St. Johns River and contains many natural communities including mesic and scrubby flatwoods, oak hammock, cypress domes, floodplain swamp, and wet prairie. The preserve was acquired by Volusia County Government using Volusia Forever funds with the assistance of a grant from the Florida Communities Trust. Wildlife along the trail many include osprey, eagle, great blue heron, barred owl, gopher tortoise, alligator, river otter, bobcat, deer and turkey.
Entrance/Parking: 598 Guise Road, Osteen, FL 32764 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Randall Sleister Program Manager rsleister@volusia.org ext. 12092 Stuart Jones Land Manager sjones@volusia.org ext. 21270 Bonnie Cary Naturalist bcary@volusia.org ext. 21263 Toll free landlines when calling from: West Volusia 386-736-5927 Daytona Beach 386-254-4612 New Smyrna Beach 386-423-3303
From the center of Osteen 1. Head northeast on FL-415 N toward New Smyrna Blvd472 ft 2. Take the 1st right onto New Smyrna Blvd407 ft 3. Take the 1st left onto Florida Ave/Maytown Rd/Osteen Maytown Rd Continue to follow Maytown Rd/Osteen Maytown Rd 2.6 mi 4. Turn right onto Guise Rd Destination will be on the right 0.9 mi
January 1, 2021
December 3, 2020Brought the pup and hiked both red and blue trails. CHECK FOR TICKS! I found at least 4 on my pup at the end. We saw a bunch of deer and maybe 20 wild turkeys! This is a great hike!
December 1, 2020Couldn’t complete bc of flooding on trail, will try again another time.
November 28, 2020November 28, 2020Very pleasant but very wet in parts and tons of ticks. Be sure to check your pet at the end of your walk! We found about 6 on our dog before we headed home. We hear lots of wildlife and saw tracks for deer and coyote but didn’t see any. Loud speed boats on the river often spoiled the serene experience. Still worth visiting!
November 22, 2020This was a great trail for kids...easy to walk, beautiful....and perfect places for a picnic lunch.
October 5, 2020July 1, 2020Trail was in excellent condition, saw many deer, I believe 13 total. Also saw a tortoise which was cool because my girlfriend and I have never seen one. We went at the end of a rainstorm and the trail can be very wet
May 15, 2020Took the blue trail loop. Was a great short trail with views of the water. Tortoise sightings and a large snake(pretty sure it was a non-venomous rat snake). Well maintained trail overall. Will definitely do again but bring supplies for a picnic by the water.
May 11, 2020Beautiful area! It was beautiful out today. It is super short! Great areas to get right by the river. Would definitely go again! Family friendly as not difficult at all. Lots of sand though. Great place for a picnic.
May 9, 2020Relatively short but it's a good hike down to the St. Johns River and back around the loop through the forest. For the more adventurous types, there are plenty of places along the sandy river banks to go directly into the river and the day I was there a few people were doing just that. There's also a campsite and a picnic area. Like the name implies, the first views of the river can be seen from a bluff but getting down to the water's edge is easy.
May 3, 2020About a half mile to the St. John's where there is a fire ring and a pavilion. Nice, small shore area.
February 8, 2020Excellent even in the middle of day I spotted lots of turkeys Primitive campsite overlooking the St. John’s
October 13, 2019July 6, 2019It’s a well marked trail and very pretty when you get to the river. It’s a nice halfway spot to take a break.
February 16, 2019Lovely little trail, with easy to follow trail markers, informative kiosks along the trail and lots of beautiful examples of a variety of Florida ecosystems. This would be a great trail for anyone visiting Florida looking for a short hike to see a variety of what Florida has to offer. Cute little campsite too.
January 19, 2019Walked this trail for first time due to hiking challenge with daughter in Seattle. It was 3PM so not a good time to see anything. Trail is dry and well marked (some red markers have faded to silver). Will certainly walk again early in morning.
July 19, 2018I wasnt sure about parking and just parked on the cement pad, no body else was there, mid day just as storm clouds were rolling in. Gorgeous path, i got off path more than once following scenery. I saw several large tortoise and a white tail deer. A few really great spots to rest , picnic tables under awning and spots next to river. Yes a few flooded spots but not so bad as a way had not been made manageable today. get out and enjoy. The live oaks and pines are beautiful.
March 5, 2018
First to ReviewWent out there today, and it was absolutely beautiful, you can tell the water flooding height on the trees, however it's not flooded as of right now. A perfect mix of tall pines, saw palms, tons of wildlife of all kinds, sugar sand stretches allowing you to see all the different wild life prints, and opens up to a beautiful stretch of the St.Johns river. Absolutely beautiful.
December 22, 2020September 5, 2020August 21, 2020July 22, 2020June 21, 2020May 22, 2020May 15, 2020April 23, 2020April 19, 2020
