YEAR 2017 Experience Ocean, Lakes and Everglades in The Palm Beaches, Florida Discover the best way to experience Florida’s great outdoors, unique wildlife and natural beauty in The Palm Beaches. Situated between 47 miles of Atlantic Ocean and the shores of Lake Okeechobee, the largest lake in the southeastern United States, The Palm Beaches is the gateway to the Everglades and home to treasured animal sanctuaries, untouched nature preserves and a diverse range of soft adventure activities. TAKE A HIKE (OR PICTURE) Beauty is just a short hike away. The terrain is mostly flat, but tropical trees and plants abound with exotic wonder. Trek alongside wetlands in the Everglades or through wide-open wet prairie, no matter the trail, hikers will find sunshine serenity. DuPuis Management Area – Canal Point, FL The DuPuis Management Area is a 21,875-acre multi-use natural area located in the northwestern part of The Palm Beaches. The park land is interspersed with numerous ponds, wet prairies, cypress domes, pine flatwoods and remnant Everglades marsh. The area provides miles of hiking and horseback trails, an equestrian center, graded vehicle roads, backpack and group campsites as well as seasonal hunting. DuPuis is far from urban areas, and its dark night sky lends itself to excellent stargazing. Harold A. Campbell Public Use Area This site covers 17,000 acres on the southern border of The Palm Beaches, making it the largest constructed wetland in the world. Its public use area provides access to vast wetland habitat where bicyclists, hikers and birdwatchers can see a variety of wildlife native to Florida. J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area – West Palm Beach, FL Situated approximately 25 miles northwest of West Palm Beach and 23 miles east of Lake Okeechobee is 60,348- acre Corbett Wildlife Management Area. Spend a day exploring the park’s trails on foot, by bike or on horseback. Corbett is also a stop along the Great Florida Birding Trail and Florida National Scenic Trail. Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (LOST) Walk, hike, rollerblade, bicycle or horseback ride around Lake Okeechobee. Designated as part of the Florida National Scenic Trail in 1993, the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail is an approximately 110-mile long trail, which borders the lake. More than half of the trail is paved, and the remainder is a two-track gravel roadway. Loxahatchee Slough Natural Area – Palm Beach Gardens, FL The headwaters of the federally designated, wild and scenic Loxahatchee River start here. Find the headwaters on trails that run through wet prairie, Everglades slough marsh, wet flatwoods and more. Northeast Everglades Natural Area (NENA) The Northeast Everglades Natural Area (NENA) is a network of multi-use trails that offer 10-foot wide shell rock paths, shade shelters and other amenities for cyclists, hikers and horseback riders. The Bluegill Trail extends 5.5 miles from Sandhill Crane Access Park in Palm Beach Gardens to Riverbend Park in Jupiter. Its 35 conservation areas and 13 activity-education centers, ensure a full immersion in the great outdoors within the 165,000-acre NENA footprint. Pine Glades Natural Area – Jupiter, FL This natural area contains five native Florida ecosystems: mesic flatwoods, wet flatwoods, wet prairie, depression marsh, and dome swamp. In addition, there are over seven miles of natural surface hiking trails including a half-mile restored segment of the historic Old Wire Trail from the 1850s. Restoration efforts during the past 10-year period have turned this area into a wetland wonderland. It offers accessible and soft surface hiking trails, a covered observation platform, a fishing pier and a canoe-kayak launch ramp. The Wakodahatchee Wetlands – Delray Beach, FL Walk the trail to see marshes, ponds and sunning alligators. Become immersed in this serene locale, ideal for photography. For a full list of natural areas in The Palm Beaches, visit http://www.pbcgov.com/erm/natural/natural-areas/. START PADDLING Grab a canoe, kayak or paddleboard to explore The Palm Beaches’ eco tresses. Plan the outing using “Paddling Treasures: A Guide to Lake Worth Lagoon and Loxahatchee River Estuary” to find more than 20 kayak/canoe launch ramps and associated points of interest while exploring the coastal waters of The Palm Beaches. Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge – Boynton Beach, FL Paddling this northern portion of the Everglades is like paddling on a "river of grass," at eye level through sawgrass marsh. The refuge is a prime area for birding and for wildlife watching that can be found in this unique eco-system. The Visitor Center is located next to the 0.4 mile Cypress Swamp Boardwalk. Nearby find a butterfly garden, walking trails, observation areas, a boat ramp, fishing pier, bike trail and canoe trail. Blueline Surf & Paddle Company – Jupiter, FL Bluelne Surf & Paddle Co. located in Jupiter, Florida is a one of a kind surf boutique for the modern waterman or woman. Blueline specializes in anything water, including standup paddle boarding, surfing and body surfing. Canoe Outfitters of Florida, Inc. – Jupiter, FL Canoe Outfitters of Florida, Inc. is located on Florida's only "National Wild and Scenic River," the Loxahatchee. The wildlife refuge is famous for its large stands of Bald Cypress, bird population and diverse ecosystems. Paddle a canoe or kayak down a cypress-lined waterway, past heron, egrets, turtles, deer and all manner of birds and four- legged wildlife. Self-guided and guided trips are available. John D. Macarthur Beach State Park – North Palm Beach, FL Paddlers may oar around the estuary or travel under Burnt Bridge into Lake Worth Lagoon and visit Munyon Island – an outlying part of the Park with a rich history. Depending on the season, see manatees, dolphins, mullet, snook, rays, and abundant birdlife. Munyon Island is best visited when the tide is high, enabling navigation of its scenic interior waterways. Jupiter Outdoor Center – Jupiter, FL Jupiter Outdoor Center offers kayak and paddleboard rentals, guided eco-tours, lessons, memberships and a variety of camps and youth programs. Kayak with sea turtles in the Loxahatchee Aquatic Preserve, see birds on the islands, or paddle with manatees in the Indian River Lagoon, the most bio-diverse estuary in the country. Jupiter Waterway Trail – Jupiter, FL The Jupiter Waterway Trail is a series of waterway markers that connect the Loxahatchee River, Intracoastal Waterway and Jupiter Inlet. These legs and off-shoots create a natural playground of eco-tourism activities, from kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding to snorkeling, boating, fishing and diving. Adjacent natural areas also encourage “near-water” activities like hiking, biking, beaching and bird-watching. Riverbend Park – Jupiter, FL It’s been a Seminole Wars battle site and pioneer homestead, but nowadays, Riverbend can be discovered by kayak or canoe. Paddle along five miles of waterway trails, including the headwaters for the Loxahatchee River. Hiking, horseback riding and bicycling trails are also available. Singer Island Outdoor Center – Riviera Beach, FL Located at Phil Foster Park at the base of the Blue Heron Bridge, Singer Island Outdoor Center boasts quality and easy-to-use kayaks and paddleboards for rent. Explore Singer Island, Peanut Island and Lake Worth Lagoon. Guided snorkeling tours of the surrounding water’s abundant sea life are also available. Snook Islands Natural Area – Lake Worth, FL This is a great starting point to canoe or kayak across Lake Worth Lagoon. Cruise alongside the boardwalk and fishing pier, or paddle through restored seagrass beds and growing oyster reefs – into the heart of the Lagoon. Wild and Scenic Loxahatchee River The Loxahatchee River is not just a river, it’s a time machine. Become an explorer from a bygone time, meander down the Loxahatchee in a kayak or canoe as if discovering Florida’s interior for the first time. One of the state’s most unique treasures, the Loxahatchee River winds through freshwater creeks, down into a brackish estuary, and empties through the Jupiter Inlet into the Atlantic Ocean. The Loxahatchee was the first river in Florida to earn a federal designation as “Wild and Scenic”. TAKE A RIDE – CATCH A FISH Cruise the Intracoastal Waterway, Lake Worth Lagoon or head out into the Atlantic Ocean. Breeze across the Florida Everglades on a propeller-powered airboat or find a quiet lake to cast a line. Whether it’s a rented vessel or a chartered boat with a captain, tour and fish the local waterways of The Palm Beaches. Black Sparrow Pirate Adventures – Riviera Beach, FL Embark on an epic family adventure on board the Black Sparrow Pirate ship. Have an experience never to be forgotten searching for long lost treasures and battling the pirates of Peanut Island. Blue Heron Fleet LLC – Jupiter/Riviera Beach, FL Delivering family fun for more than 50 years, Blue Heron Fleet LLC offers some of the largest and most comfortable fishing vessels available in The Palm Beaches. Excellent fishing year-round can be experienced from the comforts of cushioned seating at both Jupiter and Riviera Beach. Lacuna Tours – Jupiter, FL Lacuna luxury boat tours offers sightseeing, kids fishing, beaches, snorkeling, and eco tours on the Intracoastal Waterway. Each cruise is private with drink and snack selections included. Lacuna Tours is centrally located between Palm Beach and Jupiter and the areas many golf courses. STROLL ON A BEACH The Palm Beaches boasts 47 miles of Atlantic coast shoreline and offers numerous public oceanfront and inlet parks from Tequesta to Boca Raton. Many public swimming areas are guarded year-round, seven days a week. Check out current conditions using the county’s beach cams at www.pbcgov.com/erm/beachcams.htm. Atlantic Dunes Park – Delray Beach, FL Atlantic Dunes Park is located one block north of Linton Blvd.