Inside the Loxahatchee River Management Area north of Riverbend Park, three well-worn paths lead to different destinations.
The orange-blazed Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail follows a strip of dense tropical hammock on the property line next to Indiantown Rd, exiting to cross the river on the highway bridge.
The Ocean to Lake Trail diverges from the others at this junctionAcross from a gate to Indiantown Rd, the Italian Farms Trail branches off to the end of the peninsula, its aim the Masten Dam.
Starting a quarter mile past that turnoff, a shorter walk brings you to the showy cypress swamp below the Lainhart Dam.
Although it has no signposts or blazing, this hike to the dam is relatively straightforward. Where you explore beyond it is up to your wayfinding savvy.
Beauty spot along the river’s floodplainResources
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Overview
Location: Jupiter Farms
Length: 2.4 mile round-trip
Trailhead: 26.93515, -80.16843
Address: 9060 Indiantown Rd, Jupiter
Fees: Free
Restroom: At Riverbend Park trailhead.
Land Manager: South Florida Water Management District
Phone: 561-686-8800
Open sunrise to sunset. No pets or camping permitted. Off-road cyclists and equestrians share the trails.
Directions
From Interstate 95 or Florida’s Turnpike, exit at Indiantown Rd in Jupiter and drive west to Riverbend Park, which has a left lane turnout for its prominent entrance. Make the first left to park near the portico and restrooms. This trail is north of Indiantown Rd, but you must access it via Riverbend Park.
Hike
Start at the prominent kiosk at the end of the parking area, following the Riverbend Trail. Turn off on the East Slough Trail, which sticks close to Indiantown Rd.
Make a left on the orange-blazed Ocean to Lake Trail at 0.4 mile. It exits Riverbend Park through an underpass beneath the highway.
Riverbend Park main trailhead kioskNorth of Indiantown Rd, follow footpath into the woods and keep right when the Ocean to Lake splits off to the left towards a stile.
Pass the large brown sign for Loxahatchee River / Cypress Creek Management Area, walking through a gap in the fence next to it.
Start of the trails within Loxahatchee River Management AreaStart a linear walk down a well-worn path under a corridor edged by tall grasses and taller cabbage palms.
Large live oaks spread wind-damaged limbs, providing dappled shade. Wildflowers peep from the edges of the narrow footpath until ferns start to dominate.
The well-worn pathAt 0.7 mile, cross a gap with a locked gate facing Indiantown Rd to the left; the beaten path to the right is the Italian Farms Trail headed to Masten Dam.
Continue straight ahead. By its alignment with a road segment west of the river turned into a hiking trail, this broader corridor is likely the original route of Indiantown Road.
The Italian Farms Trail turns off across from this gateTowering slash pines and cabbage palms dominate the edges of the trail, a dense understory of shrubs and vines beneath them. Cross a couple of seasonally damp depressions.
Since the gap in the fence at the sign, the Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail has paralleled this footpath inside a dense strip of forest on the left.
Burrowing into mixed pine flatwoodsOne mile into this hike, it emerges at a sign and joins the beaten path you’re on at a junction with a forest road.
Head towards an open field with powerlines and the highway beyond a cluster of palms. The Loxahatchee River is ahead at treeline.
Trails converge in this clearingAfter a second gate to Indiantown Rd, the trails again diverge. Veer right on the narrow path headed towards treeline, slipping into a corridor between the oaks.
Closing its blossoms as the sun rises higher, moonflower vine cascades in front of a wall of tall cypress. The splashing sound is water flowing over the dam.
Worn path towards the damThe path narrows more and brings you to the eastern portage at Lainhart Dam at 1.2 miles. It’s a delight to watch paddlers shoot the dam when the water is the right height.
The put-in is at Riverbend Park, enabling a run along Florida’s first federally designated Wild and Scenic River.
Lainhart DamAs is obvious from this perch, the Loxahatchee River is a narrow waterway in its showy cypress floodplain, and narrows even more downstream.
Self-shuttling makes a day trip from Riverbend to Jonathan Dickinson State Park possible.
Otherwise, paddlers usually turn around at Marsten Dam, braving passing others on the sharp turns under the giant cypresses.
Paddlers headed upriverWhile this trail technically ends at Lainhart Dam, a beaten path beckons along the river bluffs. Follow it for views of the tannic waterway and paddlers slipping past.
After a tenth of a mile, it seems to end at a cove in the river edged by tall cypress with stout bases and many knees on the far shore.
Cypress coveBy the water levels on the cypresses, it isn’t always possible to continue this far, let alone farther. Don’t go past this point unless you’re experienced at wayfinding.
Nosing out the merest trace of a trail took us under a grand canopy of ancient cypresses.
Continuing through a floodplain of cypress knees along a bend in the river and up a side channel, a gap of light in the uplands revealed a forest road.
A forest road spur that comes close to the riverTaking that through the pine flatwoods, we returned to the junction with the Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail sign and turned left, reaching the turnoff for the Italian Farms Trail at 2.1 miles.
Our unofficial loop added 0.4 mile to the round-trip hike, but not without the risk of getting lost since our route was unmarked.
Sign at the Ocean to Lake turnoffExtend your hike by taking a round-trip to the Masten Dam on the Italian Farms Trail, or continue along the corridor you came in on back to Riverbend Park.
Alternatively, there’s more shade along the paralleling Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail, but it is necessary to climb over a stile where the trails meet again.
Return to the parking area at Riverbend Park after a round-trip of 2.6 miles or, if you add the Italian Farms Trail, a more robust 4.8 miles.
Italian Farms Trail A round-trip through former tomato farms reclaimed by second-growth forest, this multi-use trail through Loxahatchee River Management Area leads to the Masten Dam.Trail Map
Explore More!
Video
A walk to Lainhart Dam and along the river
Slideshow
See our photos from this hike
Nearby Adventures
Riverbend Park Protecting the headwaters of the Loxahatchee River, Riverbend Park provides nature, tamed.
Florida Trail, Ocean to Lake: Luckey Tract to Kitching Creek 10.7 miles. A hike of extreme contrasts, this segment of the Florida Trail crossing Riverbend Park and Cypress Creek connects Loxahatchee Slough with Jonathan Dickinson State Park.
Busch Wildlife Sanctuary A wildlife rescue facility in Jupiter for forty years, Busch Wildlife Sanctuary cares for injured animals and provides education on Florida's native species.
Delaware Scrub Natural Area For a tiny patch of land in the midst of bustling Jupiter, Delaware Scrub surprises with the amount of habitat diversity in such a small space.
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