Guana's Trails Run on a Hunting Calendar This Fall

Between now and mid-December, only two Saturdays let the general public into the upland trails of the Guana River Wildlife Management Area without a hunt underway. They are November 7 and November 14. On every other weekend in that stretch, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has scheduled a hunt. On hunt days the forest behind the Guana Dam isn't fully open to walkers, and on most of those days it's open only to permit holders.

The schedule behind all of this is FWC's 2026–27 hunt calendar for Guana River WMA, generated on October 11, 2026. It covers July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

What a Hunt Date Changes on the Peninsula

The rule fits in two sentences on FWC's calendar. On all hunting dates, including scouting dates, public access to the upland part of Guana River WMA goes through the Guana Dam entrance only. On the quota-permit hunts, which this fall means archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun, upland access is limited to quota permit holders, their hunting guests and exempt hunters.

The scouting rule adds a day to each hunt. FWC allows scouting from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the day before each hunt, except waterfowl hunts, and scouting days count as hunting dates for access. A Friday-to-Sunday hunt therefore limits access starting Thursday.

Small-game hunts work a little differently. They aren't on the quota list, so the Dam-entrance rule applies but the permit-holders-only rule does not. On any scheduled hunt day, FWC encourages every WMA visitor to wear a daylight fluorescent orange shirt, vest, jacket or hat.

FWC also prints a caveat on the calendar. The season dates "are not comprehensive guides" and may change, and the full rules are in the regulations summary at MyFWC.com/Hunting. As of today, FWC's notices page shows no extra closure for Guana River.

Fall at Guana, Weekend by Weekend

This calendar starts with this coming weekend. October's first archery hunt ran October 9 through 11 and is already over. The dates below come from FWC's hunt calendar and the reserve's published events list. Restricted days include each scouting day.

Three dates in the table matter for holiday plans. The second general gun hunt runs over Thanksgiving weekend, and its scouting day falls on Thanksgiving itself, Thursday, November 26. The October 24 muzzleloading hunt runs Saturday through Monday instead of the usual Friday through Sunday, so the restriction carries into a weekday. Small-game hunts also continue after the new year. FWC lists them for four more weekends in January 2027.

The Two Open Saturdays Carry the Trail Programs

GTM's guided programs that use the upland trails and the lake fall on the two weekends with no hunt.

The Guided Exploration Hike on Saturday, November 7, runs from 9 to 11 a.m. It covers the Guana Peninsula's biodiversity, cultural history and estuarine resources. Hikers meet at the reserve's Trailhead Pavilion west of the Guana Dam. According to the event page, the route follows the Yellow Trail, is less than 2.2 miles round trip and takes under two hours. Registration is required, and the only cost is the $3-per-vehicle parking fee.

Family Seining follows on Saturday, November 14. It's GTM's monthly second-Saturday program, where participants pull a seine net through Guana Lake and collect fish, crabs and other species.

If you hike the Yellow Trail on your own, the same two weekends are the only fall weekends when the upland portion has no hunt restriction at all. Weekdays are less complicated. Apart from the Thursday scouting days, Friday, October 23 and Monday, October 26, every restricted date this fall falls on a weekend.

The Beach Side Keeps Its Own Calendar

The hunt rule covers the upland portion of the WMA. Several of the reserve's best-known fall events happen on hunt weekends because they take place on the beach or at the Visitor Center.

ESTUSCARY Haunted Trail is the main example. The Friends of GTM Research Reserve stage it on Thursday, October 29 and Friday, October 30, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. That's the scouting day and first day of the second muzzleloading hunt. The location is the Guana South Beach Access parking lot on South Ponte Vedra Boulevard. The event listing prices tickets at $20 online and $30 at the trail. It recommends the event for ages 10 and up, encourages costumes and suggests closed-toe shoes. The organizers are also recruiting volunteer scare actors ages 15 and older, with community service hours available.

The monthly beach cleanups on October 24 and November 28 also land on hunt weekends. They run 9 to 11 a.m. and meet at either the GTM Visitor Center in Ponte Vedra Beach or the Marineland office in St. Augustine. Gloves and bags are provided, and no signup is needed.

The docent-led Beach Exploration walks on October 17 and November 21 focus on shells and the animals that live on the beach. GTM's standing schedule puts them on third Saturdays from 9 to 11 a.m., starting at the Visitor Center.

The reserve calendar also lists two programs that might seem to belong to Guana but don't. Ocean to Estuary: A Tidal Journey on October 17 and November 21 meets at River to Sea Preserve in Marineland. Nature Journaling with instructor Elaine Bergstrom takes place on first Thursdays at the reserve: November 5, December 3 and an introductory watercolor session on October 15. October 15 and December 3 are both scouting days, so plan to stay on the Visitor Center side those mornings.

Why So Many Users Share the Peninsula

The overlap of hunters, hikers, anglers and families on these weekends follows from what the peninsula is. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection describes the reserve as important feeding and resting habitat for migrating shorebirds and raptors on the Atlantic Flyway, and lists red drum among its fish.

Fall also brings anglers. A May 2026 seasonal guide from a local Guana kayak outfitter calls September through November the region's mullet run. It lists fall opportunities for redfish, trout, flounder, Spanish mackerel, pompano and bull redfish. That's a regional pattern, not a forecast for the Dam.

The Guana Dam is also the one upland entrance FWC keeps open on hunt days, and GTM lists the Dam together with its fishing area. DEP's visitor overview posts Dam hours of 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, and Guana trails and beach lots open 8 a.m. to sunset. The page carries no date, so treat those as standing hours.

Parking, Passes and Hours

The fee is the same at every Guana lot. GTM lists $3 per vehicle, covering up to eight people, plus tax at the Dam, the trails and the beach lots. Pedestrians, cyclists and any passengers beyond eight pay $1 plus tax each. GTM's visit page tells drivers to scan the Premium Parking QR code or text the lot number, P5910 through P5913, to 504504. DEP's undated overview mentions cash instead, so bring both options until you've confirmed the current method on site.

If you're out here most weeks this fall, an annual parking pass costs $50 plus tax and fees and lasts one year from purchase. It covers the Visitor Center, the Guana Dam and fishing area, the Guana Trails and the North, Middle and South beach access lots. GTM says pass revenue supports the reserve's research, education and stewardship programs.

The GTM Visitor Center at 505 Guana River Road is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It's closed Sundays, Mondays and state holidays. DEP's page says state and federal holidays, so call ahead before Thanksgiving week.

Before any Guana weekend through the end of the year, compare the date with FWC's Guana River calendar. If a hunt is on, use the Dam entrance or the beach lots. If not, November 7 and 14 are the two Saturdays when the Yellow Trail has no hunt scheduled.

We follow Ponte Vedra's natural areas as closely as we follow the market, and we're happy to talk about which neighborhoods sit closest to the Guana trailheads and beach lots. When you're thinking about a move along South Ponte Vedra Boulevard, Rory Connolly and Suzie Connolly are here to help. Contact Us.

This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.