Hiking Trails/Natural Areas

Cypress Creek Natural Area

Website | Entrance: 10035 Indiantown Road, Jupiter, 33458 | 2,083 Acres 
A Jeaga Wildways area

Spanning both sides of Indiantown Road, over 2,000 acres of mesic flatwoods, wet flatwoods, hydric hammock, wet prairie, depression marsh, dome swamp, and blackwater stream provide a home to over 500 species of plants and 217 species of animals. This site preserves an area of high-quality wetlands and streams, including Cypress Creek a blackwater stream, that buffer the northwest fork of the federally-designated Wild and Scenic Loxahatchee River.


Jonathan Dickinson State Park


Website | Entrance:16450 S.E. Federal Highway, Hobe Sound, Florida 33455 | 11,500 Acres 
A Florida State Park

Three scenic nature trails wind through the park, allowing visitors to explore the park's various habitats. The Kitching Creek-Wilson Creek Trails start in the picnic area parking lot and lead the visitor through pine flatwoods and along the creeks. The Kitching Creek portion is a self-guiding trail, with a brochure available. The Hobe Mountain Trail is a short, beautiful boardwalk that climbs up through the sand pine scrub to the observation tower, from which commanding views of the entire park and surrounding area may be had.

MacArthur Beach State Park


Website | Entrance: 10900 Jack Nicklaus Drive, North Palm Beach, FL | 325 Acres
A Florida State Park

The park is located in northern Palm Beach County at the North end of Singer Island. The park is open from 8 am until sundown 365 days a year. The entrance fee is $5.00 per vehicle, maximum of 8 people. The park has two nature trails, allowing visitors a chance to walk among stately trees, flowering shrubs and thick beds of ferns. At a time when South Florid's natural coastal areas are almost nonexistent, these trails stand out as one of the finest examples of subtropical coastal habitat remaining in southeast Florida. Brochures are available in the Nature Center and at the beginning of each trail.

Delaware Scrub Natural Area


Entrance: North side of Indiantown Road between Jones Creek and N. Delaware Blvd. | 16 Acres

The natural area contains four ecosystems, pin flatwoods, Florida scrub, mangrove communities, and a cypress swamp... all within a single, sixteen-acre site. One of the few cypress swamps found in northeastern Palm Beach County, with the trees reaching almost 80 feet in height. Jones Creek, a tributary of the Loxahatchee River, lies along the east side of the area. Approximately 5 acres of exotic invasive vegetation has been removed by volunteers, and native upland and wetland vegetation have been planted to restore the habitat. The Town purchased Delaware Scrub in partnership with Palm Beach County.

Recent improvements include an observation platform overlooking Jones Creek Canoe/kayaking landing (access only from Jones Creek), a Hiking trail, public parking and an accessible nature trail to the observation platform, and a 300-foot boardwalk crossing the restored cypress dome swamp.

Riverbend Park


Website | Entrance: 9060 Indiantown Road, Jupiter, Florida 33478 | 680 Acres
A Palm Beach County Park

Take a step back in time and enjoy walking, bicycling, riding, or canoeing through beautiful and historic Riverbend Park. From the ancient Indian middens, through the Seminole War Battles, to present day restoration, see Florida as the first settlers did. Nearly 10 miles of hiking/biking trails, 7 miles of equestrian trails and 5 miles of canoeing/kayaking trails allow for hours of enjoyment. Stroll along the Wild and Scenic Loxahatchee River, visit the Cracker Farmstead, and picnic in the shade under a Seminole chickee.

Jupiter Ridge Natural Area


Website | Entrance: North of Donald Ross Road, west of U.S.1 in the Town of Jupiter | 270 Acres
A Jeaga Wildways area

This 274-acre natural area is a state-owned Conservation and Recreation Lands (CARL) project which is managed by PBC. The natural area includes 7,600 feet of frontage along the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) located within the state-designated Loxahatchee River/Lake Worth Creek Aquatic Preserve. Since 1940, approximately 130 to 150 feet of the natural area’s shoreline has eroded due to boat wakes in the ICW. Restoration efforts are focused on reducing erosion and enhancing existing habitat. Restoration efforts will include 23 limestone oyster reef/breakwaters constructed within 7 zones. The oyster reef/breakwaters will enhance an estimated 3.5 acres of existing seagrass habitat and protect 6,000 feet of mangrove and scrub shoreline while providing habitat for marine fish and invertebrates. Additional restoration efforts will consist of planing 1.2 acres of native estuarine vegetation including red mangrove, cordgrass, and seashore paspalum.

Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area

Website | Entrance: Northeast corner of U.S. Highway 1 and Beach Road, Tequesta | 120 Acres
A Jeaga Wildways area & Bureau of Land Management 

In addition to preserving 120-acres of Florida scrub, maritime hammock, and mangrove swamp ecosystems, this site lies adjacent to the historic 1860 Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum, the George Washington Tindall Pioneer House and the Town of Jupiter Lighthouse Park.  Owned by the US Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management, this site was designated as an Outstanding Natural Area that protects unique scenic, scientific, educational, and recreational values making it the natural area that has it all!  

Limestone Creek Natural Area


Website | Entrance: 6570 Church Street in Jupiter, 33458 | 52 Acres
A Jeaga Wildways area

Public use facilities available include a 150-foot fishing pier on the west end of the northern oxbow, an observation platform on the east end of the northern oxbow, a hiking trail from the fishing pier west to Island Way Road over the upper weir, public parking and an ADA accessible trail to the observation platform.

This site contains 4 native ecosystems: mesic flatwoods, scrubby flatwoods, hydric hammock, and tidal swamp. Listed plant species observed on site: tiny polygala, wild cotton, common wild pine, giant wild pine, Simpson stopper, cinnamon fern, and royal fern. Listed animals observed on site: gopher tortoise, West-Indian manatee, American redstart, little blue heron, Yellow-crowned night-heron, osprey, and bald eagle.

Pine Glades Natural Area


Website | Entrance: 14122 West Indiantown Road, Jupiter, 33458 | 6,651 Acres 
A Jeaga Wildways area

A wetland wonderland, the 6,651-acre Pine Glades Natural Area attracts colorful wading birds including roseate spoonbill, great blue heron, little blue heron and white ibis. Great place capture an image in nature or bring your kayak or canoe to explore the wetlands. 


Jones/Hungryland Wildlife Area


Website
Located along the southern boundary of Martin County and the northern boundary of Palm Beach County, west of Jupiter Farms.
A Jeaga Wildways area

From I-95 take the Jupiter (SR 706) exit and go west 6 1/2 miles to the intersection of SR 706 (Indiantown Road) and Pratt-Whitney Road. The Main Gate is located off Pratt-Whitney Road, 1 1/2 miles north of SR 706.

The West Jupiter Wetlands trail is 2 miles long and can be accessed from the south side of Canal 6 Road (inside the main gate). The trail ends at Indiantown Road (SR 706). You can also access the West Jupiter Wetlands trail from Gate 6 (on SR 706/Indiantown Road) where there is a small parking area. The trail bisects a freshwater marsh about 1 mile in and is inundated much of the year except during the later portion of the dry season (March through May). The Old Jupiter-Indiantown Grade trail can be accessed off Pratt-Whitney Road (CR 711). This trail runs approximately 2 miles to the east and 3 miles to the west of CR 711. The Grove Trail is a 4-mile loop that starts/ends at the south end of Canal Road 7. This trail follows a levee that surrounds an old citrus grove. The best time to hike (and keep your feet dry) is January through May. Visitors can also hike along any of the canal roads. Please be aware that this site is allows hunting during hunting season. Visit the Jones/Hungryland web page for hunting details.

Bluegill Trail, Phase I


Website
Completed March, 2011

This new trail provides an off-road transportation route for people on foot, bicycle or horseback from Riverbend Park in Jupiter south to Sandhill Crane Access Park in Palm Beach Gardens. Bluegill Trail was the first Jeaga Wildways multiuse trail in Palm Beach County to break ground. Amenities include a 10-foot wide, 5.4 mile-long shell rock bicycle and pedestrian path, Chickee shade shelter, four informational kiosks, wetland overlook in Loxahatchee Slough, Natural Area Pitcher pump well providing water for horses (not treated for human use) and native trees for habitat and shade.

Future trail construction is proposed from Sandhill Crane Access Park south to Grassy Waters Preserve in West Palm.

North Jupiter Flatwoods

Website | Entrance: 3377 Church Street, Jupiter (North end of Jupiter Community Park) | 160 Acres 
A Jeaga Wildways area

This 160-acre natural area preserves mesic flatwoods, wet flatwoods, depression marsh, and dome swamp ecosystems. It is also home to several populations of rare plants including Atlantic St. Johns-wort, trumpet creeper, and yellow jessamine.  This site is designated in Florida's Greenway and Trail System - it is located within a system of linked conservation lands creating a wildlife corridor adjacent to the Loxahatchee River, including a crossing structure installed under Island Way to provide safe passage for animals under the road.