Tonaquint Nature Center

Tucked back between the cemetery and park– somewhat small, but very nice little outdoors area where you walk trails, feed ducks, and view birds and lizards. I enjoyed it. Clear sky, fresh air, and a walk. Check it out.

This is such nice place to go to get some serenity feed the ducks and watch the birds it is tucked away behind the cemetery the grounds are well maintained

The Nature Center at Tonaquint is a hidden little gem that most people dont know about. Its a great way to go hideaway in nature and its generally pretty empty, which enhances the experience further.

The Nature Center is the northerly portion of Tonaquint Park, all of which is a great area for birding. We found it by our usual method of looking for green splotches on Google maps, then drilling down using Google aerial photos. The place apparently isn’t listed in birding resources.
There is ample parking, no fee for use, and restrooms associated with Tonaquint Park. A bike/​walk trail runs along the Santa Clara River, which is channelized on the lower portion, but un-«improved» above the park. You can also follow this trail quite a ways past the park headed north to check out wooded and sandy riparian areas.
You might also check out the Tonaquint Cemetery immediately southwest of the Nature Center.
Also be sure to scan the ponds and lawns of the City of St George Golf Course across the river. There’s another large golf course pond right across the Dixie Hwy at 37.745 035,-113.5 909 295 that you can drive to after finishing the park and nature center.
Our 90 minute pre-​breakfast visit on 22-​Sep-​13 to these spots didn’t turn up anything rare or unusual, but we did get Mallards, some undifferentiated teals, Eurasian Collared– and Mourning Doves, Northern Flickers, Say’s and Black Phoebes, Great-​tailed Grackles, Northern Pintails, Eared Grebes, Great Blue Herons, a Cooper’s Hawk, American Coots, Killdeers, Ladder-​backed Woodpeckers, an American Kestrel, American Robins, Common Starlings, Orange-​crowned Warblers, Abert’s Towhees, a Song Sparrow, Red-​winged Blackbirds, and House Finches.

It’s easy to miss this place. Adjacent to the south of the tennis courts you will find this quiet setting with paths weaving through different kinds of local vegetation. Great spot for a wedding reception.

This past Saturday, my brother and I found the Tonaquint Nature Center by accident. We had been exploring the City of Saint George Bike Trail System from the Dixie Convention Center Trail head. It was hot, and the lush vegetation brought us off the bike trail and into the Tonaquint Nature Center.
I am a fan of the Tonaquint Nature Center. Despite the fact that the Tonaquint Nature Center is small, it is one of many scenic places in the tapestry of the Saint George Bike Trail System. I recommend visiting the Tonaquint Nature Center as part of a hike on the Saint George Bike Trail System.
The Tonaquint Nature Center is the northern section of Tonaquint Park, which is off Dixie Highway. A bike path connects the Tonaquint Nature Center to the developed section of Tonaquint Park and the parking lot.
After spending four years in Florida, the Tonaquint Nature Center reminds me of one of those Florida attractions such as Gator Land. The Tonaquint Nature Center does not look like the desert. The pond is the focal point. A boardwalk over the pond is a great spot for observing ducks, waterfowl, and birds. At this time of year there were a lot of baby ducks. To my eyes, the water was kind of dark. Kind of like a Florida pond minus alligators.
To the right of the pond there is a small nature trail. On our travels, there were a few ducks that came out of the pond to hang out on the trail. The trail circles back to the entrance near the pond.
The surrounding land uses compliment the tranquility of the Tonaquint Nature Center. It is surrounded by a cemetary, horse stable, open space, and the remainder of Tonaquint Park.
I am glad that my brother and I accidently found the Tonaquint Nature Center. It is a nice place to spend an hour with nature.