Loxahatchee Slough Natural Area

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

Nine native Florida ecosystems are preserved at the 12,841-acre Loxahatchee Slough Natural Area: mesic flatwoods, wet flatwoods, mesic hammock, hydric hammock, wet prairie, depression marsh, slough marsh, strand swamp, and dome swamp. Loxahatchee Slough Natural Area serves as headwaters of the Wild and Scenic Loxahatchee River, is part of the Jeaga Wildways, and is a featured part of the Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail from Lake Okeechobee to the Atlantic Ocean. During the summer and fall this site gets very wet for hiking so bring your mud boots or stay on the multiuse trails to stay high and dry along the perimeter of the site. It is prime habitat for the snail kite and migrating swallow-tailed kite. This natural area is accessible from: Riverbend Park in Jupiter on the Bluegill and Pântano Trails, and Karen T. Marcus Sandhill Crane Access Park in Palm Beach Gardens on the Bluegill Trail. You can also access Loxahatchee Slough north and south of PGA Boulevard, approximately 2.2 miles west of Florida’s Turnpike in Palm Beach Gardens. This site features a fishing pier, a boat/kayak/canoe launch, an observation tower, restrooms, and parking at Sandhill Crane Access Park. There are equestrian trails in the north section that loop. This site is open sunrise to sunset, 365 days a year.

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