Encompassing one of the most dramatic shorelines in Florida, the rocky bluffs of Blowing Rocks Preserve have sea caves fronting the Atlantic Ocean.
When winds whip during high tide, geysers of saltwater explode from holes eroded in the limestone. Trails tunneling through sea grapes access the oceanfront.
The rocky shoreline of Blowing RocksOn the lagoon side, boardwalks lead from the nature center to an overlook and a half mile gentle loop connecting sandy beaches.
Stretching more than a mile along Jupiter Island, Blowing Rocks Preserve protects 73 acres between these waters.
Lagoon TrailPurchased by local residents in 1969 and turned over to The Nature Conservancy, It’s not just about its namesake rocks.
This preserve also protects sensitive estuarine habitats and mangroves on the Indian River Lagoon, tropical and oak hammocks, and dunes where sea turtles nest.
Nesting sea turtle tracksResources
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Overview
Location: Jupiter Island
Length: 1.7 miles
Trailhead: 26.978967, -80.084017
Address: 574 S Beach Rd, Hobe Sound
Fees: Free. Donations appreciated.
Restroom: At the Hawley Education Center
Land manager: The Nature Conservancy
Phone: 561-744-6668
Open 9 AM to 4:30 PM. No pets, food, fishing, or drones. Guided nature walks are generally offered on Saturdays at 10 AM from the Hawley Education Center.
Check the tide schedule in advance of your visit to ensure you see what you want to see: sea caves at low tide, frothing blowholes at high tide.
Directions
From Interstate 95 or Florida’s Turnpike, exit at Jupiter (Indiantown Rd). Follow Indiantown Rd. east to US 1. Turn north on US 1 to Jupiter Inlet. After crossing the bridge, turn right on South Beach Road (CR 707). Two miles later, watch for the Blowing Rocks Preserve sign on the right. The parking lot is a half mile farther ahead on the right. A larger lot is on the left at the Hawley Education Center.
Hike
A tangled bower of sea grapes shades the sandy interpretive trail that leads away from the parking area towards the sea.
Pause to examine the odd peeling bark of a towering gumbo limbo tree, its reddish-brown exterior reminiscent of a tourist with a bad sunburn.
Start your hike hereAfter a long green tunnel of sea grapes, emerge at a platform overlooking the dramatic coastline. Stairs lead down, but for a longer walk, turn left.
Along the Dune Trail, tunnel under the sea grapes. In summer, they sport ivory blooms. Their edible grapes turn to red in autumn.
Dune TrailDescend to the beach. The aquamarine waters of the Atlantic Ocean beckon, but this is not a swimming beach. It’s a rocky outcrop of the Anastasia limestone formation.
How they look constantly varies, thanks to erosion. If the tide is low, walk south along the beach, around fallen rocks and in and out of small caves.
Walking the beach at low tideIt’s a natural labyrinth with a stunning view of the sea, with some caves tall enough to stand in, all with natural chimneys exposing the sky above.
At high tide and when the surf is up, being at water level is unsafe. Waves burst through those holes up to fifty feet in the air, hence the name “blowing rocks.”
One of the “blowholes” of Blowing RocksReaching the end of the caves means reaching the south end of the preserve. Climb to beach level to walk north atop the bluff.
Notice the unusual erosion of the rock surface: twisted stalactites, stalagmites, and columns form in weathered rock, like a miniature version of a cave turned inside out.
Weirdly shaped rock formationsSmall roped-off areas indicate sea turtle nests flagged by volunteers. More than six hundred turtles lay eggs along this shoreline each summer.
Exit up the staircase for the direct route through the shady sea grape tunnel to the parking area, completing a 1.1 mile circuit.
One last look at the oceanfrontUse the crosswalk to reach the second part of this hike. The path through the tropical hammock across A1A emerges at a parking area at the Hawley Education Center.
Step inside for a look at the exhibits on the habitats within this preserve. There are also restrooms and a small gift shop.
Hawley Education CenterOn the south side of the building, take the deeply shaded path marked “Maggy’s Path to the Lagoon Trail.”
Slipping beneath sea grapes beside the building, it makes a sharp left by a shaded sandy beach on the Indian River Lagoon.
Start of Maggie’s PathEmerging on the soft sands, cross a mangrove-edged beach. Amid a patch of sea oxeye, a marker recounts the restoration efforts completed along this coastline.
Having seen both before and after since our initial visit over twenty-five years ago, the results are stunning: proof it can be done.
Restored habitats replaced a tangled mess of Brazilian pepper and Australian pinePast the marker, make a left at a trail junction for the Lagoon Trail amid a group of cabbage palms.
This worn grassy footpath winds between stands of cabbage palms and clumps of silvery-blue saw palmetto.
Lagoon TrailFollow its gentle curves between plants of the coastal plain, including sea grapes and draping nickerbeans among the cabbage palms.
Entering a tunnel of shade under the sea grapes, emerging to curve towards the compelling aquamarine waters of the Indian River Lagoon.
Curving towards the sea grape tunnelSeparated from the water by waving grasses, this part of the path is always covered in deep soft sand.
Red mangroves root on skinny beaches. Visitors claim tiny patches of lagoonfront sand with their beach towels.
Lagoonfront walkWeaving between walls of sea grapes, finish the loop. A small arrow marker points towards the exit.
Crossing the lagoon beach again, curve back through the shade to the Hawley Education Center.
Lagoon beachFollow its wraparound porch for another short walk out to the lagoon, this time on the Lagoon Boardwalk.
Heading from the back corner of the building into a mangrove forest, it comes to an observation deck with interpretive signs about restoring these wetlands.
Interpretive stop with a viewContinue through the mangroves to a junction and bear left. A platform edged by mangroves provides a showy view of the lagoon.
Leaving the platform, bear left within the mangrove forest. This part of the boardwalk emerges at the parking area.
Observation platformOn the left is a butterfly garden to browse. Across the parking area is the well-marked entrance to the path to the Beach and Blowing Rocks.
Finishing this 0.6 mile circuit on the lagoon side of the preserve, take the path to the beach through the shady tropical hammock.
Cross the A1A crosswalk to complete up to a 1.7 mile hike of Blowing Rocks Preserve at the beachside parking area.
Return route to beach parkingTrail Map
Explore More!
Video
Hiking Blowing Rocks Preserve
Slideshow
See our photos of Blowing Rocks Preserve
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