We discovered this park only recently, while looking for places to get some fresh air and exercise…read morewhile being able to social distancing. It has 2 entrances (the main difference between the two is that the North one has restrooms) with small parking lots, and 3 miles of walking trails where you can walk, run or bike. There is also a separate dirt path for horseback riding! It is a very clean, tranquil, beautiful park; nature and birds help you relax, and get great pictures. We will visit it frequently during the winter time: as a lot of people already pointed out, the trails are completely under the sun... but there are a lot of young trees on the sides though: they will surely bring some shades to the trails in the future!

This is an excellent park for a walk. There are also horse paths for equestrian people.read more

What I love about living in the SW area of Greater West Palm Beach is the abundance of parks and…read morewilderness areas that you can enjoy. The Apoxee Trail is one of the "wilderness urban areas", which I find amazing: when visiting these areas (and big parks) you would think you are far away from civilization, when in fact you don't have to drive for hours to enjoy some open, green and wild places! I knew of this trail for many years because I used to drive by the entrance in my daily commutes to work, but only recently we finally visited it. This trail is "wild" from the very start: there is only a small street bringing you to the entrance and back to Jog Rd, and no parking lot - you will have to park on the side of the street, and depending on the time and the day, you may find it challenging to find a free spot. The park however is so big that it will rarely be crowded! At the entrance of the Apoxee Trail there is also a ¼ mile paved trail, which we checked out before continuing our walk into the park. This trail is very easy and all in the wood's shade. The trail runs on wetlands through boardwalks and natural surfaces in the woods: such surfaces are of course not even, so watch out for roots and stones when walking. It is an extremely peaceful walk where you'll make several stops for wildlife observation (bring your binoculars!), as well for letting through people on bikes. At the end of the Apoxee Trail you can either go back the same way, or continue your walk/ride on the outer loop (called Owahee Trail) before reconnecting with the second part of the Apoxee Trail. If you do this whole trail you will walk over 4 miles. Just so you know, the loop is all under the sun and has a stream on one side. We saw a huge alligator on the opposite side, which means... they could have been on our side too! We encountered a couple of families with kids running and playing very close to the stream, and I don't think that's a great idea... As for every other wilderness area, you will also need to pay extra attention to your surroundings during the alligator's mating season (we usually just avoid going to those areas in that period). The Trail is open every day from sunrise to sunset, but may be closed for flooding after heavy or constant rainfalls. There are portable toilets at the entrance but no access to water, so make sure you go in properly prepared. We will certainly go back to this trail other times!

This trail area is a great spot to enjoy some nature right outside the city. All the pictures in…read morethis review were taken on a single 2-3 hour hike one morning/afternoon but on the Owahee canal trail, not Apoxee. I live right behind this trail, walking distance from my apartment (a rarity in this part of WPB) so I care about it quite a bit. There are certainly plenty of improvements that could be made. If you're not walking the Owahee canal trails on the outskirts, and trying to walk the actual Apoxee trail, it's almost always too flooded by rainfall to make it very far. There has been word of more elevated boardwalks for the trail, but no progress has been visible for a while. Still a great place for a nature hike in WPB.

wow, what a park. It's a bit of a drive from me, so I hadn't…read moremade way up there to Okeeheelee till recently. Some different friends who also Disc Golf had said it was one of the best courses around so I finally felt the urge to make it up there. The open a little early which is nice too. Entering the park is impressive in itself. There are so mnay things going on from a large lake spanning waterpark, wildlife all over, a BMX park that's a good size, and of course, the disc course. The things some had said that was obvious immediately, is that the place had far more rolling hills than any park or place in South Florida. I started off at the top of a hill and had to through down to the bottom of the hill. There were shots later where I had to throw over a pond and up a hill. From the elevation changes to the great forest and water holes, it really was worth the drive. Heck, I've been back 2 more times this month already.

Hands down one of my favorite parks in the community! Okeeheelee Park has so much to offer, and…read moreI've been coming here for years. During the COVID lockdown, walking the trails became my favorite pastime. Especially as a pregnant woman looking for peace and fresh air, lol. Years later, those same trails are still a favorite activity for my son and me. More recently, I've taken up disc golf and was excited to find out the group I joined regularly plays at the Okeeheelee course. It's been such a fun and engaging experience! Just yesterday, I attended a picnic at one of the park's pavilions, and it was wonderful. The swings and playground next to the pavilion made it perfect for a family-friendly event. The space provided plenty of seating and shade, so everyone could enjoy themselves without being overwhelmed by the heat. There's still so much of this park I haven't explored yet, and I genuinely look forward to continuing to visit for years to come.

The Royal Palm Beach Pines Natural area is hidden in the back of the Saratoga Pines neighborhood…read more It is open from dawn till dusk. Pets are not allowed. The natural area is home to many threatened and endangered species although I saw no wildlife during my time there. There are 4 trails of varying distances, including an equestrian trail. I started on the Blue Heron nature trail, which is approximately .15 miles and ends at a covered observation platform, it is a boardwalk and is accessible. I then hiked the Pine Lilly trail, which was very well-maintained and very well marked. The trail was wide and mostly grassy but be cautious of the occasional root. I was there during a beautiful Saturday morning in February and thoroughly enjoyed myself. If in the area I recommend this hidden surprise.

I enjoyed the peace. It's a beautiful stretch but the yellow trail was not maintained. It must be…read moremowed (see photos) if I'll ever return off season.

This is a very nice park in Royal Palm Beach located in the Crestwood neighborhood of Royal Palm…read moreBeach which is made up of 660 single family homes. Park amenities include a parking lot, picnic pavilions, tables and grills, basketball court, open play space, paved exercise path, and the Bark Dog Park. In the back of the park is a hiking trail into the Royal Palm Beach Pines Natural Area. The 773 acres of the preserve contain a wet prairie and a pine forest. This natural area is part of the Great Florida Bird and Wildlife Trail and Northeast Everglades Natural Area. Palm Beach county purchased most of the land in 1992 and 1993 and the rest was deeded to them in a mitigation settlement. Unfortunately the trail entrance in the park was flooded due to recent rain but there is another entrance in the back of the Saratoga Pines subdivision.

Pine Jog Environmental Education Center is a non profit run by FAU. It is located on the same…read morecampus as the Pine Jog Elementary School. They are "dedicated to developing, researching, and disseminating educational programs and services that cultivate environmentally literate and engaged communities." The land Pine Jog sits on was first owned by Henry Flagler in 1893 as part of his Model Land Company. In 1930 it was sold and became part of the Lake Worth Drainage District. Throughout the 1940's it was used for farming and cattle grazing. In 1946, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Kay purchased the property and named it Pine Jog Plantation, after the pines that inhabited the land and the road that it bordered, Jog Road. At Pine Jog Plantation the Kay's grew flowers, fruits and vegetables. In the early 19460's trails were cleared through the pinewoods and two main buildings, classrooms, and offices were built. The 135 acre site is open to the public 9:00am -4:30pm, Monday through Friday and Saturdays 9-2. Restrooms are available at the environmental center when it is open. The buildings are the first LEED Gold-certified school in the state of Florida. Behind the environmental center there are over three miles of walking trails through mostly undisturbed Florida pine flatwoods. Trails include the Main Blue Trail (1 mile), Orange Trail (.4 mile) leading to the boardwalk & Chickee Hut, Purple Trail (.2 mile), Brown Trail (.2 mile), Yellow Trail (.3 mile), Red Trail (.1 mile), Green Trail (.3 mile), and White Trail (.05 mile) leading to Bill's Bench dedicated to Bill Bill Hutchinson, a naturalist, explorer, activist, and teacher. The property also has a pond with surrounding wetland, five acres of upland hammock, a butterfly garden, and coastal dune habitats along with interpretive signs. Every year the center today hosts over 25,000 students, 750 teachers, and 12,500 adults and families annually. Programs include a summer camp, school experiences, playscape, and week-long residential research institutes for high school and undergraduate students. Follow Pine Jog on Facebook for updates on programs and happenings or just stop by for a hike as I did. It is always nice to explore Florida's natural side.

This is an excellent place to learn and recharge. The trails are well maintained and the Jane Hart…read moreplaque in the pavilion is beautiful and beautifully placed. This is a great place for meetings and learning. I highly recommend it.

What a gorgeous day to be on the water for a Wild and Scenic kayak tour with Ms. Donna. We had a…read moregreat time seeing turtles, fish, lots of old FL bald cypress trees and of course gators (some really cute baby ones too!) Ms. Amanda helped us on the phone and at the desk and was able to get us a tour today last minute as a day date! We loved it and can't wait to go back! Thank you Amanda and Donna and Jupiter Outdoor Center!

Great family-friendly place. Our 12 year-old granddaughter and we did a tandem and single kayak for…read moretwo hours. The staff was friendly and helpful. We saw plenty of wildlife and enjoyed the gorgeous 2hr scenic trip down the river and back. The paddles drip water on you, so you'll definitely get wet. But it's clean water and helps to keep you cool. We will be back!

I did the Animal Encounter with my family and had Ethan as our presenter. He was awesome! Very…read moreknowledgeable and thorough in his explanation of each of the animals. The rest of the staff with whom I interacted was good too! The reason I am giving this review 4 stars instead of 5 is there were certain employees in the gift shop who left a little to be desired. They seemed as if they didn't really want to be there. Could have caught them on a bad day, but I noticed a difference between those few and the rest of the staff around the premisis.

Our tour guide, who I believe was RJ, was great. Very knowledgeable and funny, wish we had brought…read morecash for a tip. We had limited time to come in the morning. We got there did the boat tour and left, so upset that I forgot about the picture and didn't get souvenirs. We went in the earlier part of the morning around 10 AM, we were prepared to get bit by mosquitos, to get wet, and the terrible heat. We were lucky we did not get a single bite by mosquitos, the boat got wet at our feet, but we did not, and the boat is covered so heat was not bad. We saw like 8 alligators, some birds and turtles. We had an amazing time, so worth the time and drive. Would not mind doing this tour again.

Loved this easy and quick trail. Located off of Crestwood,…read moreit has a small paved parking lot- maybe 12-15 parking spots. I went on a Friday around lunch time. I was the only on there with my pups. It's a very easy and relaxing walking route. I have very bad arthritis in my knees so I'm always concerned about that. But the trail was easy to navigate. There were benches spaced out nicely so I could take a seat when my knees started acting up. The path was made in a way that you would not easily see the next bench if you wanted some privacy to relax and take in the water and wildlife. There is a small portion of the trail that is unpaved- but it was flat and I had no problems with walking it. The unpaved section is maybe only 10% of the total trail. If that's not something you wanted to test or if you are with a walker or wheelchair, you could go in the opposite direction then turn back around. It's a completed loop. All of the trail that was along the water was paved. So you don't miss anything by not taking the small unpaved section. The path itself is a quick lap probably would have taken my 5-7 minutes if I was by myself and didn't stop to sit and relax. There is a small picnic table under a pavilion that you can also stop too. Overall. Very easy, quiet and relaxing walking route. I've added it to my new list of places to go when I need to get some fresh air.

I loved discovering this 10 acre nature park located in Royal Palm Beach. It was dedicated in 2008…read more Wetland parks are some of my favorite kind of parks because they attract a variety of wildlife including wading birds, migrating birds, lizards, turtles, and alligators. From the parking lot where you can see a variety of ducks and other birds swimming in the water, you pick up a paved path that takes you opposite a Catholic church before winding around the water behind the backyards of houses. Along the way are benches. At the entrance to the woods, the path becomes natural earth and leads you back to the parking lot. Near the water I saw a lot of birds including a great egret, common moorhens, and an anhinga. In the woods I noticed branches heavy with purple American beauty berry which wild animals love to eat. I love loop paths and this one was very scenic. This a short and easy hike that anyone can do so come out and enjoy the natural side of Florida.

This is a bit of a hike from my house. It takes about 20 minutes to get here but the other dog…read morepark is almost as far. It is located inside of Okeeheelee Park. It is more towards the back but I guess that depends on which entrance you come in from. They have 2 sizes small and large. My dog is 20 pounds and she goes on the little dog size. I typically go weekdays between 7 and 730 am and leave by 8am to make it to work by 9am. I very rarely ever have another dog on the little dog side. But there are always dogs on the big dog side. Very friendly people there early in the morning. I bring a ball and a thrower so my dog can chase the ball and get her worn our before work. One day I left late at almost 830 and there was about 4 dogs walking in at that time. We bought her once on a weekend, also early in the morning and again only 1 or maybe there were 2 dogs there. If you want alot of dogs, go later in the day if you can. If you go early in the morning you have pretty much the whole place with you and your pup on the little dog side.

Nice place - decent mix of dogs on a Saturday morning. Lots of room…read more Oddly enough staffed by a park ranger who insisted that no balls were allowed. Huh? Their website does not have this rule. The gate has a sign that says no frisbees or footballs but she insisted that this meant all balls. What a crazy rule if true. It's a DOG park - people throw balls to dogs. She would not back down insisting that if she said it it was the rule..