• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Florida Hikes logo

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

  • Trails
  • Maps
  • Guidebooks
  • Search
  • Hike
    • Scenic Hikes
    • Loop Trails
    • Dog-friendly Hikes
    • Hikes for Kids
    • National Parks in Florida
    • Florida State Parks
  • Bike
    • Major Bike Trails
    • Paved Bike Trails
    • Off Road Biking
    • Biking Articles
  • Paddle
    • Canoe & Kayak Rentals
    • Paddling Destinations
    • Paddling Articles
  • Camp
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Car Camping
    • Primitive Camping
  • Florida Trail
    • Plan your Hike
    • Best Scenic Hikes
    • Best Backpacking
    • Section Hiking
    • Thru-Hiking
    • Trail Updates
  • Travel
  • Hike
    • Scenic Hikes
    • Loop Trails
    • Dog-friendly Hikes
    • Hikes for Kids
    • National Parks in Florida
    • Florida State Parks
  • Bike
    • Major Bike Trails
    • Paved Bike Trails
    • Off Road Biking
    • Biking Articles
  • Paddle
    • Canoe & Kayak Rentals
    • Paddling Destinations
    • Paddling Articles
  • Camp
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Car Camping
    • Primitive Camping
  • Florida Trail
    • Plan your Hike
    • Best Scenic Hikes
    • Best Backpacking
    • Section Hiking
    • Thru-Hiking
    • Trail Updates
  • Travel
Riverbend Park boardwalk

Riverbend Park

Protecting the headwaters of the Loxahatchee River, Riverbend Park provides nature, tamed.

Ocean to Lake Greenway  |  Jupiter
( 26.933152, -80.175023 )      6.5 miles

408 shares

Riverbend Park was more than a decade in the making. The 680 acre preserve near Jupiter is an ideal destination for hikers who want a taste of the wilds of Southwest Florida without getting their feet wet.

Nearly 10 miles of interconnected trails make up the trail network, engineered, broad walkways of compacted limestone. An additional 7 miles of equestrian trails afford a more natural surface.

Cypress knees
Cypress knees along the Loxahatchee River floodplain

There is no shortage of wildlife here. We spotted armadillos, white-tailed deer, and wild turkeys as well as woodpeckers and wading birds while hiking for several hours.

Signage and kiosks make it nearly impossible to get lost. It’s nature, tamed, making it accessible to nearby city dwellers who’d otherwise never take a hike.


Resources

Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover South Florida Explorers Guide book cover

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:
Length: 6.5 miles in a larger trail network
Trailhead: 26.933152, -80.175023
Address: 9060 Indiantown Road, Jupiter
Fees: Free
Restroom: At the trailhead
Land manager: Palm Beach County
Phone: 561-966-6617

Open sunrise to one hour before sunset daily. Pets are not permitted.

Strollers welcome. Trails shared with bicycles.

Jupiter Outdoor Center, located at the park’s entrance, rents canoes and kayaks for paddling the Loxahatchee River and river remnants tied together as watery trails.


Directions

 
Riverbend Park is along Indiantown Road (SR 706) to the west of Jupiter, 1.5 miles west of the interchange with Florida’s Turnpike and I-95.

Hike

Your hike starts at the entrance kiosk, which is topped with chickee thatch. It’s a theme you’ll see reflected throughout the park: lots of chickee thatch kiosks, plenty of signs, and big chickee huts.

It pays homage to the historical and archaeological significance of this site. This is sacred ground, with a permanent Seminole encampment for ceremonies.

Within the park’s borders, the Loxahatchee River Battlefield Park north of the parking area honors the Battle of the Loxahatchee, January 24, 1838, when Federal troops attempted to remove the Seminole from this region to the west.

Riverbend Park boardwalk
Riverbend Park entrance boardwalk

The trail starts with a boardwalk through a lush stand of cypresses and ferns near the Loxahatchee River. Hiking the perimeter of the trail system takes about 3 hours and about 6.5 miles.

To walk clockwise around the park, start on the Hunt Camp Trail, which begins at the end of the entrance boardwalk.

Follow it to the Pine Walk, which skirts around a wildlife refuge area where you’ll likely see deer. This meets the East Slough Trail, which in turn reaches the Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail.

Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail
Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail

This segment of the Florida Trail defines the eastern edge of the trail system, running along its edge for 1.4 miles. Turn right to follow it.

It is a broad path, passing impoundments where ospreys and egrets perch in the trees, crossing creeks and slipping through cypress domes. It passes a side trail to the Seminole encampment.

Turn right after 1.5 miles to follow the Grove Trail to the Orange Grove Picnic Area, with its big chickee pavilion.

Orange Grove Picnic Pavilion
Orange Grove Picnic Pavilion

The side loop between the Grove Trail to the Hunters Loop provides great birding along South Pond. From the picnic area, head north on the Grove Trail and when you reach Reese Blvd, turn left.

This long causeway leads through a floodplain forest to the Big Hammock, where the Hammock Loop Trail circles the picnic area.

South Pond at Riverbend Park
Along South Pond to Big Hammock

Either return on Reese Blvd or take the West Equestrian Loop to get to the north edge of the park, where Portage Trail and Wildlife Loop Road meet.

Follow the River Walk Trail from here. It’s one of the most scenic walks in the park, paralleling the Loxahatchee River. Tall cabbage palms shade the trail, and ancient cypress stand sentinel.

Pond Trail kiosk Riverbend Park
Kiosk at Pond Trail junction

Use the Military Loop Trail to return you to Reese Blvd and walk a short distance back under the dense palms to the Hunt Camp Trail to exit.


Trail Map

Riverbend Park Trail Map



Explore More!

Slideshow

See our photos of Riverbend Park


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Along the Loxahatchee River

Jonathan Dickinson State Park

One of South Florida’s best backpacking destinations, Jonathan Dickinson State Park encompasses a vast mosaic of ecosystems along the wild and scenic Loxahatchee River

Backpacker in pine scrub

Florida Trail, Lucky Tract to Kitching Creek

10.7 miles. A hike of extreme contrasts, this segment of the Florida Trail between Loxahatchee Slough and Kitching Creek offers the best of the Loxahatchee River basin.

Following yellow blazes into woods

Limestone Creek Natural Area

Centered on pine flatwoods along a historic creek basin, Limestone Creek Natural Area is a green gem in a busy corner of Jupiter

Kitching Creek Loop

Kitching Creek Loop

Burrowing deep into the backwoods of vast Jonathan Dickinson State Park, the Kitching Creek Loop showcases the beauty of pine flatwoods and cypress drainages towards the Loxahatchee River.


Kayak Rentals & Tours Trails Map (PDF) Official Website

Category: Biking, County Parks, Day Hikes, Florida Trail, Hikes, Loop Hikes, Parks, Southeast Florida, TrailsTag: Accessible, Archaeological Sites, Birding, Family-Friendly, Florida Trail, Florida Trail Biking, Historic Sites, Jupiter, NENA, Ocean-to-Lake, Picnic, Seminole Wars, West Palm Beach, Wildflowers, Wildlife Viewing

Reader Interactions

Have an update? Contact us.

Primary Sidebar

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA OVERVIEW
East Coast Greenway. Everglades National Park. Florida Trail

Big Pine Key. Biscayne Bay. Biscayne National Park. Boca Raton. Boynton Beach. Coral Gables. Davie. Delray Beach. Northeast Everglades Natural Area . Florida Keys. Fort Lauderdale. Fort Pierce. Hobe Sound. Hollywood. Homestead. Islamorada. Jensen Beach. Jupiter. Juno Beach. Key Biscayne. Key Largo. Key West. Marathon. Miami. Ocean to Lake Greenway. Overseas Heritage Trail. Palm Beach. Port St. Lucie. Redland. Sebastian. Stuart. Vero Beach. West Palm Beach

Our Newest Books

The Florida Trail Guide

The Florida Trail GuideOur definitive guidebook to planning backpacking trips on the Florida National Scenic Trail, now in its fourth edition. Full data charts and maps. B&W, 356 pages. $19.95 + tax & shipping.

Order Now


Florida Trail Hikes

Florida Trail Hikes 2nd edition coverFifty of the best day hikes, overnights, and weekend trips on the Florida Trail. Full hike descriptions and maps, full color. 376 pages. $24.95 + tax & shipping.

Order Now


Discovering the Florida Trail

Florida Trail mini coffee table book cover of trail into palm hammock
A visual journey the length of the Florida Trail, covering more than 1,500 miles from the Everglades to Pensacola Beach. Hardcover, 196 pages. $24.95 + tax & shipping.

Order Now
 


50 Hikes in Central Florida 3rd edition
Five Star Trails Orlando guidebook
Explorer's Guide North Florida & The Panhandle guidebook

Florida Trail Apps

Farout GuidesFarout Guides Comprehensive logistics and offline maps for the
Florida National Scenic Trail (1,500 miles), the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail (108 miles), and the ECT Florida Connector (92 miles).

Explore More

Our recent park & trail updates in this region

Well worn path through a wet pine flatwoods landscape

DuPuis Loop Trail

DuPuis Loop Trail
Bike along bike path in greenway

East Coast Greenway Stuart

East Coast Greenway Stuart
Nature trail in pine-palm forest

Gomez Preserve

Gomez Preserve
Hiker in red against mangroves on boardwalk

Peck Lake Park

Peck Lake Park

Footer

FIND A TRAIL OR PARK

NORTHWEST FLORIDA
Apalachicola. Apalachicola National Forest. Blackwater River State Forest. Blountstown. Bonifay. Bristol. Cape San Blas. Carrabelle. Chattahoochee. Chipley. Crawfordville. Crestview. DeFuniak Springs. Destin. Ebro. Eglin Air Force Base. Fort Walton Beach. Freeport. Gulf Islands National Seashore. Madison. Marianna. Milton. Monticello. Mossy Head. Navarre Beach . Niceville. Panama City Beach. Pensacola. Ponce De Leon. Port St. Joe. Quincy. Sopchoppy. South Walton. St. Marks. St. Marks NWR. Tallahassee. Vernon. Wakulla. Wewahitchka

NORTH FLORIDA
Alachua. Amelia Island. Baldwin. Branford. Bunnell. Cedar Key. Chiefland. Crescent City. Dowling Park. Ellaville. Fernandina Beach. Flagler Beach. Gainesville. Green Cove Springs. High Springs. Jacksonville. Keystone Heights. Lake Butler.Lake City. Live Oak. Mayo. Macclenny. Micanopy. Olustee. Orange Park. Osceola National Forest. Palatka. Palatka-Lake Butler Trail. Palm Coast. Perry. Salt Springs. St. Augustine. Starke. Steinhatchee. Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. Suwannee Springs. Talbot Islands. Timucuan Preserve. Trenton. Welaka. White Springs. Williston

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo

MULTI-REGION
Big Cypress Swamp. East Coast Greenway. Everglades National Park. Florida National Scenic Trail

CENTRAL FLORIDA
Apopka. Belleview. Brandon. Brooksville. Bushnell. Canaveral National Seashore. Christmas. Chuluota. Clearwater Beach. Clermont. Coast to Coast Trail. Cocoa Beach. Cross Florida Greenway. Crystal River. Dade City. Daytona Beach. De Leon Springs. DeBary. Deland. Deltona. Dunedin. Dunnellon. Frostproof. Geneva. Inverness. Kenansville. Kissimmee. Lake Mary. Lake Wales. Lakeland. Largo. Leesburg. Longwood. Melbourne. Melbourne Beach. Merritt Island. Merritt Island NWR. Mims. Mount Dora. New Port Richey. New Smyrna Beach. Ocala. Ocala National Forest. Ocklawaha. Orlando. Ormond Beach. Osteen. Oviedo. Palm Bay. Ridge Manor. Sanford. Silver Springs. Spring Hill. St. Cloud. St. Petersburg. Tampa. Tarpon Springs. Titusville . Walt Disney World. Weeki Wachee. Winter Springs. Withlacoochee State Forest. Withlacoochee State Trail. Yeehaw Junction

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Bradenton . Charlotte Harbor. Ding Darling NWR. Englewood. Estero. Fort Myers. Immokalee. Naples. Pine Island. Port Charlotte. Punta Gorda. Sanibel Island. Sarasota. Venice

SOUTH FLORIDA
Arcadia. Basinger. Big Cypress National Preserve. Big Cypress Seminole Reservation. Clewiston. Everglades City. Fisheating Creek. Lake Okeechobee. Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail. Lake Placid. LaBelle. Lakeport. Moore Haven. Okeechobee. Pahokee. Port Mayaca. Sebring. South Bay

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA
Big Pine Key. Biscayne Bay. Biscayne National Park. Boca Raton. Boynton Beach. Coral Gables. Davie. Delray Beach. Northeast Everglades Natural Area. Florida Keys. Fort Lauderdale. Fort Pierce. Hobe Sound. Hollywood. Homestead. Islamorada. Jensen Beach. Jupiter. Juno Beach. Key Biscayne. Key Largo. Key West. Marathon. Miami. Ocean to Lake Greenway. Overseas Heritage Trail. Palm Beach. Port St. Lucie. Redland. Sebastian. Stuart. Vero Beach. West Palm Beach

  • Trails
  • Parks
  • Beaches
  • Gardens
  • Springs
  • Ecotours
  • Attractions
©2006-2023, Sandra Friend & John Keatley | Disclosure | Site Index | Work with Us | Advertise with Us
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy | Florida Hikes PO Box 93 Mims FL 32754| Contact