Florida Hikes

Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

Sweep of wild oceanfront

Blind Creek Park

Spanning from the Indian River Lagoon to the ocean, Blind Creek includes a windswept Atlantic beach along the remote central part of South Hutchinson Island with a mile and a half of wild shoreline.

Protecting more than 400 acres along South Hutchinson Island, Blind Creek Park lies in the middle of this long, thin barrier island.

Adjoining its namesake waterway, it spans from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian River Lagoon.

It’s the county’s most remote beach, far from everything except the nuclear power plant on South Hutchinson Island.

Beach path Pathway to the beach

Resources

Resources for exploring the area
South Florida Explorers Guide book cover 50 Hikes in South Florida book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover Paddlers Guide Florida
 
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Overview

Location: South Hutchinson Island
Length: 3 mile round-trip
Trailhead: 27.364977, -80.249316
Address: 5460 S Ocean Dr, Fort Pierce
Fees: Free
Restroom: None
Land manager: St. Lucie County
Phone: 772-462-1522

Open dawn to dusk. No pets. Do not disturb sea turtle nests or sea turtles. In 2020, county commissioners voted to make this remote beach clothing-optional. Expect to see nude sunbathers.

Directions


 
From the intersection of Orange Ave and US 1 in downtown Fort Pierce, drive north 1.2 miles to the turnoff to southbound A1A (Seaway Dr) on the right. Cross the causeway to reach South Hutchinson Island, meeting a traffic circle after 1.3 miles. Head south on A1A for 7.8. The park entrance is on the left.

About the Park

Being as off the grid as it is, the park has no facilities except an unpaved parking lot.

At Blind Creek Beachside, a beautiful sweep of shoreline is framed by stands of cabbage palms along a rise of dunes that protects the view of the beach.

Dunes covered in plants Vegetated dunes

On the beach, aquamarine waters lap against the shore. When the wind picks up, so does the surf. During sea turtle nesting season, many green and loggerhead turtles nest here.

It’s a great place for a beach walk, with 1.5 miles of remote beachfront along the Atlantic Ocean for a 3-mile round trip.

There are also trails on the Indian River Lagoon side of the park at Blind Creek Riverside.

Atlantic Oceanfront Looking south along the beach

Because of its remote nature, Blind Creek Beachside has long been a destination for nudists, too.

The ongoing clothing-optional use of this beach was finally officially sanctioned by the county in 2020.

Egret fishing in surf Looking north along the beach

Explore More!

Slideshow

See our photos from this park

Nearby Adventures

Sea grapes Ocean Bay Natural Area A quarter mile immersion in coastal dune habitats offers a tropical canopy with shade adjoining beach access at Ocean Bay Beachside on South Hutchinson Island.
Sandy trail in sand pine scrub Walton Scrub Preserve Explore the high ground between the bluffs above the Indian River Lagoon and the basin marshes of Savannas Preserve State Park atop the Atlantic Coastal Ridge.
Vista of open marshes from bench Savannas Hawks Bluff Trail Scramble up and down the Atlantic Coastal Ridge on this hike with scenic views of the southern end of the freshwater basin marshes stretching from Fort Pierce to Jensen Beach.
Pine savanna Savannas White Trail South Immerse in a vast pine savanna on a walk to the southern edge of the freshwater basin marshes protected by Savannas Preserve State Park.

Official Website

Sandra Friend
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