North Flagler Ave. and Lakeview Blvd
West Palm Beach

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South Cove is one of three natural areas on Lake Worth built by Palm Beach County with the help of other agencies aimed at restoring some of the estuary's natural features and habitats lost through decades of development. The area covers six acres and includes three small man-made islands on Lake Worth just north of the Royal Palm Bridge along North Flagler.

There is a 556-foot boardwalk that leads out to the first and largest of the three islands. All three islands are covered with mangroves, reds, blacks and whites, and grasses. Rocks line the outer edges of the islands, while the landward sides are built like sand dunes, sloped to provide varying exposure to the tides. Look closely at the shoreline and you'll see fiddler crabs doing their thing.

We can see the islands becoming magnets for shore birds as the mangroves mature. During our visit, we spotted snowy egrets, little blue herons, grackles and cormorants. Both ibis and brown pelicans flew overhead but did not land on any of the islands. There is no parking immediately at the natural area but there are lots and garages nearby.

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