While many may come to the Treasure Coast for the miles of beautiful beaches, some of Martin County’s most treasured assets are the 73 parks that make up the region. Each tells its own story, with a unique set of adventures and wildlife that create infinite possibilities to enjoy the great outdoors.
Jonathan Dickinson State Park
Known as the largest state park in Southeast Florida, 16 dynamic natural habitats come together to create a unique park to explore on land or by water. Hobe Mountain is a favored local trail, with a 124-foot observation tower offering panoramic views of the forest to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. The Loxahatchee River is famous for kayaking and canoeing, where canopies of centuries-old cypress trees and mangrove-lined estuaries allow visitors to step back in time. Peck Lake Park | Adjacent to the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge, a hiking and biking trail meanders through flatwoods, hardwoods, and mangrove swamps to a serene deck overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway. Keep an eye out for American redstarts, common yellowthroats, and spotted sandpipers along the water’s edge.
Blowing Rocks Preserve
A limestone rock formation stretching more than a mile along Jupiter Island dominates the meeting of sand and sea at this park, creating a dramatic shoreline that’s always enjoyed. At high tides, visitors are treated to plumes of water shooting out of the rocks, sometimes up to 50 feet in the air. At low tide, people love to walk along the shoreline, searching sea caves and bluffs for shells and fossils. St. Lucie Inlet State Park | Only accessible by boat, a boardwalk takes visitors through mangrove forests and hammocks of live oaks, cabbage palms, and paradise trees to reveal a peaceful Atlantic beach shoreline. Beachcombing, surf fishing, swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving are popular activities on this classic barrier island. During the summer months, the park is a popular nesting area for loggerhead, leatherback, and green turtles. Hobe Sound Beach | Take the scenic drive east on Bridge Road through the tree canopies and end up at Hobe Sound Beach. This dog-friendly access is a great spot for every family member to enjoy a day in the white sand soaking up the Florida sunshine. Seabranch Preserve State Park | In less than a mile, visitors of this park can see rare sand pine scrub, scrubby flatwoods, and mangrove swamps. Four miles of nature trails allow hikers to explore these natural communities and the native wildlife that inhabit them, including gopher tortoises, Florida scrub-jays, bobcats, and sandhill cranes.
Atlantic Ridge Preserve State Park
On the east side of the South Fork of the St. Lucie River, the gently sloping wetlands of this park offer a peaceful retreat. This rustic nature preserve is known for its miles of hiking and horseback riding trails through flatwoods, palmetto hammocks, and some marshes.
Halpatiokee Regional Park
Halpatiokee Park is a thriving spot for any sports enthusiast. Bring a camera to the park’s miles of hiking, mountain biking, and paddling trails to capture the hundreds of species of flora and fauna that call this area home. Daily activities include a popular Frisbee golf course, an abundance of tennis and pickleball courts, an open-air roller-hockey rink, and plenty of fields for soccer, baseball, and softball games.
Storie Regional Park
One of the area’s most exciting new additions is planned for Storie in southern Martin County. The innovative community concept places a high priority on public placemaking, creating parks that celebrate the area’s natural environment. In the planned Storie design, natural open spaces are preserved for parks that all Martin County residents can enjoy. Storie has conceived adventures for all ages. The extensive waterway system would provide access for rowing and kayaking throughout the community as well as numerous lakes and preserves for bird watching and fishing. In addition, a resort-style community pool, splash pads, numerous sports fields, biking and hiking trails, tennis and pickleball courts, and an exceptional off-leash dog park are slated for inclusion. The current plan also shows a community greenhouse for gardening and a butterfly garden.
