There’s lots of reasons to visit Lyonia Preserve and the Lyonia Environmental Center! Whether you’re looking to attend an educational program or looking to hit the trails, Lyonia has you covered.

The Preserve and Environmental Center are located at 2150 Eustace Avenue in Deltona, Florida, and are co-located with the Deltona Library.

​Three hiking trails (0.4 miles, 1.2 miles, and 2.4 miles) wind through the conservation land, starting behind the Deltona Regional Library and Lyonia Environmental Center. Click here to view a map of the LEC, Preserve, and trail system.

Lyonia Preserve

What to expect:

  • Lyonia Preserve is located on high, sandy ridges, that occasionally drop into wetland areas and sinkholes. As such, there’s a good amount of elevation change for Florida – which depending on the purpose of your visit can be a pro or a con!
  • The Preserve is popular with hikers and runners – but the soft white sand means we highly recommend closed-toed shoes.
  • Some of the other animals you’ll typically see are gopher tortoises, eastern towhees, great egrets, six-lined racerunners, and much more.
  • We recommending hitting the trails early in the morning or later in the evening, particularly in the summer. In addition to being a more comfortable temperature, birds and other animals are more active at these times!
  • Shade is in short supply, and white sand can sometimes can make it seem hotter and brighter than you’d expect. Prepare for significant sun and heat exposure with a hat, sunglasses, plenty of water, and whatever else you need.

    The Florida Scrub-Jay

    You have a very good chance of seeing a Florida Scrub Jay on your journey! A scrub jay visit is very exciting – but remember, they are an endangered species and the feeding or harassment of them is prohibited! For more on encountering scrub-jays, click here.

    Trails

    Wildflowers

    Ocala Lupine
    Spotted Beebalm
    Garberia

    Birds

    Brown Thrasher by Sheri Douse
    Eastern Bluebird
    Eastern Towhee

    Animal Life

    Gopher Tortoise
    Eastern Cottontail
    Florida Chicken Turtle

    Lyonia Environmental Center

    Lyonia Environmental Center (LEC) is a 4,000 square foot environmental learning center that provides visitors with a unique insight into Volusia County’s fragile ecosystems.

    For more on the LEC and the programs it offers, your best resource is Volusia County’s Lyonia Environmental Center page. Your second best resource is the County’s Eventbrite page, which gives you a calendar of upcoming events and allows you to reserve your spot!

    What to expect:

    • A “Discovery Room” with a 450-gallon saltwater aquarium and numerous animal ambassadors including live baby gators, snakes, a bearded dragon, and blue-tongue skink and more!
    • Hands-on displays and innovative computer-based learning modules that showcase the incredible environment around us and the role each person can play in conservation.
    • A knowledgeable staff that is willing and able to help you have the best visit possible and to help you learn more about what makes Lyonia special.