Guana Preserve at Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve

By America's State Parks Editorial TeamFebruary 5, 2026 · Updated October 6, 2026

The Guana Preserve near Ponte Vedra Beach is the public-use area of the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM Research Reserve), managed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). It is not a state park. These uplands were formerly Guana River State Park; today FDEP manages them as part of the research reserve. The Guana Preserve includes the beach access points, the trails on the Guana Peninsula and the Guana Dam.

FDEP describes the Guana Preserve as the submerged area of the Guana River Marsh Aquatic Preserve plus the uplands its staff manage for public use, “collectively and colloquially” called the Guana Preserve. This page covers hours, fees and what you will find there, as of October 2026.

Quick Facts

Hours and fees

FDEP lists these hours and fees for the Guana Preserve (as of October 2026):

Pedestrians, bicyclists and each passenger beyond eight in a vehicle pay $1 cash plus tax. FDEP sells annual passes for $50 plus tax at the Visitor Center. Bring cash: the beach lots and the dam have self-pay stations. Other sites within the research reserve may charge their own fees.

What you will find

Beaches. The FDEP management plan lists three beach parking lots, North, Middle and South, on the west side of State Road A1A. Boardwalks cross the dunes to the Atlantic beach on the east side of the road, and the Florida Department of Transportation provides crossing signals between each lot and its boardwalk. Each lot has a self-pay station and a portable restroom.

Trails. A 10-mile trail system runs across the Guana Peninsula. Kiosks along the trails explain the ecology and history of the peninsula, and the trailhead has a picnic pavilion.

Guana Dam. The dam area has paved boat ramps on both sides, restrooms and a picnic pavilion. Access to Guana Lake is limited to motors of 10 HP or less, and access to the Guana River depends on the tides.

Visitor Center. The GTM Research Reserve Visitor Center sits on State Road A1A, 10 miles north of St. Augustine. Its exhibits include live animals. The Friends of the GTM Research Reserve post guided hikes, family seining and beach cleanups.

Activities and rules. FDEP lists fishing, wildlife observation, kayaking, canoeing, motorized boating, hiking, bicycling and horseback riding for the reserve, with specific rules for each managed area. Follow the current FWC saltwater fishing and boating regulations. Dogs are allowed at the Guana Preserve on a leash no longer than 6 feet.

Wildlife and history

The high dunes along the beach are nesting habitat for sea turtles and ground-nesting shorebirds. FDEP names wood storks, clapper rails and painted buntings among the birds of the Guana River Marsh Aquatic Preserve, along with green, leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles, diamondback terrapins and river otters. According to NOAA, the coastal waters of the reserve are important calving grounds for the endangered right whale. If you find an injured animal, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).

An earthen dam built across the Guana River in 1957 created Guana Lake. In 1984 the State of Florida bought nearly 12,000 acres of the Guana Peninsula for $48 million through its Conservation and Recreation Lands and Save Our Coast programs. The aquatic preserve was designated in 1985, and the research reserve on August 19, 1999. FDEP counts 38 recorded archaeological sites in the aquatic preserve and the wider reserve, among them a burial mound, shell middens and the remains of a Spanish mission.

Right next to the Guana Preserve lies a separate area with its own rules: the Guana River Wildlife Management Area, about 9,815 acres, managed by FWC. The two areas overlap on Guana Lake, also called Ponte Vedra Lake, and the trails of the reserve give southern access to the wildlife management area. FWC lists waterfowl hunting, fishing, paddling and wildlife viewing there, so check FWC for its seasons and rules before you go.

Frequently asked questions

Is Guana River State Park still a state park?

No. The uplands that were once managed as Guana River State Park are now managed by FDEP as part of the GTM Research Reserve. The Guana Preserve charges its own fees: $3 cash per vehicle and $50 plus tax for an annual pass (as of October 2026).

When can I go to the beach?

The Guana Beach Lots are open from 8 a.m. to sunset, seven days a week (as of October 2026).

Can I bring my dog?

Yes, on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Please pick up after your dog.

Explore More Parks in Florida

The Guana Preserve is not one of Florida’s state parks; FDEP runs it as part of the GTM Research Reserve. Discover more parks in our Best State Parks in Florida guide, or use our Park Finder to search by activity, location, or features.

Editor’s note: Earlier versions of this page called this area Guana River State Park, and a later title used the name of the neighboring wildlife management area. They gave a size of 73,256 acres, Florida State Parks fees and wildlife counts that we could not confirm with any agency. In October 2026 we rewrote the page using information from FDEP, NOAA and FWC.

Keep exploring: The closest neighbors are Fort Mose Historic State Park (a short drive away) and Anastasia State Park (a short drive away).

About the Author

America's State Parks Editorial Team

America's State Parks is an independent online guide to state parks and other public lands in the United States. Our editorial team compiles park profiles from official agency and operator sources and other identified references, and follows our published editorial policy and review methodology. Where a profile shows a source-check date, that date applies to the detail it names. We correct errors when we find them or when readers report them.

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