River Shores Trail

The River Shores Trail follows the northern bank of the Loxahatchee River—Florida's first federally designated Wild and Scenic River—through the subtropical riparian forest that lines its tannin-stained banks. The Loxahatchee is one of only two rivers in Florida with Wild and Scenic designation, recognized for its outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values. The trail provides the most accessible section of riverfront walking in the park, with several shoreline overlooks where the river's dark, slow-moving water reflects the subtropical canopy above.

West Indian manatees are year-round residents of the Loxahatchee's warmer upstream sections, and the River Shores Trail provides good observation points for spotting them during cooler months when they congregate near the park. American alligators bask on the opposite bank, and limpkins call from the emergent vegetation. The river's connectivity to the Atlantic Ocean via Jupiter Inlet means tarpon and snook use the tidal portion regularly—fly fishing from the bank is popular at dawn. Cabbage palms, strangler figs, and gumbo limbo trees create the distinctly tropical forest canopy. Interpretive signs along the loop explain the Wild and Scenic designation and the ecology of Florida's subtropical river systems.