Guana River Wildlife Management Area

This site is an excellent birding destination; 220 species have been recorded. It offers 15 miles of hiking trails through flatwoods, oak hammocks, scrub, freshwater wetlands and brackish marshes. Two viewing towers, one on Capo Creek and one on Lake Ponte Vedra, provide good vantage to scan for wintering ducks, for which the area is known, as well as egrets and herons. Nelson’s and Saltmarsh Sparrows are also present in winter and can be found in the marsh by the Capo Creek tower. In late summer, Roseate Spoonbills and Wood Storks can be located in the Big and Little Savannah impoundments (be sure to check the interpretive overlook at Big Savannah Pond). During seasonal hunts, visitors can drive in, making the area significantly more accessible. Simply check in at the check station for a drive-in pass. At other times, visitors need to park at the dam and hike or bike in, veering right on the west side of the dam and heading north into the WMA. Watch for songbirds such as Eastern Kingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, and Wood Thrush in the hammocks during spring and fall migration; up to 30 species of wood-warbler have been recorded at the WMA including Cerulean, Bay-breasted and Nashville. From the bird blind at Diego Pond, look for ducks, shorebirds and wading birds as they feed on crabs, fish and invertebrates in the brackish water. Seasonal hunting takes place on select dates at this site, please click here for more information.