Florida Hikes

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

Sand pine scrub with a bark chip path

JILONA North Trails

On the Atlantic Coastal Ridge above the Indian River Lagoon, this loop hike ranges from a mangrove overlook in a tropical forest to an immersion in sand pine scrub.

Jupiter (26.95268, -80.08249)   0.9 miles   Jupiter Inlet Outstanding Natural Area

Along the Indian River Lagoon at Jupiter Inlet, Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area is a rare piece of Federal land in Florida.

Managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), it protects not just the historic natural waterfront and lighthouse but habitats atop the bluffs.

Sand pines Sand pine scrub on the North Trail

The preserve is bisected by A1A crossing to Jupiter Island, with trailheads on both sides of the road.

From the Northside Parking Area, two trails explore the scrubby uplands atop the bluffs, with an accessible path leading to an overlook above the lagoon.

Northside Trails sign The two sides of the preserve offer distinctly different hikes

Resources

Resources for exploring the area
Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover South Florida Explorers Guide book cover 50 Hikes in South Florida book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover Paddlers Guide Florida
 
Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.

Overview

Location: Jupiter
Length: 0.9 mile loop
Trailhead: 26.95268, -80.08249
Address: 601 SR 707, Jupiter
Fees: Free
Restroom: At nearby Jupiter Lighthouse Park
Land manager: Bureau of Land Management
Phone: 561-295-5953

Open sunrise to sunset. Dogs and bicycles are not permitted.

Palm trees framing a bark chip trail

Directions


 
From Interstate 95 or Florida’s Turnpike in Jupiter, drive east along Indiantown Rd for 3.2 miles. Turn left onto Old Dixie Hwy (A1A) north. After the bridge over the inlet, it curves to cross US 1 and it becomes Beach Rd. The Northside Parking area is on the left, past the entrance for Jupiter Lighthouse Park but before the bridge.

Hike

A kiosk adjoins the parking area and shows a map of the trail. Start by following the accessible trail, which begins atop ancient dunes that are part of the Atlantic Coastal Ridge.

The sidewalk is walled by a dense forest of diminutive oaks making up the scrub forest topping these ancient dunes.

Sidewalk lined with dense oak scrub Accessible path through the scrub

As the trail winds through it, occasionally there are breaks in the dense forest, where the sand is a bright, almost blinding white.

A rust-colored net of love vine smothers portions of the scrub. There is a distinct downhill trend towards the Intracoastal Waterway, making tall condos on Jupiter Island obvious.

Scrub forest with condos beyond Open patches of sand in the scrub

A rope along the walkway delinates where the scrub is particularly fragile, so stay on the paved path.

Gopher apple thrives in this open space, a favorite food for gopher tortoises. The trail curves past an interpretive sign.

Sidewalk in sandy habitat Traversing a larger patch of open scrub

Curving through a stand of cabbage palms, the trail is edged with cocoplum and nickerbean on the right.

A sign on the left at a curve marks where the North Trail begins. Pass by it for now to reach the boardwalk at treeline up ahead.

North trail sign Curve where the North Trail starts

At a quarter mile, the boardwalk begins. It leads across a mound that looks like a midden, where sea grapes and cabbage palms emerge from crushed shells.

Winding into a tropical hammock infused with the strong scent of salt, the boardwalk pops out at a roofed pavilion atop a bluff above the lagoon.

Shaded pavilion above mangroves Observation deck

Enormous sea grapes flank the observation platform, and there is a dense mangrove forest below.

Straight ahead is a glimmer of the Indian River Lagoon, and a cluster of condos on Jupiter Island. The sound of the Atlantic surf carries here.

Boardwalk flanked by sea grapes Return through the hammock

Return along the boardwalk to the scrub and turn right onto the North Trail, a bark-chip path across the white sand.

Passing through a stand of cabbage palms, it immediately becomes a broad path carved through the thicket of oak scrub topping the ancient dunes.

Bark chip path leading towards cabbage palms Start of the North Trail

Twisting and winding, it climbs to where sand pines, somewhat squat from sea breezes, rise above and shade the dense oaks.

Dropping over a small ridge the trail faces a building peeping above the trees, part of a subdivision pressing against the north boundary of this preserve.

Path between pines with house and flag beyond Approaching the preserve’s north boundary

Coconut palms rise above the low scrub, too. The trail curves west and gains elevation, reaching a central access road for the preserve at a half mile.

Crossing it, it jogs right and joins a sandy perimeter road hemmed in well by the dense, fluffy-needled sand pines.

White path amid fluffy pines Sand path between the pines

The bark chip path resumes, curving within earshot of traffic on US 1. This portion of the preserve fronts the highway in Tequesta.

The upper portion of the preserve is entirely a coastal sand pine scrub, which the trail gently winds through, alternating full sun and shade.

Sand pines In the sand pine scrub

A small sand bald between the pines and oaks has scrub plum flourishing along its edges. The trail is hemmed in by taller scrub oaks soon after.

Ascend past another open bald and drop into a shaded corridor.

It’s almost a surprise when the trail emerges along the edge of the parking lot, the conclusion of this 0.9 mile hike.

Bench in shade of sand pines along trail The trail emerges from the pine forest at a bench in the shade

If you haven’t hiked the South Trail, that one mile loop starts at the trailhead immediately across A1A. Don’t miss it!

Trail in deep shade of sea grapes JILONA South Trail Circling scrub and tropical habitats in the shadow of Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, this delightful mile loop along the Indian River Lagoon leads to outstanding scenic views.

Trail Map

Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area Trail Map

Explore More!

Learn more about Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area

Bluffs overlooking an aquamarine inlet Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area One of only three federally designated ONAs in the United States, Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area combines a unique location with botanical beauty and history.

Video

A virtual walk on the North Trails

Slideshow

See our photos along the JILONA North Trails

Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Waves breaking between large rocks Coral Cove A spectacular example of a rare type of Florida coastline, Coral Cove features a dramatic rocky shoreline carved into unusual shapes by the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
Blowing Rocks Jupiter FL Blowing Rocks Preserve At one of Florida's most dramatic shorelines, explore a limestone bluff battered by Atlantic Ocean and beaches along the Indian River Lagoon.
Aquamarine waters and coconut palms along a Florida inlet DuBois Park Fronting Jupiter Inlet where the Indian River Lagoon meets the Loxahatchee River, this breezy park has one of the most beautiful waterfronts in the region.
Long pedestrian bridge along Intracoastal Waterway Jupiter Riverwalk Fronting the eastern shore of the Intracoastal Waterway for more than two miles, the Jupiter Riverwalk is a scenic urban walkway connecting hotels, dining, and natural areas.

Preserve Map (PDF) Official Website

Sandra Friend & John Keatley
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