
Park sign at Seabranch Preserve State Park. Photo: Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Picturesque Seabranch Preserve State Park offers visitors a peaceful escape into the scrubby flatwoods, sand pine scrub, baygall and mangroves just 40 miles north of West Palm Beach. This rustic area is located in Martin County not far from St. Lucie Inlet.
Guests to this Florida state park enjoy hiking, mountain biking, bird watching, and picnicking. Additional recreational activities will be available in the future: interpretive displays and an elevated boardwalk.
Activities
Pack a picnic lunch, plenty of drinking water, binoculars, and sunscreen and enjoy a day communing with nature at this serene park. Seabranch Preserve State Park provides picnic areas with tables and grills for guests to relax in during their visit.
While you’re in the area (and to round out your vacation) check out Jonathan Dickinson State Park for overnight options and many more daytime activities, and St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park (a classic Florida barrier island accessible only by boat) for swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving and surf fishing.
Here are some of the activities that you can do during your visit to Seabranch Preserve State Park:
Hiking at Seabranch Preserve State Park
Seabranch Preserve State Park features 8 miles of hiking trails through the flatwoods and sandy scrub. A section of the East Coast Greenway runs through the park and provides another 1.7 miles of trail to explore. This paved trail is multi-use; it is part of the 3,000 mile trail that extends from Calais, Maine all the way to Key West, Florida.
Here are a couple of the trails at Seabranch Preserve State Park:
- North Loop Trail – Easy 3.4 mile mostly sandy trail through the flatlands and along the dunes. Great trail for seeing wildlife.
- South Loop Trail – An easy 1.4 mile sandy trail.
Biking at Seabranch Preserve State Park
Enjoy a relaxing ride through the sand pine scrub, baygall and mesic flatwoods during your visit to Seabranch Preserve State Park. Visitors may ride along the park’s drive and the 1.3 mile trail that is part of the East Coast Greenway (a 3,000 mile trail that extends from Key West, Florida to Calais, Maine). Please be aware that all riders under the age of 16 are required by law to wear helmets.
Birding at Seabranch Preserve State Park
Seabranch Preserve State Park is an excellent location for birdwatching, so don’t forget to bring your binoculars and bird lists. Some species you may discover here are: bald eagles, hawks, migratory ducks, cardinals, blackbirds, sparrows, hummingbirds, mockingbirds, wild turkeys, egrets, owls, Great Blue Heron, Brown Pelicans, White Ibis, Red-shouldered Hawk, Roseate Spoonbills, Florida Sandhill Cranes, Wood Storks, Purple Plover and Florida Scrub Jays.
Nature and Wildlife at Seabranch Preserve State Park
The lush habitat within Seabranch Preserve State Park provides nourishment and shelter for many species of wildlife.
Guests enjoy seeing many species of birds here as well as gopher tortoises, snakes, lizards, white-tailed deer, marsh rabbits, and alligators. Rare plants such as four petal pawpaw, prickly apple cactus and Lakels’s mint may also be seen along the scrub and marshland.
Pets at Seabranch Preserve State Park
Pets are allowed inside Seabranch Preserve State Park as long as they are well behaved and restricted to a leash no longer than 6 feet.
Camping Near Seabranch Preserve State Park
Spend the day exploring Seabranch Preserve State Park and then take a drive over and spend the night inside Jonathan Dickinson State Park, located at 16450 SE Federal Hwy in Hobe Sound.
This nearby state park features cabins, campgrounds, an equestrian campground, a group camping area and primitive camping sites for guests who want to spend a few extra days and nights in this beautiful area. They also provide opportunities for guests to kayak, hike, mountain bike, picnic and birdwatch within a picturesque setting of sand dunes, river swamps, mangroves, pine flatwoods and scrub forests.
Each of the 11 fully furnished cabins has one bedroom, one full bathroom, dining and kitchen area and a family room with a pull out sleeper sofa. The park’s 142 campsites have electric and water hookups, picnic tables, grills, and are within walking distance to large bathhouses with laundry facilities. Cabins and some of the campsites are located along the Loxahatchee River.
The equestrian campground features 5 campsites with tie-out posts and space for portable pens for guests traveling with their horses. The park features 8 miles of multi-use trails through the wilderness. Be aware that a negative Coggins report is required for each horse brought into the park.
The primitive group camping area has tables, a fire circle and access to a nearby composting toilet. Potable water is available at the picnic area one mile away. And the primitive campsites are located along the trails and only accessible by foot or bike. Water is available nearby, but must be treated before drinking.
Park Location
Seabranch Preserve State Park
6093 SE Dixie Hwy
Stuart, FL 34997
Phone: 772.219.1880
Map
Video
Here is a short YouTube video showcasing several attractions at Seabranch Preserve State Park:
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