GTM Research Reserve Visitor Center

It’s been a few years since I’ve visited with my son during an Adventure Guides outing. But I enjoyed the displays inside and learned a great deal about the wildlife and terrain of the Guana River area. It only takes a few minutes to go through but I recommend it for sure.

Great environmental center and a must stop if you're traveling south along florida's east coast.

Great hiking and biking trails, mostly canopied. Even the drive to the park is a relaxing stroll along the beach front. Take a picnic!

Great trails (aprox. 10 miles) for hiking, trail riding, or running. Very scenic, and very diverse flora. Nice views everywhere and there's hidden benches with great views of the marsh toward the middle of the trail and the river on the outer ends. Trails are long and have various forks - bringing a compass could be handy just in case. Good breeze with the beach and river near by. A near pristine ecological preserve.

Various wildlife can be seen - I saw cranes, pelicans, other various birds, and a small snake. Bringing insect repellent is also advisable as there is a warning of the possibility of "biting bugs" at the trail head - but I wasn't bitten by anything at all.

Prior to the trail head are some nice spots right off the shore for casual fishing, shrimping, and crabbing.