If you’re looking for a theme park, Guana River Wildlife Management Area isn’t your cup of tea. While exploring the trails there don’t expect to see Goofy, Peter Pan, or Han Solo but here’s what you might see:

Bobcats. Several years ago, I saw two in one day.

Gopher tortoises. Once after turning a corner on my bike, I startled one so badly, it ran. I know tortoise and ran are oxymoronic, but he was getting after it.

Snakes. Pygmy rattlers, black racers, corn snakes, to name a few.

Alligators. If you take the Hammock Loop (about ¾ miles north of the main entrance on South Ponte Vedra Boulevard) on a sunny day, you will see several, including a 9-footer that sometimes suns on the savannah in plain sight.

Bald eagles. Earlier this year I saw three, including an eaglet in training, and there are at least two nests out there.

White-tailed deer. Once in the middle of summer, I cycled within 10 feet of one for several seconds before he veered off the main trail.

Wild turkey. Recently, a mother with several poults walked in front of another hiker and me. Better yet, six or seven years ago I saw one that was 4 to 5 feet tall. A friend of mine still kids me about the fact the world record is 4 foot 9 inches, but I know what I saw, even if it was about 150 yards away.

Speaking of the unusual, on Christmas Day 2017, I saw a Florida panther. For years, I have questioned that because sometimes you want to see something so badly, you’re convinced you saw something that you didn’t. I no longer think that is the case, because a couple months ago a “Guaner” (someone that goes there once a month) said he also saw one. Skeptics have told me I saw a bobcat, but the cat I saw had a long tail, not bobbed.

When I first started going to Guana 20 years ago, I would sometimes spend hours out there and see no one. This past Saturday, I saw about 30 people on the 10.8-mile road that connects the entrance at the North Roscoe exit to the main entrance. There was an equal ratio of cyclists to runners/hikers, including some members of the Furman track team, which was in town for the NCAA Regionals.

Since 600 acres of Guana were recently preserved from development, awareness is at an all-time high and visits will increase. Part of me wishes that wouldn’t be the case, because I’ve had so many great experiences there, but the more popular it is, the more likely it is to remain protected.

If only I could just sprinkle Pixie dust on it…

When you go:

·         Check the hunting schedule because the northern section is closed part of the year.

·         If you bike there, it’s best to have tires at least 28mm wide, but if you stay on the main road, you can get by with narrower tires.

·         If you have a Brazon (bike bottle holder), make sure it fits snugly because it might bounce out. I suggest using a metallic bottle because then you’ll hear it if it does.

·         Print out a map of the trail, even though the roads and trails are clearly marked.

For more information, visit myfwc.com/recreation/lead/guana-river/