Welcome to Palm Beach County’s natural areas

Protected pieces of South Florida’s natural heritage that maintain a diversity of plants and animals.

In 1991 and 1999, voters approved a total of $250 million in bond funds for the purchase of lands for conservation purposes.

ERM manages more than 31,000 acres of these conservation lands that are the County’s last wild places open sunrise to sunset and are free for all to enjoy passive,

nature-based activities such as hiking, bird watching, and environmental education.

EXPLORING

Join ERM biologists, naturalists, and environmentalists as they guide you on a tour through a natural area.

You’ll get a “behind-the-scenes” experience and learn about plants, animals, habitats, and so much more!

These events are FREE and offered seasonally.

Registration is required.

RESTORING

Prior to county acquisition, most of our natural areas suffered for decades from human impacts such as draining surface water into ditches and canals; filling in wetlands with dirt and other materials; mining; removing native vegetation and introducing invasive species.

Once acquired, ERM works to bring these lands back to their natural state by removing invasive species, backfilling drainage ditches and canals, and restoring water levels.

MAINTAINING

After the initial environmental restoration is complete, land managers begin to work on monitoring native plants and animals to document the recovery and health of the native habitats; providing public access; and the continued removal of invasive species and illegal trash that re-appear consistently on the properties.

Periodic “prescribed” burns are conducted to maintain fire dependent habitats.

Natural Areas Listed

The following properties are open
365 days a year from sunrise to sunset.

Properties with public use refers to having parking areas, entrance areas, and marked trails unless otherwise noted.

Pondhawk

Blue Lake and internal wetlands attract tons of wildlife

ADDRESS: 1501 Spanish River Boulevard, Boca Raton

Books and Nature Together

Access to this 79-acre natural area is through the Boca Raton Spanish River Library Parking lot. A 12-foot-wide multiuse trail allows hikers and bicyclists a view of Blue Lake and the southeastern perimeter of the natural area. An eight-acre wetland restoration project inside the natural area provides habitat for osprey, black-necked stilt and white ibis. The natural area is named for a common dragonfly found throughout the woodlands.

Features

Portion of El Rio Trail (multiuse) 0.25 miles
Nature Trail (paved) 0.71 miles
North Hiking Trail (sandy) 0.53 miles
South Hiking Trail (sandy) 0.80 miles
Observation platform overlooking eight acres of restored wetlands

Yamato Scrub

The site that started it all preserving 31,000 acres of upland and wetland habitat

ADDRESS: 701 Clint Moore Road, Boca Raton

Rare scrub habitat, saved forever

Florida scrub habitat covers 63% of Yamato Scrub. A 10-acre basin marsh is located in the northern portion of the 217-acre natural area. Bridges across canals and a tunnel underneath Clint Moore Rd. allow for easy access to more than three miles of hiking trails. Bicyclists can enjoy a view of the scrub from the western perimeter of the site on the multiuse El Rio Trail.

Features

Skyblue Lupine Hiking Trail (sandy) 2.8 miles
Cicada Nature Trail (paved) 0.7 miles
El Rio Trail: 1/2 mile adjacent to the site – bike riding is not allowed inside the natural area)
Restored wetland habitat (10 acres)

High Ridge Scrub

Hike uphill on the sandy trails that make up a former sand dune – the Florida Coastal Ridge

ADDRESS: 7300 High Ridge Road, 1/2 mile south of Hypoluxo Road

Gopher tortoise haven

The 39-acre High Ridge Scrub Natural Area protects plants and animals that live in scrub habitat. Many of these species are protected, including the gopher tortoise. Other animals observed on the site include gulf fritillary butterfly, cicada, yellow garden spider, and American kestrel.

Features

Silkgrass Trail (paved) 0.25 miles
Gulf Fritillary (sandy) 1.5 miles

Rosemary Scrub

Home to Palm Beach County’s rarest habitat – the Florida Scrub

ADDRESS: 2901 N. Seacrest Boulevard, Boynton Beach

Good Things Come in Small Packages

One of our smallest natural areas, the 14-acre Rosemary Scrub is named for a plant related to a familiar cooking herb – the Florida rosemary. Other plants found on the site include netted pawpaw, cabbage palm, nodding pinweed, and several species of native bromeliads.

Features

Red Bay Trail (paved) 0.16 miles
Gopher Apple Trail (sandy) 0.25 miles
Native plant species found here include:
Curtiss’ milkweed, large-flowered rosemary, nodding pinweed, giant sword fern, shell-mound pricklypear, and wild pine airplants
Native animal species found here include:
Florida scrub lizard, gopher tortoise, American redstart, Cooper’s hawk, merlin, osprey, and painted bunting

Seacrest Scrub

Hike the paved trail lined with sand pine trees

ADDRESS: 3400 South Seacrest Boulevard, 2 miles south of Woolbright Road

Nature Next Door

The 54-acre Seacrest Scrub Natural Area is a green island of wilderness in the middle of an urban landscape surrounded mostly by houses. It is home to the protected gopher tortoise. Other animals observed on the site include American redstart, green anole, and eastern gray squirrel.

Features

Gopher Tortoise Trail (paved) 0.18 miles
Sand Pine Trail (sandy) 0.75 miles
Part of the Great Florida Bird and Wildlife Trail

Delray Oaks

Hike the trails to explore Florida’s rare xeric hammock ecosystem

ADDRESS: 2021 SW 29th Street, Delray Beach

Find shade to beat the heat

The shady hardwood forests have a canopy of live oak, cabbage palm, and strangler fig. Wild coffee, American beautyberry, and several species of ferns are present in the understory. The 25-acre Delray Oaks Natural Area is home to many resident and migratory birds, including red-shouldered hawk, blue-gray gnatcatcher, and several species of warblers.

Features
- Live Oak Trail (paved) 0.29 miles
- Beautyberry Trail (sandy) 0.20 miles
- Observation platform overlooking a strand swamp
- Part of the Great Florida Bird and Wildlife Trail

Hypoluxo Scrub

Climb to the top of the observation tower to see the home of the Barefoot Mailman

ADDRESS: 150 Hypoluxo Road, Hypoluxo

Take a step back in history

At one time, southeast Florida’s coastline was a patchwork of upland and wetland habitats spanning the western side of the Atlantic Coastal Ridge. When you visit this 98-acre remnant of those habitats, be on the lookout for the resident gopher tortoises in the scrub and scrubby flatwoods, or follow the Eastern Pondhawk hiking trail to spot a wading bird foraging in the restored wetland.

Features

- Cottonweed Trail (Paved) 0.25 miles
- Eastern Pondhawk Trail (Sandy) 1.5 miles
- Covered observation tower with timeline display of historical events
- Restored wetland (2 acres)

Juno Dunes

Hike up to the highest natural point in Palm Beach County

Oceanfront Tract 14200 South U.S. Highway 1, Juno Beach
West Tract 14501 South U.S. Highway 1, Juno Beach

Water views on each side

Visitors to the 569-acre Juno Dunes Natural Area can travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. The ocean-front tract has a great view of the surrounding area atop an ancient sand dune. The west tract has several miles of trails and floating docks to allow boaters access to the site. Restrooms available at Loggerhead Park.

Features

Part of the Great Florida Bird and Wildlife Trail

Oceanfront

Hiking trails (sandy) to Atlantic Ocean

West Tract

Sawgrass Trail (paved) 0.21 miles
Scrub Oak Trail (sandy) 1.8 miles to Intracoastal Waterway
Scrub Hickory Trail (sandy) 2.1 miles
Boardwalk through sawgrass wetland
Observation Tower overlooking basin marsh
Tidal channels accessible by kayak or canoe

Delaware Scrub

Follow the boardwalk through the cypress trees to the tidal swamp at Jones Creek, a tributary of the National Wild and Scenic Loxahatchee River.

Address: 47 N Delaware Boulevard, just north of Indiantown Road

Find nature in the center of town

Scrub, scrubby flatwoods, mesic flatwoods, wet flatwoods, dome swamp, mangrove swamp, and salt marsh are found in this compact 16-acre site in the heart of the Town of Jupiter. As you walk the trails look for wild pine epiphytes (air plants) growing on the tree trunks, or if you are paddling along the black and red mangrove forested shoreline, keep your eyes open for the rare sighting of a manatee.

Features

Forked Bluecurls Trail (Paved) 0.35 miles
Cypress Swamp Boardwalk
Jones Creek, tributary of the Loxahatchee River
Wildlife observation platform, overlooking tidal swamp
Kayak and canoe tie-ups

Jackson Riverfront Pines

Explore the shoreline along one of two Wild and Scenic Rivers in Florida

Address: 47 N Delaware Boulevard, just north of Indiantown Road

Go wild and scenic here

This 3-acre site is home to three native ecosystems – pine trees and saw palmettos in the scrubby flatwoods, live oaks and cabbage palms in the mesic hammock, and red, black, and white mangroves and buttonwood in the mangrove swamp that lines the eastern shore of the north fork of the famous Wild and Scenic Loxahatchee River.

Features

60 species of native South Florida plants found here including
Common and Giant wild pine airplants
39 species of native South Florida animals found here including
American Redstart, Florida prairie warbler, Gopher tortoise, Osprey, Swallow-tailed kite, and West Indian manatee

Before You Go

This site is accessible by pedestrian traffic or kayak or canoe only.

There is no designated parking area.

Sites Without Public Use

Boynton Beach
- East Conservation Area
Jupiter
- Sandhill Crane Wetlands
Lake Okeechobee
- Lake Okeechobee Connector
Lantana
- Lantana Scrub
Palm Beach Gardens
- Pawpaw
Royal Palm Beach
- Pond Cypress
Western Palm Beach County
- JW Corbett-Loxahatchee NWR Greenway Connector

Accessibility and the Use of “Other Powered Mobility Devices”

Nature trails (including concrete and boardwalk portions), observation platforms, overlooks, shade shelters, boat docks and piers were designed and constructed for use by pedestrians and individuals with mobility disabilities. Individuals with mobility disabilities may use wheelchairs (including electric wheelchairs) and manually-powered mobility aids on any natural area trail or public use facility that is open to pedestrian use and that can accommodate their entry. Individuals with mobility disabilities also may use “Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices”, provided such use is in accordance with the recommendations and restrictions contained in the policy below.

Welcome to Palm Beach County’s natural areas

Protected pieces of South Florida’s natural heritage that maintain a diversity of plants and animals.

In 1991 and 1999, voters approved a total of $250 million in bond funds for the purchase of lands for conservation purposes.

EXPLORING

Join ERM biologists, naturalists, and environmentalists as they guide you on a tour through a natural area.

You’ll get a “behind-the-scenes” experience and learn about plants, animals, habitats, and so much more!

These events are FREE and offered seasonally.

Registration is required.

RESTORING

Prior to county acquisition, most of our natural areas suffered for decades from human impacts such as draining surface water into ditches and canals; filling in wetlands with dirt and other materials; mining; removing native vegetation and introducing invasive species.

Once acquired, ERM works to bring these lands back to their natural state by removing invasive species, backfilling drainage ditches and canals, and restoring water levels.

MAINTAINING

Periodic “prescribed” burns are conducted to maintain fire dependent habitats.

Natural Areas Listed

The following properties are open 365 days a year from sunrise to sunset.

Properties with public use refers to having parking areas, entrance areas, and marked trails unless otherwise noted.

Pondhawk

Blue Lake and internal wetlands attract tons of wildlife

Books and Nature Together

Features

Yamato Scrub

The site that started it all preserving 31,000 acres of upland and wetland habitat

Rare scrub habitat, saved forever

Features

​High Ridge Scrub

Hike uphill on the sandy trails that make up a former sand dune – the Florida Coastal Ridge

Gopher tortoise haven

Features

Rosemary Scrub

Home to Palm Beach County’s rarest habitat – the Florida Scrub

Good Things Come in Small Packages

Features

Seacrest Scrub

Hike the paved trail lined with sand pine trees

Nature Next Door

Features

Delray Oaks

Hike the trails to explore Florida’s rare xeric hammock ecosystem

Find shade to beat the heat

Features

Hypoluxo Scrub

Climb to the top of the observation tower to see the home of the Barefoot Mailman

Take a step back in history

Features

Juno Dunes

Hike up to the highest natural point in Palm Beach County

Water views on each side

Features

Oceanfront

West Tract

​Delaware Scrub

Follow the boardwalk through the cypress trees to the tidal swamp at Jones Creek, a tributary of the National Wild and Scenic Loxahatchee River.

Find nature in the center of town

​

Features

Jackson Riverfront Pines

Explore the shoreline along one of two Wild and Scenic Rivers in Florida

Go wild and scenic here

Features

There is no designated parking area.

Sites with Public Use

Sites Without Public Use

Accessibility and the Use of “Other Powered Mobility Devices”

Other Power-Driven Mobility Device Policy

The following properties are open
365 days a year from sunrise to sunset.

High Ridge Scrub

Delaware Scrub