Guana State Park & Guana Wildlife Management Area

Six Mile Landing Kiosk Dedication Plaque

Nature Man is excited to provide you information on the magnificently diverse Guana State Park and the adjoining Guana Wildlife Management Area. I have frequented Guana since the 1960's, most often with my late Father-In-Law Ray. The Six Mile Boat Landing on A1A has a Information Kiosk paid for by Ray's family and dedicated in his memory.



Guana Lake Sunset

Guana is a barrier Island that is bounded on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and on the west by the Intracoastal Waterway and the Tolomato River. Guana State Park begins on A1A just past Micklers Cutoff Road and continues South for approximately 10 miles.

Observation Platform

CARL & GTMNERR
The 12,000 acres of Guana River Tract was purchased from Herb Payton (Gate Petroleum) by the State of Florida in 1984 for $91 Million under the Conservation and Recreational Lands Plan (CARL). I delivered several presentations to Public Hearings in the early 1980's in support of the State purchasing the Land with the help of Mark Epstein, a Guana Wildlife Management Area Biologist. After the State's purchase, the land was divided between the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission and the Department of State Parks. In 2004 the management of Guana River State Park was turned over to the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTMNERR), the 25th in the United States. Guana is believed to be an extremely historic area because an account by a Spanish historian in 1592 led 20th century historians to conclude that Ponce de Leon's first landing and explorations may have been on Guana River lands. The reserve also contains seventeen archaeological sites, shell middens at Shell Bluff Landing and Wright's Landing, as well as a prehistoric earthen burial mound. A species list recently compiled for Guana River Marsh Aquatic Preserve indicated the presence of at least 44 mammal, 358 bird, 41 reptile, 21 amphibian, 303 fish and 580 plant species. It contains habitats essential to 48 protected animals and 8 protected plants.



Booth Pond Sunrise

Recreational Activities
Recreational activities include freshwater and saltwater fishing, hunting, boating and kayaking on the Guana and Tolomato Rivers, hiking and nature study, birding and Atlantic swimming and surfing. Guana is extremely rich and diverse and offers endless outdoor nature loving activities. Guana is a true gift from God to us all. The land deserves our respect and protection from any un-natural development activities. Guana sunrises and sunsets are almost a religious experience that should be enjoyed by all.

The ocean side is popular for seashore activities and also offers opportunities for Nature Lovers. North and South beach offer public access. Loggerhead marine turtles and Least Terns nest on the beach in spring and summer. Common Loons and Northern Gannets are sometimes seen offshore in winter months.

Wildlife
The inland side of the island is a collection of oak hammocks, pine flatwoods and freshwater marshes. There are three observation platforms and many miles of marked hiking and biking trails. You can enter on foot from the Guana Dam Recreation Site at the South end of Guana Peninsula. After crossing the dam pick up an area map, a bird list and a trail guide from the outdoor kiosk. Restroom facilities are provided. Guana lake is located just north of the dam and is excellent for shore-birding. Marbled Godwits, Solitary Sandpipers, Black-necked Stilts, and a variety of common shorebirds are often seen. Bald eagles and Ospreys nest here and are commonly seen flying over the lake. Also on the inland side you can often frequent wild hogs, deer, raccoons, opossums, several varieties of land and water turtles, grey and fox squirrel and most every variety of duck on the Atlantic Flyway during the annual migration.

On your visit it is recommended that you bring water to drink, bug repellent, sun screen, close-toed shoes appropriate for hiking in sandy soil, binoculars, camera and an Audubon Florida Field Guide for flora and wildlife identification purposes.

Proper trail etiquette is recommended:

• Dogs are not recommended due to numerous snakes and alligators.
• Animal and plant life are protected. Do not kill, trap or molest any mammal, bird reptile or amphibian. Do not pick, cut, carve, break off limbs from, or mutilate any plant life.
• Pack it in, pack it out.
• Take only pictures and memories.

In your visit you might get the opportunity to photograph a bald eagle fishing on Guana Lake, Wild Hogs rooting in the Oak Hammocks,  a Deer slipping thru the pines, a Great Blue Herron fishing on the shoreline or a flock of Bluewing Teal landing on an inland pond. Nature Man Photography brings you the following:
 



Brown Pelicans



Great Egret



Alligator on Guana Lake

Ray at Booth Pond