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Guana River Beach

Photo: Lance Asper / CC0 1.0 · source

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Guana River Beach

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL · Northeast Florida

About

Between Ponte Vedra Beach and St. Augustine, A1A runs past one of the longest stretches of undeveloped Atlantic shore left in Florida, and Guana is the heart of it. Park along the highway, climb a weathered dune walkover through 30-foot dunes, and drop onto miles of coquina sand where the only footprints are usually your own and the surf does most of the talking. Behind the dunes sits the freshwater Guana River, held back by the old dam where the trails begin, so you can trade the empty ocean beach for quiet marsh paths whenever you want a change of view.

Highlights

Miles of undeveloped barrier-island Atlantic shoreDune walkovers through 30-foot coquina dunesSolitude and beachcombing with few crowdsGuana River and the historic dam trailheadPart of the GTM National Estuarine Research Reserve

Getting there

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Wild Florida Atlantic Coast Beaches14 places

Wild Florida Atlantic Coast Beaches

The Atlantic coast keeps its wild stretches tucked between the beach towns: undeveloped barrier islands, a national seashore, and refuge shores where sea turtles still outnumber people. Walk past the last parking lot at Canaveral and the crowds vanish; wander Big Talbot's boneyard beach where storm-felled oaks bleach white in the surf. No high-rise wall, no boardwalk, just dunes, driftwood, and open ocean. Bring water and shade, and leave South Beach to everyone else.