At Ocean Bay Natural Area, immerse yourself in a coastal dune environment on a short shady walk that tunnels through a tropical canopy of sea grapes, gumbo limbo, strangler fig, and sugarberry, creaking and groaning in the perpetual sea breeze with the roar of the Atlantic Ocean surf in the background.
Resources
Overview
Location: South Hutchinson Island
Length: 0.3 mile
Lat-Long: 27.326032,-80.229703
Type: loop
Fees / Permits: free
Difficulty: easy
Bug factor: moderate
Restroom: none
Ocean Bay Beachside website
Directions
Take SR 732 (Jensen Beach Blvd) east from US 1 to A1A. Drive north on A1A about 4.5 miles to the park entrance on the ocean side.
Hike
The trail starts from the north side of the parking area. Take the first left to follow the nature trail, following the black arrows and red blazes past interpretive posts. As you wander through the tunnels of sea grapes, notice the textures of fallen leaves on the forest floor. It’s a natural fun house of tight passageways between the trees. Finally, the trail drops down to the left and leaves the sea, working its way through a breezeway of palms and willows to return to the parking area.