Situated on the western facet of Anastasia Island alongside the Matanzas River, Fish Island Protect is a refuge for endangered species and a protected historic web site.
Added to the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations in 1972, the island has proof of habitation spanning 1000’s of years.
A lot of the uplands on the island sit atop an historic shell midden that was later used to plant orange groves. Within the mid-18th century, Jesse Fish ran a plantation generally known as El Vergel.
Oaks rising on the middenOver time, the buildings fell into smash and nature retook the cleared land, leading to a shady coastal hammock surrounded by grassy salt marshes.
The property was bought for preservation in 2019 and is at present managed by the Metropolis of St. Augustine.
Open to mountaineering and biking, the protect gives a pair of designated trails with a number of scenic spurs overlooking coastal landscapes.
Coastal habitatsAssets
Overview
Location: St. AugustineLength: 1.9 milesTrailhead: 29.864278, -81.298611Address: Plantation Island Dr S, St. AugustineFees: FreeRestrooms: NoneLand supervisor: Metropolis of St. AugustinePhone: 904-209-4270
Open dawn to sundown. Leashed canine welcome.
Instructions
Hike
Beginning on the western finish of the parking space, comply with a sandy entry highway because the path passes an in depth map kiosk earlier than curving southward into the protect.
Tall pines rise within the distance as a shady forest of oaks, junipers, and cabbage palms start to surround the pathway.
Maritime hammockIn lower than 1 / 4 mile, the Blue Path branches off to the north. This facet path leads out to a scenic level alongside tidally flooded salt flats on a 0.3 mile spherical journey.
Persevering with westward on the White Path, the hall opens to a small clearing in just a few hundred toes.
Tidal flatsA number of indicators within the clearing present details about historic and pure options of the protect.
From this spot, a brief spur winds out to a mangrove coated shoreline the place minuscule crabs skitter underfoot.
Interpretive panelsComply with white blazes southward alongside the shaded path because it leads down the island’s heart for 0.2 mile to the start of a small loop.
Noticed palmetto, beautyberry, and Florida coastal bluecurls line the trail whereas it follows a circuit previous three facet spurs with an inviting bench on the finish of every.
Path signageEvery of the spurs supply differing panoramic views of verdant salt marshes that encompass the island.
Returning to the start of the loop in 0.4 mile, flip northward to comply with white path markers for a half mile again to the trailhead.
Salt marsh viewPath Map
Discover Extra!
Video
Climbing Fish Island Protect
Close by Adventures
Official Web site
