Tucked away off the interstate exit, Halpat is the quintessential outdoor space of Stuart, FL. I…read moreonly used the nature trail while there so I can only comment on that. The trail is mostly flat and sturdy ground and is a wide walking path. Folks like to take their dogs there so you'll likely encounter some while there! The trail is clean of litter and other major debris and is mostly shaded. It also runs pretty closely with the disc golf course. Amenities seen at the park: - Tennis and pickleball courts - Baseball field - Soccer field - Covered roller hockey rink - Park shelters with picnic tables - Air pumps for bikes and balls - Parking throughout the expanse of the park

Halptiokee is a regional park in Stuart Florida. This park has everything including disc golf,…read morebatting cages, athletic fields and walking trails. This park is very dog friendly nearly everyone I encountered during my walk had at least 1 dog, all on leases. This is a very friendly park, nearly everyone I passed by had a friendly greeting. When I was there, I saw several sports teams practicing, as well as what appeared to be a CrossFit group working out. I went specifically for the walking trails, I had high expectations, they fell a little short. I expected more and longer trails. There were a lot of signs on the paths but most were very faded and you could barely read them. This park is great for families. If you live in the area and have children, I bet they are practices and games are held at this park.

This is a large natural area of more than 2,000 acres spanning both sides of Indiantown Road. From…read morethe back of Riverbend Park I came upon the historic Jupiter-Indiantown Trail which runs for 2 miles northwest. I took the trail until it reached an observation pavilion overlooking wetlands. If I had a bike I would have taken the trail further down but that was all about I could hike in the heat that day. The main part of this natural area is located on the north side of Indiantown Road, east and west of Gulfstream Citrus Road. There you will find a parking lot, observation platforms, and educational displays. The land in this area is part of the Northeast Everglades Natural Area and it acts as a buffer for the Loxahatchee River. The mesic flatwoods, wet flatwoods, hydric hammock, wet prairie, depression marsh, dome swamp, and blackwater stream provide a home for over 500 species of plants and 200 species of animals. At the area where the Loxahatchee River battle took place historical artifacts have been found. This area can be explored by foot, bicycle, horse, or boats that can be paddled. The north portion of the natural area contains the historic Jupiter-Indiantown Trail which I partially hiked. It was a road used from the 1900's to the 1950's to travel from Jupiter to Indiantown. Here you will also find the Jesup Trail which is 6 miles that will eventually lead into Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Also in this area is the trailhead, covered observation platforms, 2 acres of restored wetlands, and other hiking trails. The south portion of the natural area contains a fishing pier, observation tower, kayak/ canoe launch, the historic Jupiter Indiantown trail and other hiking trails. This is a wonderful area to explore and I hope I get back to see more of it in the cooler months. It is historical land that is providing a safe haven to Florida's endangered animals and plants.

We came from the Jupiter entrance off of West Indiantown Road. We originally thought it would be a…read morenice walk to the nearby lake, although this area is nowhere nearly advertised like in the pictures. This doesn't have a any lakes which was pretty disappointing. It's a nice bike trail and horse walking path. Other than that, its not a very good walking path. 1 path leads you through back of a neighborhood and straight to another neighborhood. There is another path but that one leads you in the middle of nowhere.

Peck Lake Park is located south of the St. Lucie Inlet. When you drive in to the park there is a…read morepaved loop road lined with picnic pavilions and grills. There is also a restroom. At the back of the loop is a hiking trail that leads you through mangroves to the intracoastal waterway which runs between the park and the Hobe Sound Wildlife Refuge. The walk is about 15 minutes each way. Part of the path is gravel and part of it is an elevated wooden boardwalk that takes you over the wetlands. The 1/2 mile trail takes you through mesic flat woods, hard woods, mangrove swamps., and brackish slough. You cross over a spoil island that was created from the dredging of the intracoastal. There are interpretive signs along the way providing information on the Ais who were the Native people in this area thousands of years ago, and the plants and animals in the park. The park is a good place to spot birds during the spring and fall migration. You can find American Redstarts and Common Yellowthroats and Spotted Sandpipers along the shore in the winter.

Nice place to walk and take in the fresh air. Might get lucky and spot dolphins out by the…read moreintracoastal. Bug spray recommend.

The Preserve is not for everyone, but we did the hike and it looked like someone forgot to cut the…read moregrass in the walking trail part. As you walked you are surrounded by water on both sides and at any moment I was expecting to see an alligator sunning itself but we were lucky. We saw a stream and heard the trickle of the water and the stillness of being out in the woods.Kind of unnerving at times so we were looking for wild life but not alligators and Im sure there might have been some but I was praying for safety. We did see about 5 deers and they were so beautiful and this was worth the walk. This place has a port a potty at the beginning of the course. We were the only people out here a very desolate place with no where to sit only walk and grass up to your ankles. This course is only for the brave. Also a lot of horse poop on the trail. Beware of where you walk.

Wanted to stop by and collect this on a tour of South Florida state parks. This park is not for…read moreeveryone. It is a dirt road entrance at the end of a residential community street. The park entrance is gated and you have to call Jonathan Dickinson at 772-546-2771 to get the gate access code. This is also the number you call if you get lost. Once you are in there are no facilities of any kind. No restrooms, no convenience store, no anything. The sign at the gate entrance says bring water, your (charged) cell phone, GPS or a map, and gear for a truly off the grid wilderness experience. Not a place for kids or dogs. Not a lot of canopy cover. Expect no creature comforts of any kind. If you are tired of people and want to get away from it all, come here. But be prepared. This is not a place to stop by and wing it without hiking gear.

Haney Creek Trail is actually two trails. The trails are primarily used by dog walkers, people…read morelooking to exercise, bird watchers, and nature photographers. Some of the wildlife that had been seen along the trail include foxes, turtles, black indigo snakes, and butterflies. Some of th plants you will find here are sweetbay magnolias, dahoon hollies with red berries, white water lily, and tarflowers. Amenities at the trail include restrooms, pavilions with picnic tables, water fountains, and trail maps. The north track is a 1.1 mile loop trail that goes through scrub habitat around wetlands and through sandy pine trails. This is the trail that takes you to the dog park. In 2017 Stuart completed a water restoration project involving 153 acres of wetlands that created a fresh water and tidal wetland that cleans storm water run off and improves water quality in the St. Lucie estuary. It improves the health of the ecosystem. The water in the ponds remove pollutants and provide a habitat for wildlife. The project also added 1/3 of a mile to the nature trails. The southern trail requires you to cross over roads and is not very clearly marked. This trail goes through a pine woods habitat. I only had time to visit the north trail and had a pleasant walk. If I lived nearby I would be a regular visitor. I applaud Stuart for working to preserve the wetlands to ensure the health of the nearby St. Lucie River.

I'm determined to try every walking/hiking trail around Martin County. I had to ask around to find…read morethis one. There are two trails, the North Trail and the South Trail. The North Trail, in my opinion is better. There isn't a lot of shade and most of it is sugar sand, but the sand isn't super soft so it's not that bad to walk on. It's impossible to get lost here. There are numbered markers everywhere along the walking path. There's also a small dog park near the parking lot with different sections for large and small dogs. Now, the South Trail is just bizarre. The first part of it runs along a busy road. Then you have to cross a busy street. Kinda strange, no? Then it loops around and you're in back of someone's house. There's also a lot of glass bottles people have thrown so be careful if you bring your dog here. Guess what? After that there's a SECOND busy road you have to cross. Well now I was just annoyed but the trail got better after that. If that section was longer, I would have enjoyed this trail more but it was wasn't long at all. All in all, I think the North Trail is a lot better, it's quieter and you don't have to cross any streets during your walk.

Great smaller trail located just off of 25th St. We were on our way from lunch to our second stop…read morewhen we spotted this place right off of the main road. We decided to do an impromptu U-Turn and we are so glad we did. Parking is super easy, just park in the designated spots right in front of the start of the trail. It's a big circle, so whether you head right or left first, you'll end up doing the complete loop. If you were walking at a regular pace, the trail would probably take about 15-20 the whole way! At the furthest from the parking area, you'll see a surprisingly large body of water. This made for a nice stop to enjoy some scenery. There's even a picnic table to enjoy lunch! Some parts of the trail have a deck built over, and the trees are lush and beautiful. If you're ever in the area, I recommend a quick, fun stop here!

Sweetwater Hammock Preserve is a part of a string of preserves located on the North Fork of the St…read more Lucie River. The preserve has a looping quarter mile self guided unpaved trail that winds through a hammock. The flat wide trail and short distance makes it perfect for all hikers including small children. Half way down the trail you will come to the St. Lucie River. Amenities at this site include birding, fishing, hiking, and picnic tables. The habitat here is a young hammock containing live oak, laurel oak, and cabbage palm. Wildlife that has been spotted here includes armadillos, butterflies, anoles, rabbits, and birds such as the red-bellied woodpecker. Along the trail you will see seasonal wildflowers and native plants. It is not a good idea to visit if it has been raining. The parking lot and trails both flood. The best time to visit is during the dry season when you can appreciate how Florida used to look.

This is the nature center at the Nathaniel P. Reed Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge. Originally…read morenamed Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge, this preserve was established September 30, 1969. Nathaniel P. Reed's parents helped to create the preserve by donating swaths of land to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service near the Indian River Lagoon in the 1960s and early 1970s. On April 17, 2019, the name of the preserve was changed to honor their son environmentalist Nathaniel Pryor Reed who was the environmental advisor to Florida governor Claude R. Kirk Jr. in the 1960's. He also served as environmental advisor to Assistant Secretary of the Interior to presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford from 1971 to 1977. Reed was instrumental in drafting the Endangered Species Act and saving Big Cypress Swamp. The Clean Water Act is also part of his legacy. He was known for fighting for the environment before it was cool to do so. Reed was a long time Jupiter Island resident. He passed away in July of 2018 after falling and hitting his head after hooking a 16 pound salmon while fishing in Quebec. The refuge is located on the coast of Martin County and it is divided by the Indian River Lagoon into two separate tracts of land totaling over 1000 acres. The Jupiter land tract is 735 acres and is important to the environment because it contains the largest complete section (3.5 miles of Atlantic Ocean Beach) of undeveloped beach in Southeastern Florida. As a result of the uninterrupted beach it is one of the most productive sea turtle nesting areas in the Southeastern United States. The Refuge protects 40 species of sea turtles listed as either threatened, endangered, or of special concern. Florida is the only state where endangered Leatherback Sea Turtles nest. The 300 acre sand pine scrub area is rare because the high, dry land was ideal for building on, so more than 90 percent of this ecosystem in Florida has been lost to development. You only find sand pine scrub in Florida and Alabama. The preserve also contains 10 miles of mangrove communities along the Indian River Lagoon. This National Wildlife Refuge has a large biodiversity of plants and animals. The last time I visited this refuge in 2021, the visitors center was closed for renovations so I was interested in visiting this trip. The nature center is run by a private, non-profit organization, that is dedicated to promoting an environmental awareness in people of all ages. The nature center building is made up of a exhibit hall, classroom/ lab, and a gift shop. Exhibits in the nature center include the sand pine scrub, Indian River Lagoon, The Atlantic Ocean, Jupiter Island, protecting biodiversity, adaptions for survival, and information about the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Preserve. There are tanks with fish and reptiles to view. The nature center hosts turtle walks, summer camps, evening forums, scrub tours and more. It is free to visit the nature center but some of the events may have an additional charge. Check out their website for a complete list of upcoming events. On Earth Day April 22nd they will be offering free family activities, games and crafts. Before you leave be sure and check out the cute gift shop with an assortment of nature themed items. Next to the parking lot is a stairway that takes you down to a beautiful beach where you can swim. You can also hike the scrub surrounding the nature center. There is so much to enjoy at the refuge and I always enjoy my visits.

Nice trail heading to the beach and the nature center has lots of animals including fish, a snake,…read moreowl, salamander and hawk.

North trail offers straight and firm opportunity to get a sweat via walk/run/bike…read more South trail offers scenic and partly rugged areas to stroll and leisurely pace through if desired. Plus, Indian burial mounds and pioneer cemetery adds to the enjoyment

Spruce Bluff Preserve is 97 acres. In the 1990's a community of more than 60 homes was planned for…read morethe area but in 1995 the St. Lucie County saved the historic spot by buying the land and making it into one of the county's first preserves, The hiking trail is on the marsh and scrub land in between the houses off Southbend Boulevard along the North Fork of the St. Lucie River. This is one of the more interesting hiking trips I have taken because there is so much history here. If you take the trail from the parking lot about half a mile down you will come to the site that was a pioneer settlement and cemetery along the banks of the St. Lucie River. The trail itself was the roadway for the development that never happened. The area was settled in 1891 after the Second Seminole War ended in 1842. Spruce Bluff founder John Enos Fultz Jr. came from South Carolina to farm pineapples which did well in the sandy soil. Spruce Bluff was a community of several families with a school, post office and sawmill. To make $10 a month Fultz rowed the St. Lucie River to Stuart to deliver the mail to Stuart. In 1894 and 1895 a winter freeze killed the crops and the families moved out of the area. Fultz moved to Ft. Pierce where he became the first Clerk of the Circuit Court for St. Lucie County when it was created in 1905. To find the cemetery look for the two wooden posts on the side of the right hand trail that leads to a sandy trail that takes you to it. The cemetery is surrounded by a fence with a monument. It is owned privately but you are welcome to visit. The seven headstones of the Spruce Bluff pioneers buried inside the fence were vandalized so one monument was put up instead. If you take the trail behind the parking lot it leads to an Ais midden which was their trash dump. Middens are important because they can tell you a lot about the people who lived in the area. This midden has yielded fish bones during excavations. To get to the site you travel along a one mile trail. As you make your way down you come to two boardwalks that cross over the wetlands. The Ais were a tribe of Native Americans who inhabited the Atlantic Coast of Florida from present day Cape Canaveral to the St. Lucie Inlet. They became extinct in the 1760's when they were sold off for slaves or succumbed to disease. The best knowledge we have of these people came from Jonathan Dickinson's journal when he was taken prisoner by them. There is no sign for the mound. It's 20 feet high and 180 feet wide and may be hundred of thousands of years old. If you didn't know it was back there it would just look like a hill. In addition to the hiking trails which can also be biked there is canoe access. A saw a lot of birds on the trail as well as many adorable rabbits. It's an easy hike and the history of this area makes it a very special place to visit.