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Blowing Rocks Preserve on Jupiter Island in Hobe Sound is one of the most unique beaches in the state. You won’t find any other beach like it in Florida so definitely put it on your Florida bucket list. What makes it so special? On the beach, you will find Anastasia limestone formations that stick out of the sand creating a dramatic shoreline on Florida’s Atlantic coast.
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The unique way that that this limestone is formed makes it have pools and sea caves that fill or drain as the tides come and go. During high tides and stormier weather, the water can shoot out of the blowholes up to 50 feet in the air. The plumes of water are one of the coolest sights to see.
Typically it is more common in the winter when the seas are more rough and the water shoots out of the rocks more but it can happen at any time the seas are rough. During the summertime, the water is calmer and you can explore the rocks up close. The rocks change based on seasons and weather even sometimes can be completely covered up by sand and barely visible, while other times they are entire cliffs on the beach.
These pictures were taken in May, one of the most ideal times to visit to be able to explore the rocks more and take some pretty cool pictures. If you love nature photography or want a beautiful location for a photoshoot, this is definitely a place where you can get some incredible shots.
The rocks cover a good amount of area on the beach but there is still plenty of beach space if you want to spend the day at the beach on the sand.
It’s not one of the most busy beaches in the area but there are still plenty of people around. There is enough parking in the area which is helpful to not spend time trying to find a spot (unless it’s a holiday weekend).
It’s a great place for swimming, snorkeling, and any water activity for the beach. You can also find many different shells on the beach if you are an avid shell collector.
The Nature Conservancy
The Blowing Rocks Preserve is protected by the The Nature Conservancy in Florida. It’s role is a conservation initiative in Florida that works through educating, training, volunteering and researching.
The preserve is a mile long and covers about 73 acres of the nature preserve with all of the habitats.
There are different parts to the preserve that includes the rocks and the beach, as well as the boardwalk, trails, butterfly garden and different mini ecosystems. You will see a lot of mangroves through the trails where you can watch for a variety of wildlife.
Back on the beach from July to October, you have the chance to see the protected turtles as they make their way to the water.
There are 5 short trails at the preserve that you can choose to do scenic walks on.
Beach Trail: This is a 0.1-mile walkway that is the main beach access from the preserve and includes benches and a viewing platform.
Dune Trail: This trail is a little longer as a 0.4-mile path that goes over the top of a beach dune and gives incredible sweeping views of the beach.
Mangrove Boardwalk: This is a 300-feet long boardwalk through a lush mangrove forest that has an overlook over the Indian River Lagoon.
Lagoon Trail: This is a 0.4-mile trail that is a pathway along the Indian River Lagoon shoreline that loops through saltwater marsh and coastal strand habitat.
Hours & Admission
Since the preserve has certain hours that they are open be mindful of that to be able to visit. The last entry is at 4:15pm and all preserve trails and parking lots close at 4:30pm.
If you park at the preserve, which has free parking, you have to make sure to leave by 4:30 which is when the parking lot gate closes. However, you can also park at the beach parking lot down the road which does not close like the preserve.
During the busy times of year, the parking fills up fast so if this is a point of interest, be sure to get there in the morning.
The preserve has an optional admission donation off $2 per person that helps maintain the coastal preserve for both people and wildlife.