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Explore Blowing Rocks Preserve on Jupiter Island
Blowing Rocks is a 73-acre preserve on Jupiter Island maintained by The Nature Conservancy.
I have not had the luxury of bringing a chair and a book to the beach in over a decade. The beach is no place to relax, but more of an adventure sport for my son, Dylan.
Nearly every weekend morning in spring and summer, you can find us getting pounded by waves at Blowing Rocks Preserve on Jupiter Island in Hobe Sound. The sound of waves crashing on the sand and rocks, and the screeching of a resident pair of ospreys hunting fish provide a soul-soothing soundtrack. The aqua blue waters lap the rock formations, and in some cases, blast water through crevices in the Anastasia limestone, which gave the preserve its name.
My son regularly climbs barefoot on the jagged rock outcroppings while being sprayed by waves. Dylan, as one beachgoer put it, has “reef feet.”
From spring to late summer, dozens of sea turtle nests line the beach. On several outings, we arrived early enough to view several late hatchers making their way from the nests to the waves to start their new lives in the ocean. The beach is also home to one resident turtle who has lived in the surf there for at least the past two summers.
The waves are generally calmer and the water clearer in the summer, which makes for better snorkeling and paddle boarding. The waves become stronger and bigger in the winter months, which that cause more “blowing” action along the rocks. At certain times of the year, the beach can be prone to rip currents.
The Beach Bucket Foundation has bucket stations for beach lovers who want to pick up debris and protect the beaches and the marine life.
The parking area has been kept small to limit the number of people going to the preserve, as The Nature Conservancy’s mission is different than that of a typical public beach. The nonprofit tries to strike a balance between its purpose to preserve the natural ecosystem and an opportunity for people to enjoy nature.
We park in the larger, free lot at Coral Cove Park and walk north to Blowing Rocks.
Hours, rules and admission
- Blowing Rocks is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, except Easter, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
- Parking is free. The lot is closed and locked after 4:30 p.m. The Town of Jupiter Island prohibits street parking.
- An optional $2 per person donation helps The Nature Conservancy maintain the preserve for people and wildlife.
- Pets, drones, alcohol and the collection of plants, animals, limestone rocks and other natural resources are prohibited.
Tim O’Hara is TCPalm’s environment reporter. Contact him at [email protected].