No matter which direction your excursion begins, find magnificent vistas and abundant wildlife sightings along seemingly endless waterways and pathways. Leisurely paddle the Intracoastal Waterway or hike along the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail to see why The Palm Beaches are the place for ocean, lakes and Everglades.

Get L.O.S.T.

Start your adventure on one of five access points in Pahokee, Belle Glade or South Bay, all located in the Glades Region of The Palm Beaches – the Gateway to the Everglades. Bike, hike or even go horseback around giant Lake Okeechobee, as you go atop the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, or as we locals call it, L.O.S.T. 

As a designated segment of Florida’s National Scenic Trail, LOST sits atop the 35-foot-high Herbert Hoover Dike and offers spectacular views of open water across the second largest freshwater lake in the lower forty-eight states. It teems with an array of birdlife – everything from sandhill cranes and colonies of cormorants, to caracara and bald eagles – and of course, smiling reptilians . . . alligators. There are also three camping areas close by in Pahokee, Belle Glade and South Bay with a maximum distance of 10 miles between the camps.  More than half of the full 110-mile trail is paved with the remaining a gravel mix.  You should note, LOST is totally uncovered (no shade) with few supply stations along the route, so make sure to plan accordingly.  Mile markers are continuous along the trail.

Take the Water Highway

See our natural beauty along the Intracoastal Waterway. From the Boca Raton Inlet to Jupiter Inlet, our picturesque waters flow by historical sites, state parks, aquatic preserves, magnificent homes and one of the largest urban estuaries in Florida – Lake Worth Lagoon. With such an array of choices, you may be tempted to ask where to start, and here are a few of our favorite ways you will enjoy.  John D. MacArthur Beach State Park with its unique mix of coastal hammock and mangrove forest is an excellent locale for starting a kayak trip, and don’t leave without seeing its pristine beach. At Riverbend Park in Jupiter, canoe the Loxahatchee River, Florida’s first federally designated Wild and Scenic River. This river slips among massive cypress trees to form a scenic canopy, and be on the lookout for alligator, wading birds and turtles.  And a little farther south, the Snook Islands Natural Area in Lake Worth, has a canoe/kayak launch to go along with its boardwalk, fishing pier and 100 acres of wetland habitat.  

The Guiding Light

At the intersection of the Loxahatchee River and Jupiter Inlet, you’ll want to walk up the historic Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse – and around the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Areas – one of only three in the United States and the only one east of the Mississippi River.  Make sure to take the nature trail on the north side of Beach Road, which meanders through Florida scrub habitat and leads to an observation tower.  From here, take in the quiet manatee refuge surrounded by exceptional flora and fauna. Unparalleled beauty both man and nature made for you to enjoy.