I've run and biked past Rio Nature Park quite a few times over the years and SCW and I decided to…read morestop in while we were biking by. There is a little bit of parking off the street perhaps for two or three vehicles. No bike racks available. You set off towards the water along a small short trail that has local trees and vegetation native to our area with signs that explain what the trees or shrubs are. Probably about half dozen of those while you walk along the dirt path in shade until you come to the water. There you will find a small beach point maybe 8 feet wide and a nice covered table and chairs in which you can have a pick nick or just enjoy the view of the inlet over into Stuart. It is quite the view! The park is quite small and no real way to avoid it being overcrowded very quickly. If I saw a car there or people I'd move along as there really isn't much space for multiple groups. However it is well maintained and quite relaxing. I will certainly stop by again.

I was exploring nature and parks in this area and found this little natural area. Unfortunately…read morethere is no parking so pull over on the side of the road at your own risk. There is a short wood chip trail that takes you down to the St. Lucie River. A few of the trees and plants are marked along the way. There is a covered picnic table and a bench by the river and the view is nice. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here but it is a pretty nature retreat for those who live in the community.

My favorite trail to go to. There's 2 trails to take and both were equally amazing! One was a lot…read moreshorter but more of a natural pathway and the other is paved but beautifully built I hope you enjoy this place as much as I do

Great nature hike in winter time but in the summer there are probably a ton of mosquitoes.read more

This is a boardwalk in historic downtown Stuart on the banks of the St. Lucie River. It is anchored…read moreby Flagler Park which is located at the base of the Flagler bridge at one end and an amphitheater with live music on weekends at the other. You can find free parking at the park or at the city lot next to the amphitheater. The Healthy Trail along the river is part of the larger Sailfish Trail that runs in a roughly triangular shape throughout Stuart. There are markers every quarter mile for a total of 8. if you did the entire Sailfish Trail you would walk two miles. It would take approximately an hour to walk the entire trail at a leisurely pace. Along the water you will have a gorgeous view of the river. I saw a lot of red clawed crabs peeking out of the rocks along the shore. Someone I passed told me about the manatee she had spotted the previous day. As the trail takes you through the downtown you will pass some of the historic landmarks of this charming historic beach front town, called the Sailfish Capital of the World. There are five historic art sailfish markers on the historical trail which highlight significant moments in Stuart's history. Stuart has done a wonderful job combing art, history, and health to make an interesting walk so the community can get out and exercise. The whole trail is paved so it is ADA accessible. There are also restaurants and cafes along the way. I love to stop for caffeine refreshment at Gilbert's Coffee Bar.

I accidentally found this trail and I'm so glad I did. It was nice to take a walk around the border…read moreof town and be able to appreciate the scenery. There's basketball courts, pavilions, public bathrooms and a jungle gym. Kids were playing, people were walking, and somebody was having a birthday party. There were also people fishing and others meeting for lunch. If you're in the area for one reason or anther, don't miss out on this beautiful walk. If you're looking to play ball, have a little get together or let the kids deplete their energy, you can do that too!

I had no idea this park existed until one of my kids asked about the government sign on Indiantown…read moreRoad, pointing North. I had never noticed it before: 'Jupiter Inlet District.' What a nice surprise. Growing up, both sides of Indiantown was wild lands, and now barely any is left. Like most scrub parks, there is a gate to keep gopher tortoises in. Most of these parks look the same in the beginning: scrub habitat. I was shocked when my kids pulled open the maps in the entrance kiosk to find a picture of a manatee. Yes, apparently manatees have been spotted here in cooler weather. The scrub didn't last long before our paved pathway became a wooden boardwalk across one of the more beautiful swampy areas I have ever seen. Beautiful, as in: it looked healthy. Back on the paved path again, we came to a fork without any signs and no indication on our map of what the fork was for. To the left is a short path to a bench overlooking the swamp. To the right is a slightly longer path leading to a wooden overlook with 2 benches on it, overlooking an offshoot of the Loxahatchee River (Jones Creek). The view is beautiful and peaceful, but we definitely did not see any water creatures. We did see a bunny. The non-paved trail was seriously overgrown and neglected. Without the wooden trail markers with the yellow paint circles, we would have been lost. Despite the park abutting such a major road as Indiantown, it was easy to feel engulfed in the wildness. I did observe A LOT of human-sized non-paved paths going off into the forest that were not official trails, and this is pretty unusual. It is normal to see gopher tortoise paths, but human-made paths are pretty rare - as they should be! My son kept begging me to follow them; no way! I felt extremely weary being alone in the woods amongst multiple signs of human habitation, including t-shirts littering the ground in a couple of places (including the scrub in the parking lot). I hope the the District will read this review and respond with some follow up, as I don't feel comfortable returning here for this reason alone, as much as it was beautiful. PARKING: A bike rack, a bus spot, a handicapped spot, and 3 regular spots.

This was a peaceful way to start the new year. The weather was perfect and I had an enjoyable…read morestroll through the 16 acre natural area. The parking lot is small but since I was the only person there it wasn't problem. Jupiter acquired this land in 2005. The preserve is gated to protect the endangered gopher tortoises who reside inside. Most of the preserve is paved before meeting with a 300 foot wooden boardwalk. There is also a sandy trail that goes through the scrub. The trail takes you to an observation platform over Jones Creek which runs off the Loxahatchhe River. You could see wading birds in the mangroves lining the creek bank. Besides the gopher tortoises other animals that have been recorded here are the little blue heron, eastern diamond-backed rattlesnake, wood stork, and bald eagle. Plants that have been found are the common wild pine, giant wild pine, butterfly orchid, and large flowered rosemary. Five acres of invasive plants have been removed. In addition to the scrub ecosystem there are six other ecosystems present including a tidal marsh and mangrove swamp. Delaware Scrub is just one of eight natural areas in close proximity. If you happen to be in the area this is a easy way to get in some fresh air and exercise without too much exertion. It is especially worth paying a visit when the weather is colder as manatees have been spotted in Jones Creek.

Twin Rivers Park is a great park at the junction of the St Lucie River and the Intercoastal…read moreWaterway. There are several boardwalks offering great views of the water and an island state park. The park also features great, paved walkways and trails and is a great place to walk. There is also a large open (grassy) area for recreational activities.

Twin Rivers Park is a 26 acre park located where the Indian River Lagoon meets the St. Lucie River…read moreand the St. Lucie Lagoon. Construction of the park began in 2005 at which time the county added mangroves to prevent shoreline erosion. It was decided that the park would be dedicated to passive recreation. Fishing piers were installed along with a picnic pavilion, benches, restrooms, and a quarter mile long paved trail and a .4 mile natural earth loop trail that runs through the park. Throughout the park are the burrows of gopher tortoises which are listed as a threatened species in Florida. Gopher tortoises have been hunted for meat, run over by vehicles, and sold as pets but the greatest blow to their population has been the destruction of their habitat. It was so nice to see so many safely protected in the park. The view of the water from this park is stunning. I wish I could have hung around until sunset and I plan to go back for that. Other than just sitting back and relaxing this park is excellent for fishing, a picnic, or just tossing a frisbee around. You can combine a trip to this park with a visit to Maggy's Hammock a half mile away where you can hike and see even more gopher tortoises. I love Martin County. It has so many beautiful parks like this one to discover and enjoy.

This is a massive park along County Line Road totaling 45 acres. It is part of Jonathan Dickinson…read moreState Park but is managed by the Village of Tequesta. Park amenities include 6 illuminated pickleball courts, 2 illuminated tennis courts, 2 illuminated basketball courts, 1 illuminated baseball field, a multipurpose field, a picnic pavilion, dog park with small and large dog areas, and restrooms. There is also a Girl Scout House in the park but it is not maintained by the village. This park is best for sports or taking your dog to play but I enjoyed the mile long exercise path that runs around the perimeter of the park and through the scrub area. Tequesta Park is clean and large which makes it a great place to exercise and enjoy the outdoors in beautiful Tequesta.

Tequesta Park is a forty-five acre park with multiple sports fields and a decent enough walking…read moretrail. They have ample parking and a decent enough dog park. If you are in the Jupiter, Florida area and you are looking for a good park, I would definitely recommend Tequesta Park. I am sure the community has embraced this park. We as communities need parks, a place where we can gather as a people for recreation and relaxation. Tequesta Park is a great place for this community and overall I would definitely recommend Tequesta Park. I will give Tequesta Park five stars overall.

This is the nature center at the Nathaniel P. Reed Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge. Originally…read morenamed Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge, this preserve was established September 30, 1969. Nathaniel P. Reed's parents helped to create the preserve by donating swaths of land to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service near the Indian River Lagoon in the 1960s and early 1970s. On April 17, 2019, the name of the preserve was changed to honor their son environmentalist Nathaniel Pryor Reed who was the environmental advisor to Florida governor Claude R. Kirk Jr. in the 1960's. He also served as environmental advisor to Assistant Secretary of the Interior to presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford from 1971 to 1977. Reed was instrumental in drafting the Endangered Species Act and saving Big Cypress Swamp. The Clean Water Act is also part of his legacy. He was known for fighting for the environment before it was cool to do so. Reed was a long time Jupiter Island resident. He passed away in July of 2018 after falling and hitting his head after hooking a 16 pound salmon while fishing in Quebec. The refuge is located on the coast of Martin County and it is divided by the Indian River Lagoon into two separate tracts of land totaling over 1000 acres. The Jupiter land tract is 735 acres and is important to the environment because it contains the largest complete section (3.5 miles of Atlantic Ocean Beach) of undeveloped beach in Southeastern Florida. As a result of the uninterrupted beach it is one of the most productive sea turtle nesting areas in the Southeastern United States. The Refuge protects 40 species of sea turtles listed as either threatened, endangered, or of special concern. Florida is the only state where endangered Leatherback Sea Turtles nest. The 300 acre sand pine scrub area is rare because the high, dry land was ideal for building on, so more than 90 percent of this ecosystem in Florida has been lost to development. You only find sand pine scrub in Florida and Alabama. The preserve also contains 10 miles of mangrove communities along the Indian River Lagoon. This National Wildlife Refuge has a large biodiversity of plants and animals. The last time I visited this refuge in 2021, the visitors center was closed for renovations so I was interested in visiting this trip. The nature center is run by a private, non-profit organization, that is dedicated to promoting an environmental awareness in people of all ages. The nature center building is made up of a exhibit hall, classroom/ lab, and a gift shop. Exhibits in the nature center include the sand pine scrub, Indian River Lagoon, The Atlantic Ocean, Jupiter Island, protecting biodiversity, adaptions for survival, and information about the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Preserve. There are tanks with fish and reptiles to view. The nature center hosts turtle walks, summer camps, evening forums, scrub tours and more. It is free to visit the nature center but some of the events may have an additional charge. Check out their website for a complete list of upcoming events. On Earth Day April 22nd they will be offering free family activities, games and crafts. Before you leave be sure and check out the cute gift shop with an assortment of nature themed items. Next to the parking lot is a stairway that takes you down to a beautiful beach where you can swim. You can also hike the scrub surrounding the nature center. There is so much to enjoy at the refuge and I always enjoy my visits.

Nice trail heading to the beach and the nature center has lots of animals including fish, a snake,…read moreowl, salamander and hawk.

A quiet park with trails along the river and a nice playground for kids. Dog friendly walks.read more

I went here with my sister and her three children and we had a good time! This park is smaller but…read moreit's a great size for children and it seems like it is well maintained! My niece and nephews enjoyed themselves and I love to see great parks in an area! It's an important resource! I loved the sailfish detail on the turf as well! I hope I'm able to come back to this park one day!