South
Florida has excellent recreation trails to enjoy.
Welcome to Palm Beach Trail Guide.
Thank you for visiting. Biking, in-line skating, running and walking
are a great
ways to enjoy South Florida's great scenery and weather. The
challenge in car-obsessed Florida is to find places to exercise away
from traffic congestion.
This is a listing of recreation-only
paths (both paved and dirt)
that will get you away from traffic dangers. This site includes
dozens of original trail photos, maps and key South Florida trail
links. The locations below are listed by location, starting in to
the north and ending to the south.
Palm Beach Trail Guide is proud to be honored with a "Cool
Site" designation by the selective editors at the Open Directory
Project.
Scroll down to see information on the following to
locations: Stuart -
Tequesta - Jupiter Area Trails
West Palm Beach Area Trails Boca Raton
Trails
Vero Beach - Fort Pierce Trails
Fort Lauderdale Area Trails
Miami Area Trails
Everglades Area Trails
South Florida Trail Links
Personal Safety:
South Florida experiences an unusually high number of biking and
running related fatal crashes.
Florida car drivers are poor and bikers/joggers are abundant. You
are well advised to be extra cautious
at all times. Palm Beach Trail Guide
strongly urges making your personal safety a priority. Please use
appropriate safety equipment such as
helmets, lights, reflective vests and pads.
Please see the special
section on personal safety at the bottom of this page.
Note:
This page contains several high resolution, large size
photographs. As such this
these
pictures may take extra time to download, especially with a dial-up
internet connection. If some pictures are
missing, click your browser's "Refresh" button.
STUART
- TEQUESTA - JUPITER AREA TRAILS
Jonathan
Dickinson State Park offers great hiking and off-road bike trials.
Jonathan Dickinson State Park
16450 S.E. Federal Highway (U.S. 1)
Hobe Sound, Fl 33455
(772) 546-2771
Directions: The Park is
located on U.S. 1 seven miles north of Jupiter and twelve
miles south of Stuart. Take I-95 to the Jupiter exit
(Indiantown Road). Head east on Indiantown Road until you
reach U.S. 1, then head north. The park entrance on the west side
of U.S. 1. After entering the park, make a right at the first
stop sign. Park at the “Camp Murphy” area. The off road
trails are located here. The paved trail is
down the road about 100 yards at the railroad crossing.
Fees: A nominal “State Park Daily Use” entrance fee is
charged. It makes sense
to buy the State Park Annual Pass if you plan to visit more than
a couple of times.
Jonathan Dickinson Park offers great dirt paths and limited
paved trails. The longest paved trail runs a couple of miles.
It's an old road that parallels a railroad track. Note that this
paved trail is acceptable for biking and walking, but frequently has
debris that can make it tough for skaters.
There are 6 miles of off road
trails that are maintained by a local mountain bike club
(volunteers welcome, see link below.) The dirt paths range from
beginner to advanced. The 11,500 acre park offers camping,
cabins, canoes and a tour of the Loxahatchee River. This is a
“must see” Florida park.
Note that the park is home alligators and poisonous plants.
The
famous Palm Beach Lake Trail has water on one side, mansions on the
other.
Palm Beach Lake Trail (on “The Island”)
Quadrille Bridge & The Intercoastal Waterway
Palm Beach
Directions: Part of the Palm Beach mystique is that there
aren't any road signs directing people to the Island. Here's how
to do it. Take I-95
to Palm Beach Lakes. Head east on Palm Beach Lakes
to Dixie Highway (aka US 1). Turn right (south) on Dixie Highway
(US 1) to Quadrille. Turn left (east) on Quadrille and cross the
north bridge to Palm Beach Island. Take the first left once you
come over the bridge. You will be in the area of the Palm Beach
Publix supermarket. Park on any of the streets near Publix, and
then head one block west to the Trail. The trail can be
accessed at the end of any of the cul-de-sac streets in this
area. The Lake Trail runs north along the shoreline between the
Intercoastal Waterway/Lake Worth Lagoon and the Palm Beach homes.
Fees: Access to this public trail is free.
The Palm Beach Lake Trail is extraordinary. It is a wide
paved path restricted to pedestrians, skaters and bikers. The
trail offers beautiful views of the Intercoastal Waterway, downtown
West Palm Beach and of the homes on Palm Beach.
Palm Beach founder Henry Flagler built the Lake Trail in 1894 as
a place for his hotel guests to stroll. Along the Lake Trail you
can see Flagler's first house from 1886 (“Sea Gull Cottage”), a large
kapok tree at 8 South Lake Trail (notable for its unusual roots) and
Flagler’s Whitehall mansion.
Lake Trail runs about 5 miles north from the Publix area
(mentioned in the directions above.) Drinking fountains can be
found at the trail's beginning near the Quadrille Bridge.
At the northern end of the trail you can work your way northeast
through the neighborhood
streets to find a small public boat dock with excellent views
of Peanut Island and the Lake Worth/Palm Beach Inlet.
There is a 10 MPH speed limit on the trail. It is popular
and sometimes crowded. Because it's Palm Beach, many of the
people using the trail are unusually well dressed and
polite. Visitors should dress and act appropriately.
A second trail on Palm Beach runs about 1.5 miles. It
starts at Wells Road and runs along North County Road. It ends at
the Palm Beach Country Club.
Another 3-mile path begins at Ibis Isle. It runs
south and ends at the town of
Lantana.
The
Flagler Drive trail runs through downtown West Palm Beach.
Downtown West Palm Beach - Flagler Drive
Flagler Drive
Downtown West Palm Beach, FL
(Central
Palm Beach County)
Directions:
I-95 to Palm Beach Lakes Blvd. Head east until you get to
Flagler Drive. Park on nearby side streets. The path runs from
this area
2-3 miles south, through the downtown skyline of West Palm Beach.
Singer
Island offers several miles of mangroves, beach and condo towers.
Singer Island Trail & John D.
MacArthur Beach State Park
North Ocean Drive (also called A1A and SR 703)
Singer Island, FL (northeast-central Palm Beach County)
Directions:
From the south: I-95 to Blue Heron Blvd. Head east
until you cross the large bridge over the Intercoastal Waterway.
This puts you at Phil Foster Park on
the south end of Singer Island.
From the north: I-95 to PGA Blvd.
Head east until you get to John D. MacArthur Beach State
Park. This puts you on the north end of Singer Island.
There are 2 miles of car-free dedicated
paved trail on the north end of Singer Island. The path
runs between Ocean
Reef County Park to the south and John D. MacArthur Beach
State Park to the north. The trail is a wide sidewalk
(separated from traffic) that runs along the west side of North Ocean
Drive. There are views of Lake Worth Lagoon/Intercoastal
Waterway and picturesque bridges over Lake Worth Cove in the MacArthur
Park area.
Parking can be a problem. It's best to park along North Ocean
Drive just south or MacArthur Park (near the bridges) or at MacArthur
Park itself (a small daily use fee applies.) To the south, park
at Ocean Reef County Park (it's free, though this will require you to
deal with a couple blocks of cross traffic.)
If traffic does not bother you, the paved Singer Island Trail
runs the full distance of Singer Island.
You can park at Phil
Foster Park on Blue Heron Blvd. and head north to MacArthur Park
(3.5 miles.) You may even want to ride up to the top of the Blue
Heron Bridge... the view is spectacular! If you want to go even
further
north, the road includes a bike lane north of MacArthur Park.
I recommend a
visit to MacArthur park. There is a beautiful 1600' boardwalk
over Lake Worth Cove. It joins a quarter mile long dirt path near
the incredible beach.
Dyer County Park
7301 Haverhill Road
West Palm Beach, FL (West Riviera Beach Area)
(561) 966-6600
Directions: I-95 to Blue Heron Blvd. Head west on
Blue Heron towards the big pink VA Hospital. When you reach the
hospital, Blue Heron ends at the Bee Line. Turn right on the Bee
Line (north) to the first stoplight (Haverhill Road). Turn left
onto Haverhill Road, then make an immediate right into Dyer Park.
Drive to the very back of the Park and park near the soccer
fields.
Fees: There is no admission charge.
Dyer Park is built atop an old trash dump. It features four miles
of wide paved
paths and a flat, five mile unpaved loop trail around the Park's
perimeter. It also features dirt trails cut into the side of
“Mount Trashmore." Mountain bikers like these trails for physical
conditioning.
Almost 6 million dollars were spent turning Dyer Park from a 400
acre dump into a park. 12,000 native trees were relocated
there. Lakes, ball fields, picnic shelters, restroom
facilities, an equestrian trail and a model airplane airfield were
added to create what is now a very nice place.
It's interesting to note that some of the pavement actually
contains broken bits of glass. I assume this is recycled material
from the nearby recycling center used as aggregate for the asphalt.
The glass is especially noticeable if you have polarized
sunglasses!
Note: The facilities are fairly new and generally very nice.
There are signs warning visitors to secure their valuables, a
indication that theft has been a problem. I have seen plenty of
police and park workers there during the day. The park appears to be as
safe as any other. There are also signs warning that alligators
can be found in the lakes.
West
Palm Beach's VA Hospital has a great walking trail.
West Palm Beach Veterans Hospital
7305 N. Military Trail (Blue Heron Blvd. & Military Trail)
West Palm Beach, FL 33410
Directions: I-95 to Blue Heron Blvd. Head west on Blue
Heron to the big pink VA Hospital. The Hospital is by far the
largest building around... you can't miss it! Park in one of the
outermost visitor/patient parking lots adjacent to the paved trail.
Click
here for computerized driving directions from your location.
Fees: There is no admission charge.
The West Palm Beach Veterans Administration Medical Center is
one of the newest and nicest VA Hospitals anywhere. There is a
narrow, two-mile paved trail around the perimeter. The path and
grounds are very well kept. The trail is only lightly used by
patients and staff. Be sure to yield to the hospital folks if you
see them. Note that because this is a Federal facility, security
is usually seen here. The gates may be shut during times of
crisis.
The Hospital path is good for walking and wheelchairs. For
biking and skating, Dyer Park (information above) is very close by and
a better choice. "Para-course" exercise equipment stations can be
found along the Hospital trail. Emergency call boxes are also
located along the the path. Inside the Hospital there is a nice
food court and restroom facilities.
More Information On The West Palm Beach Veterans
Administration Hospital VA
Web Site
Okeeheelee
Park has paved trails and a BMX track.
Okeeheelee County Park
7715 Forest Hill Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL FL 33413
(561) 966-6600
Location: Forest Hill & Florida's Turnpike.
Fees: Admission is free.
Six mile paved path, plus a dedicated BMX track.
Okeeheelee is a large and popular park. Park amenities include
golf course, water ski park, nature
center, racquetball, canoeing and equestrian trail.
There are additional off-road trails in the immediate area
(though not within the park itself.) The trails are located east of Pinehurst Road, between
Forest Hill Boulevard and Lake Worth Road. Pinehurst
Tail Information Cholee
Trail Information
John Prince County Park & Campground
2700 6th Ave. S.
4759 S. Congress Ave.,
2520 Lake Worth Rd
Lake Worth, FL 33461
(561) 966-6600
Directions: I-95 to Lantana Road. Head west half a mile to
Lake Osborne Drive. Turn right on Lake Osborne Drive (It comes up
fast... turn right before you get to the Lake.) Park along Lake
Osborne Drive on the east
side of the lake or near the north entrances from Lake Worth Road.
Fees: Admission is free.
John Prince Park has five mile
paved trail around Lake Osborne. Watch out for alligators.
Park amenities include a campground, water-skiing, batting
cages, miniature golf, tennis courts and sailboat rentals.
Excellent "Near Traffic" West Palm Beach Area Paths
Waterside Paths Along A1A in West Palm Beach from Southern Boulevard
north to Jupiter (approximately 20 miles).
Waterside Path Along Flagler
Drive in downtown West Palm Beach (Approximately 3 miles)
Waterside Paths Along A1A in Boca Raton
from Camino Real north to Lake Worth Road (approximately 5
miles). Main Road
Through Jupiter Island (East Of Tequesta/Hobe Sound Area)
Wide paths and preserve trails throughout the Abacoa development in
Jupiter.
PERSONAL SAFETY Palm Beach Trail Guide
urges you to make your personal
safety a priority. Bring a cell phone (preprogrammed with local
emergency numbers). Cyclists should wear a bright colored helmet. 60% of all bike accidents in Florida
are caused by cyclists riding at night without lights. Use LED-based headlights and flashing taillights.
Use lighting at dusk and dawn
as well as nighttime. Use reflectors,
reflective tape and refelctive clothing. Wear bright colored clothes. Use a bell or horn to politely warn others
of your presence. Learn riding
techniques to avoid crashes with cars. Carry animal replellent or pepper spray if
appropriate. TIP: Many old cell phones can still can call
9-1-1, even if they doesn't currently have monthly
service. Keep fully charged old cell phones in your car and on
your bike in case you need to call for help. If you don't have an
old
phone, buy one at a yard sale or thrift store.
MOVING
TO FLORIDA
If you love Florida and are considering moving here, click
here. This link takes you to Moving To Florida:
Relocation Tips,
which is my advice page for those considering a
move to the Sunshine State. It provides information on where to
live,
the Florida lifestyle and some of the "surprises" you may encounter
moving to Florida.
KAYAKING IN SOUTH FLORIDA Click here to see
information for kayaking & canoeing the local waterways.
CONTACT
Please feel free to be in touch with any questions or share your
South
Florida trail information. Click
here for contact information.
"Congratulations
on an excellent site, rich in information for people far beyond the
West Palm Beach area." - Open Directory Project Reviewer
Palm Beach Trail Guide
is proud to have the unsolicited honor of being designated a "Cool
Site" by the influential Open Directory Project.
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