Florida Atlantic Beaches: Fort Pierce to Jupiter Island

Although in the shadow of the Bahamas at its lower end, the Treasure Coast is still open to a great range of the Atlantic Ocean’s power. For wave aficionados this is a boon, with surf spots here providing some of the best waves in Florida. The force of the seas has also been the curse of some, from the unfortunate Jonathan Dickinson to Spanish treasure fleets to modern-day coast dwellers whose homes are in constant danger of being washed away by northeasters and hurricanes. After reaching the south side of Fort Pierce Inlet on A1A, you’ll find a group of public beaches that add up more than a mile in length, including South Jetty Park, South Beach Park, Surfside Park, and a variety of dune walkovers. At times the south jetty beaches have been nice, but they have suffered so badly from severe erosion that they are not covered in this guide. Condos sprout up and quickly disappear again, taking you into a 10-mile stretch of undeveloped coast where you can go horseback riding at the beach. Farther along is the St. Lucie nuclear power plant. On either side of the plant are the fine fishing and surf beaches of Turtle Creek and Walton Rocks. The ocean is teeming with life around the warm-water outflow, and some large and scary sea creatures normally only found in deep water hang around here. Condos erupt again for the remainder of the county length, before crossing into Martin County, which is noticeably different due to a four-story height limit on buildings. Jensen Beach and Stuart Beach are the main public beaches, with a wealth of other free, twenty-four-hour-access parking areas between and beyond. Where the road dead-ends at the bottom of the island is the beautiful snorkeling area, Bathtub Reef Beach. A1A takes a long detour from the coast between Stuart and Hobe Sound, missing one of the best beaches in Florida. The entire 5.5 miles of the north end of Jupiter Island is roadless wilderness, combining the St. Lucie Inlet State Preserve and the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge. The inlet park includes the waters 1.5 miles out to sea, which contain the best shallow reef diving in the area. Resuming at Hobe Sound Public Beach, A1A meanders south through the town of Jupiter Island, the wealthiest community in the United States. Toward the bottom of the island, geysers blast through the coquina rock holes at Blowing Rocks, then give way to the gentle sands of Coral Cove Beach. The Loxahatchee River empties out at the Jupiter Inlet, a river important in Seminole Indian legend. Up in the narrow headwaters, the river twists through a gorgeous cypress canopy and is designated as one of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers of the country. Historians still argue whether the river’s name originally meant “white man lied” about an offered truce during the Seminole Wars, or whether it translates to the more innocuous “turtle” river. This eTrail includes detailed descriptions of these beaches: Frederick Douglass Beach, Walton Rocks Beach/Turtle Creek Beach, Jensen Public Beach aka Sea Turtle Beach, Stuart Beach, Bathtub Reef Beach, St. Lucie Inlet State Preserve, Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge, Hobe Sound Public Beach, Blowing Rocks Preserve, and Coral Cove Beach.