Prairie Creek Preserve

Trail Overview

Prairie Creek Preserve is located in Charlotte County. Located between Punta Gorda and Arcadia on US Highway 17. The trail leads through cattle ranching and farm lands to the preserve area. This is an unimproved county trail. There are no fees or day-use permits required to access the trail. Given the amount of potholes and rutting, along with standing water, this trail is not recommended for low-clearance vehicles. The trail is open year-round from dawn until dusk. Careful planning of when to access the trail is recommended. The County has posted warning signs stating that gates automatically close and lock after dusk. Gates will not reopen until the following morning. All registered and licensed street-legal vehicles may access this road. However, several off-road vehicles were observed moving from ranch to ranch. Before operating other types of off-road/utility vehicles on this trail, check with local and state government agencies regarding any ordinances or statutes that may prevent the operation of such vehicles.

Photos of Prairie Creek Preserve

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Difficulty

The trail is a single vehicle-wide compacted shell/dirt road that has narrow or no shoulder areas. Areas with shoulders slope or drop off into adjacent ditches or canals. The trail bottom is firm; however, standing or ponding water deeper than 18 inches can be expected following rains.

Technical Rating

Prairie Creek Preserve can be accessed by the following ride types:

• High-Clearance 4x4
• SUV
• Dirt Bike