Welcome to Gourd Island Conservation Area, part of a larger network of protected lands in rapidly growing northern St. Johns County. Together, these conservation areas help safeguard water quality, support water storage and provide habitat for native plants and wildlife. In a region experiencing steady development, Gourd Island serves as an essential link in an expanding protected landscape.
Bordered by Durbin and Sampson creeks, the property was formerly used for commercial silviculture before being acquired by the Florida Department of Transportation in 2010. It was later donated to the St. Johns River Water Management District to offset wetland impacts elsewhere. Today, it strengthens habitat connectivity and protects natural resources as surrounding development continues to expand.
Water shapes much of this landscape, where approximately 183 acres of floodplain swamp create a natural gourd shape island that gives Gourd Island its name. Rising above the swamp, the “island” is composed of mesic flatwoods, xeric hammock and sandhill habitat. Since 2012, this central area has been the focus of active sandhill restoration efforts aimed at reestablishing native groundcover and maintaining a healthy, fire-adapted ecosystem. These forested wetlands store, filter and slowly release water toward Durbin and Sampson creeks, helping maintain downstream water quality and support the broader watershed.
With 3.3 miles of trails, visitors can hike or bike through a mix of wet and dry ecosystems in a single outing. Wildlife sightings may include gopher tortoise, white-tailed deer, river otter, numerous bird species and occasionally an American alligator. As always, wildlife should be observed from a safe distance and never approached or fed.
Gourd Island Conservation Area is more than preserved land. It is a working conservation landscape that protects water resources, connects habitats and provides meaningful public access in one of the region’s fastest-growing areas — proof that conservation and community can grow together.
Plan your visit by viewing property details, trail maps and additional information in our online recreation guide. Gourd Island Conservation Area – SJRWMD
