The character of the river and surrounding lands trace back hundreds of thousands of years. Their resilient ecosystems ebbed and flowed as successive ice ages altered the climate and geography of the peninsula. These swamps, savannas, and coastal formations surround Vista. At the core of a mosaic of conservation lands seeking to restore wild Florida, Vista can lead visitors into the story of a onetime paradise much valued, lost, and newly struggling to be reborn. |
Vista is both a portal and a nexus to the important living landscapes of the Refuge and the region. A wild river, swamps, pine savanna, and coastal formations, including salt marshes and an estuary that are among the most productive and diverse ecosystems anywhere on Earth, are within a short walk or drive from Vista.
The wild Suwannee River dominates and is a defining feature of the site. A quarter mile from Vista is the joint trailhead of the Refuge’s Suwannee River and Tram Ridge Trails. The now closed, Hurricane Idalia-destroyed Suwannee River boardwalk trails formerly led visitors through remnants of the great cypress-tupelo swamps, one of region’s iconic features. The swamps remain, but not the boardwalks. The longer Tram Ridge Trail leads through a variety of habitats, the most important of which is a beautiful section of pine savanna undergoing active restoration. Estuaries and salt marshes can be visited by a trip down the river or a nine-mile drive on a refuge road starting within a mile of Vista. |
![]() Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges
P. O. Box 532 Cedar Key, FL 32625 [email protected] We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. |
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