Jupiter Riverwalk - Bike/walking path with nature trails, food, shopping, scenic views along the Int
The Riverwalk is a favorite opportunity to see and do a variety of activities/adventures available in Jupiter. There is fantastic bike/walking path, sight seeing, food, nature trails, Intracoastal water access, a short walk from the beach, and Florida Sunshine!
Borrowed From the Town of Jupiter website:
The Riverwalk is a Master Planned multi-phased Recreational Corridor that runs primarily along the eastern shoreline of the Intracoastal Waterway from the Jupiter Ridge Natural Area north to the Jupiter Inlet. Upon completion, the Jupiter Riverwalk will, via a multi-use ADA compliant trail, provide public access to approximately 2.5 miles of the Intracoastal Waterway and the Jupiter Inlet. The Riverwalk will transverse through many types of upland communities including environmentally sensitive lands, residential, marinas, commercial properties as well as waterfront parks. Click here to enlarge the map at right with Points of Interest and Attractions
Click here for a short Video about the Riverwalk
Visitors will be able to enjoy a scenic walk or bike ride and observe both marine and upland wildlife. Early morning and evening excursions will provide opportunities to observe manatee, stingrays, a variety of fish and birds, including the ever present Ospreys, and an occasional American Bald Eagle. The Riverwalk provides access to the Jupiter Yacht Club Marina development where you can enjoy views of the marina and Intracoastal while sipping a cup of coffee, dining outdoors, or shopping at the small retail shops located at the marina. As you continue north you will come upon The Plaza Down Under on the Riverwalk, located under the Indiantown Road Bridge at Coastal Way. This unique open, yet covered space is used for scheduled public events such as Town sponsored art/craft fairs, holiday celebrations, music/dance and food festivals. This venue is also leased out for private functions such as fund raisers, social gatherings, etc. The Harbourside Place development, located north of the Indiantown Road Bridge, has completed construction and celebrated its Grand Opening on December 4 -6, 2014. Harbourside Place was designed to become the main “entertainment” component of the Riverwalk. The 179 room Wyndham Grand Hotel, offices, retail, amphitheater, restaurants public boat docks and public parking are now open. Just north of Harbouside Place is Burt Reynolds Park. This waterfront park provides public boat ramps, picnic pavilions, and the Loxahatchee River Environmental Center (River Center). The River Center opened in 2008 with the purpose of providing visitors opportunities to learn about the designated “wild and scenic” Loxahatchee River. It features live aquatic tanks and educates the public about the importance of the River, its health and continuing efforts to maintain the vitality of the River. Children’s programs include story hours, art classes, fish feeding, and tours. Adults have opportunities to attend lectures by local professionals on water quality, marine life, environmental trends, etc. The final phase of the Riverwalk is to be located along the southern shoreline of the Jupiter Inlet across from the Historic Jupiter Lighthouse (circa 1859). This section of the Riverwalk showcases the best of Florida’s waterfront experience. The Jupiter Inlet is the point at which two bodies of water meet, the Loxahatchee River and the Intracoastal Waterway, and converge into the Atlantic Ocean. It is the mecca for boating activity, including commercial fishing boats, charter fishing and diving boats, pleasure boaters and sport fishing boats. The Riverwalk will connect a series of waterfront restaurants, retail shops, marinas, water taxi, tour boats and public gathering spots, etc, including the Inlet Village area.
Food: we like to eat
At the north end, you can fuel up for your adventure at one of the amazing restaurants on the water at or near Habourside Place. At the south end Cabo Flats is there for a re-fuel for the trip back! There are plenty of of other opportunities near by if you are looking for something different to eat.
Legit Nature Trail in town? YES!
Jupiter Natural Area is a stellar park along the Riverwalk (Big sign marks the entrance near the south end of the Riverwalk by Cabo Flats). Within a few minutes of walking you can be sitting on a beach all to yourself in the Intracoastal. Look up, there is an osprey nest in a large dead tree when you get near the water, if you're quiet and lucky you may get to see the Osprey go fishing. This little gem of a park offers a great escape right here in town!
Borrowed from the TOJ website:
Entrance: North of Donald Ross Road, west of U.S.1 in the Town of Jupiter | 270 Acres A Northeast Everglades Natural Area (NENA) This 274-acre natural area is a state-owned Conservation and Recreation Lands (CARL) project which is managed by PBC. The natural area includes 7,600 feet of frontage along the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) located within the state-designated Loxahatchee River/Lake Worth Creek Aquatic Preserve. Since 1940, approximately 130 to 150 feet of the natural area’s shoreline has eroded due to boat wakes in the ICW. Restoration efforts are focused on reducing erosion and enhancing existing habitat. Restoration efforts will include 23 limestone oyster reef/breakwaters constructed within 7 zones. The oyster reef/breakwaters will enhance an estimated 3.5 acres of existing seagrass habitat and protect 6,000 feet of mangrove and scrub shoreline while providing habitat for marine fish and invertebrates. Additional restoration efforts will consist of planing 1.2 acres of native estuarine vegetation including red mangrove, cordgrass, and seashore paspalum.