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Recreation home

District lands

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• Activities matrix
• Trail guides
• Hunting regulations and maps
• Using District lands

Camping reservations

• Campsites and shelters in the Upper St. Johns River Marsh Wildlife Management Area

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District property closures or activities that may affect recreation

Geocache site application form and search tool

Lake Monroe Conservation Area

Recreation at Lake Monroe Conservation Area

• Property map
• Google Maps location
• Trail guide

Size:

7,473 acres.

Location:

In southwestern Volusia County along the eastern shore of Lake Monroe, approximately four miles from Sanford and one mile south of Osteen.

Description:

The conservation area contains a large portion of the floodplain of Lake Monroe. Wetlands make up 94 percent of the conservation area. This provides flood protection, and protection of water quality and more than three miles of Lake Monroe and St. Johns River shoreline. It also protects fish and wildlife habitat. The predominant natural communities are floodplain marsh/wet prairie and floodplain swamp/forest. Years ago, Native Americans hunted and fished in the area. Now, the western portion of the conservation area is dedicated to Minnie Beck Kratzert, whose family owned the property until it was sold to the District in 1987.

Wildlife viewing:

The area provides excellent habitat for resident and migratory waterfowl, wood storks, wading birds and shorebirds. Other common sightings include sandhill cranes, bald eagles, turkeys, ospreys, deer and a large number of alligators.

Recreational activities:

1. Fishing, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, primitive camping at designated sites and wildlife viewing. more info
2. Boating and canoeing opportunities are available on Lake Monroe and the St. Johns River, and the area is accessible by water; however, there are no launches located on-site.

Restrictions: more info

1. Motorized vehicles are not permitted.

Access:

From Sanford, take County Road (CR) 415 to access the eastern portion of the conservation area (the Brickyard Slough Tract). A parking area is located on the east side of CR 415. To access the western portion (the Kratzert Tract), turn left on Reed Ellis Road from CR 415 and continue for about one mile to a parking area on the west side of the road.

For more information:

Call the District’s Bureau of Land Management at (386) 329-4404.