Route #86 North Hutchinson Island – Oslo – Blue Cypress Conservation Area

Route #86 covers 90 round-trip miles across St. Lucie and Indian River counties, linking barrier islands, historic river communities, and vast rural landscapes. The route begins at Fort Pierce Inlet and follows A1A north along North Hutchinson Island, passing beaches, residential areas, and protected sites such as Fort Pierce Inlet State Park, Pepper Beach, Avalon State Park, and sections of Florida’s Treasure Coast.

This coastal stretch includes landmarks of historical and cultural importance, including the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum and the underwater site of the Urca de Lima, part of the Spanish treasure fleet lost in 1715. After crossing to the mainland near Vero Beach, the route briefly follows the Indian River south to the old settlement of Oslo and Florida Ridge, where the scenery shifts from coastal to agricultural.

The final section heads west through citrus groves, cattle ranches, and the former military site of Fort Vinton, reaching the Fort Drum Marsh and the Blue Cypress Conservation Area, the source of the St. Johns River. Surrounded by wetlands and open plains, the route reaches one of the most remote landscapes in east-central Florida before returning to the starting point.

This route can be found in Discovering Florida – Volume 4.