Jupiter Ridge Natural Area. Photo: Craig Talbert / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
By Jupiter Tide Staff
Cooler air arrives this weekend, which makes it a great time to get the kids on a trail.
You don't need a long drive or an entry fee to get kids out on a trail. Palm Beach County runs a network of natural areas around Jupiter and Juno Beach that are free and open sunrise to sunset, 365 days a year. Many have short paved paths, boardwalks and observation platforms that are just right for small hikers.
Juno Dunes Natural Area, Juno Beach
Juno Dunes stretches about 569 acres from the Atlantic Ocean to the Intracoastal Waterway, and the county says it's home to the highest natural point in Palm Beach County.
Oceanfront tract (14200 S. U.S. Highway 1): Park at Loggerhead Park next door, where there are restrooms. A paved, accessible trail leads to a covered observation platform atop an ancient dune, with sandy trails down to the ocean.
West tract (14501 S. U.S. Highway 1): Has its own parking lot. Try the paved Sawgrass Trail (0.21 miles) and boardwalk through a sawgrass wetland, with an observation tower over a marsh. The sandy Scrub Oak (1.8 miles) and Scrub Hickory (2.1 miles) trails are better for older kids.
Jupiter Ridge Natural Area, Jupiter
Jupiter Ridge, at 1800 S. U.S. Highway 1, protects more than 270 acres of scrub, flatwoods, marsh and mangroves, with the longest Intracoastal shoreline of any county natural area.
Little Blue Heron Trail is paved and only 0.2 miles, perfect for toddlers.
Pawpaw Trail (0.6 miles, sandy) and Scrub Lizard Trail (1.7 miles, sandy) add more adventure.
A path leads down to "Ski Beach" on the Intracoastal, where the county says you might spot a manatee swimming by.
An observation platform overlooks the tidal channels of Old Lake Worth Creek.
Jupiter Ridge is also the southern end of the Jupiter Riverwalk, so you can add a stroll along the water.
More short walks nearby
Blowing Rocks Preserve on Jupiter Island has a 300-foot mangrove boardwalk with a ramp and a 0.4-mile lagoon loop (open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; last entry is 4:15 p.m.).
Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge's mainland tract has about half a mile of sandy trails to a lagoon beach, free.
Riverbend Park in Jupiter has nearly 10 miles of flat shell-rock trails.
Trail tips for kids
Go early. Scrub trails have little shade, and Florida sand gets hot.
Pack water, hats, sunscreen and bug spray.
Sandy trails are hard work. Little legs tire fast in soft sand, and strollers bog down. Stick to the paved paths with toddlers.
Stay on the trail and leave plants and animals where you find them.
Turn it into a game. Bring a simple checklist: a lizard, a butterfly, a bird with long legs, a pinecone.
Know before you go
County natural areas are free and open sunrise to sunset.
Paved options: Juno Dunes Sawgrass Trail (0.21 mi) and Jupiter Ridge Little Blue Heron Trail (0.2 mi).
Sandy trails are tough for strollers.
Little shade. Go early with water and bug spray.
Restrooms for Juno Dunes' oceanfront tract are at Loggerhead Park.
Hours, prices and programs change. Check the official pages below before you go.
Sources
Follow Jupiter Tide on Instagram, X and Facebook for more Tide Pool family ideas, and sign up for free local news at jupitertide.com/subscribe.