PLEASE NOTE!!! Duette Preserve will be closed to vehicle traffic this Friday June 7th through Saturday June 8th in preparation for the upcoming 2024-2025 Hunt Season . . On Saturday June 8th - All hunt application drop offs MUST be brought in through the Rawls Road Entrance!!! All other satellite gates will be locked out Friday June 7th through Saturday June 8th!!
At over 21,000 acres, the Duette Preserve is the largest
Preserve in Manatee County. It is located in the northeastern part of the
County and contains the headwaters of Manatee River.
A wide variety of game and non-game animals can
be found out at Duette Preserve, including species of special concern such
as the burrowing owl, snowy egret, white ibis, gopher tortoise, and at
least three endangered/threatened species, the Florida scrub jay, the Florida panther, and the Eastern indigo snake.
Duette Preserve is host to many of the
native plant communities throughout Manatee County, providing protection and
preservation of pine flatwoods, hardwood swamps, xeric oak scrub,
depression marsh, and vast dry prairie.
Location
Duette Check Station (Open Saturdays only)
2649 Rawls Road
Duette, FL 34219
Map
Parking is available at three different locations. One is on Bear Bay Road. The second is near the end of Logue Road. The third is off of Duette Road at Trail One. Please refer to the trails map.
Hours & Fees
Duette Preserve is closed during certain weekends for the Hunt Program. See calendar of weekend closures.
Outside of hunt weekends, Duette Preserve's walk-through gates are open daily from sunrise to sunset to pedestrian, bicycle and equestrian traffic.
When Duette Preserve is closed on hunt weekends, please feel free to visit any of our other Preserves located throughout Manatee County.
To enter Duette Preserve by vehicle, you must visit during office hours.
- Hours: Saturdays, 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
- Fee: $4.67 per vehicle, plus tax
Annual passes to Duette Preserve are available by filling out and returning the Annual Activities Pass.
Things to Do
Horseback Riding:
Allowed on designated riding trails. Horses are not provided. Proof of a
negative Coggins Test must be available upon request for each horse.
Designated horse staging areas are provided.
Primitive Camping:
Tent camping is available Friday and Saturday Nights during non-hunt
weekends. $20 plus tax per site (maximum 6 people at site)
Big Thank You to all those that came out to this event!!! We hope to see you as well as more new faces next planting!!!!
.png "Give a Day for the Bay")
The Crew out at Duette Preserve is teaming up with the Tampa Bay Estuary Program to hold our 1st ever wiregrass restoration planting. And we need your help!!! Saturday June 1st 2024 we will be planting 26,000 home grown native wiregrass plants in a pine block at the very entrance to Duette Preserve. It's going to be a lot of work!!! But a ton of fun!!! . . . And lunch will be provided for everyone who comes out!!!
Please use the following link to Register: To Register Click Here
Weekend Closings
Duette Preserve is CLOSED to visitors during the following Hunt Program Weekends: