Overview: Blowing Rocks Preserve is ruggedly unique among Florida beaches, perhaps unique along the entire eastern coastline of the United States, thanks to the massive limestone outcropping known as the Anastasia formation. Waves crash the rocks in spectacular fashion, especially at high tide and during winter storms when rushing water, squeezed into the limestone's cracks and crevices, shoots geyser-like into the air.
The preserve itself is 73 acres straddling Jupiter Island in Martin County, ocean to the Indian River Lagoon. The spectacular geology is what brings most people to Blowing Rocks, but the lagoon side has attractions of its own, including nature trails and a nature center. The rocks lie along the south end of the beach, disappearing to the north. A forest of mostly sea grapes and cabbage palms serves as a barrier between the beach and the road. The lagoon side is maritime hammock, with gumbo limbo, paradise trees and cabbage palms giving way to mangroves. The beach is wonderfully quiet.
Blowing Rocks is owned by the Nature Conservancy. There is a $2 entrance fee collected on an honor system, limited hours (closing time: 4:30 p.m.). The parking is ample, there are plenty of interpretive signs.
History: If there is a preserve on Jupiter Island, it's a pretty good guess that Nathaniel P. Reed had something to do with it, and it's the case with Blowing Rocks Preserve. In 1969, Reed, a Jupiter Island resident and one of Florida's great environmentalist, got together with some of his neighbors to arrange a donation of the 73 acres that is now Blowing Rocks to The Nature Conservancy to protect this unique site and allow public access to it. The Reed family also was instrumental in encouraging Rita Hawley Wright to donate funds for the construction of the Hawley Education Center on eastern half of the preserve. If you don't know about Reed and his environmental work, you should.
The Anastasia formation dates back to the Pleistocene, roughly 2.5 million to 11,500 years ago, and essentially is the hardened remains of shelled sea animals. It runs 200 miles along the Florida coast and is exposed in northern Palm Beach and southern Martin counties.
What You'll See: The rocks, of course. You'll find shore birds like sanderlings and ruddy turnstones foraging in the sand, while wading birds like yellow-crowned night herons ply the near-shore waters. Royal terns, laughing gulls, brown pelicans are common. In the cooler months, look for migrants in the hammock above the beach and along the Indian River Lagoon. While the beach and its exposed limestone are the calling cards of Blowing Rocks Preserve, don't forgot the western portion of the property, which includes a trail to the south, a boardwalk through a mangrove forest and a pollinator garden. Blowing Rocks Preserve is also a major nesting ground for sea turtles. And check out the trees along the beach side of Beach Road, including the Jamaican capers. Frostweed blooms in late summer into early fall.
Amenities: Parking is ample and free. However, the lot is gated and locked at closing time. There is no street parking available. There is a nature center on the east side of Beach Road. Blowing Rocks Preserve offers five short trails, including the 0.1-mile beach trail and a 300-foot boardwalk through a mangrove forest.
Nearby: The Nathaniel P. Reed National National Wildlife Refuge Jupiter Island Unit is a few miles to the north at the terminus of Beach Road. The Mainland Unit is about a ten-minute drive along U.S. 1.Jonathan Dickinson State Park is several mile farther south along U.S. 1.
Links: The Institute for Regional Conservation's inventory of plants for Blowing Rocks Preserve is here.
Of Note: There is a $2 entrance fee collected on an honor system, limited hours (opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 4:30 p.m.). The preserve is closed on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The parking is ample, there is an exhibit gallery in the Hawley Education Center. There are plenty of interpretive signs throughout the preserve.
Cover Photo: A broad view of the craggy outcroppings of Blowing Rocks Preserve. Second Photo: A juvenile yellow-crowned night heron forages along the beach.
The preserve itself is 73 acres straddling Jupiter Island in Martin County, ocean to the Indian River Lagoon. The spectacular geology is what brings most people to Blowing Rocks, but the lagoon side has attractions of its own, including nature trails and a nature center. The rocks lie along the south end of the beach, disappearing to the north. A forest of mostly sea grapes and cabbage palms serves as a barrier between the beach and the road. The lagoon side is maritime hammock, with gumbo limbo, paradise trees and cabbage palms giving way to mangroves. The beach is wonderfully quiet.
Blowing Rocks is owned by the Nature Conservancy. There is a $2 entrance fee collected on an honor system, limited hours (closing time: 4:30 p.m.). The parking is ample, there are plenty of interpretive signs.
History: If there is a preserve on Jupiter Island, it's a pretty good guess that Nathaniel P. Reed had something to do with it, and it's the case with Blowing Rocks Preserve. In 1969, Reed, a Jupiter Island resident and one of Florida's great environmentalist, got together with some of his neighbors to arrange a donation of the 73 acres that is now Blowing Rocks to The Nature Conservancy to protect this unique site and allow public access to it. The Reed family also was instrumental in encouraging Rita Hawley Wright to donate funds for the construction of the Hawley Education Center on eastern half of the preserve. If you don't know about Reed and his environmental work, you should.
The Anastasia formation dates back to the Pleistocene, roughly 2.5 million to 11,500 years ago, and essentially is the hardened remains of shelled sea animals. It runs 200 miles along the Florida coast and is exposed in northern Palm Beach and southern Martin counties.
What You'll See: The rocks, of course. You'll find shore birds like sanderlings and ruddy turnstones foraging in the sand, while wading birds like yellow-crowned night herons ply the near-shore waters. Royal terns, laughing gulls, brown pelicans are common. In the cooler months, look for migrants in the hammock above the beach and along the Indian River Lagoon. While the beach and its exposed limestone are the calling cards of Blowing Rocks Preserve, don't forgot the western portion of the property, which includes a trail to the south, a boardwalk through a mangrove forest and a pollinator garden. Blowing Rocks Preserve is also a major nesting ground for sea turtles. And check out the trees along the beach side of Beach Road, including the Jamaican capers. Frostweed blooms in late summer into early fall.
Amenities: Parking is ample and free. However, the lot is gated and locked at closing time. There is no street parking available. There is a nature center on the east side of Beach Road. Blowing Rocks Preserve offers five short trails, including the 0.1-mile beach trail and a 300-foot boardwalk through a mangrove forest.
Nearby: The Nathaniel P. Reed National National Wildlife Refuge Jupiter Island Unit is a few miles to the north at the terminus of Beach Road. The Mainland Unit is about a ten-minute drive along U.S. 1.Jonathan Dickinson State Park is several mile farther south along U.S. 1.
Links: The Institute for Regional Conservation's inventory of plants for Blowing Rocks Preserve is here.
Of Note: There is a $2 entrance fee collected on an honor system, limited hours (opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 4:30 p.m.). The preserve is closed on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The parking is ample, there is an exhibit gallery in the Hawley Education Center. There are plenty of interpretive signs throughout the preserve.
Cover Photo: A broad view of the craggy outcroppings of Blowing Rocks Preserve. Second Photo: A juvenile yellow-crowned night heron forages along the beach.
