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Jonathan Dickinson State Park
Close to 11,500 acres of land
and river await the visitor to
Jonathan Dickinson State Park.
Teeming with wildlife, the park
offers camping, canoeing, hiking
and bicycling, picnicking, fresh
and saltwater fishing and guided
tours of the Loxahatchee River.
TRAPPER NELSON
The Loxahatchee River, named a
National Wild and Scenic River
in 1985, winds its way through
the park, passing under a canopy
of centuries-old cypress trees.
The river has a timeless beauty all its own, "possessing remarkable
ecological and recreational values which are unique in the United
States."
Legends are nothing new to the east coast of Florida. In 1696, a
Quaker merchant named Jonathan Dickinson shipwrecked off the
coast in the area of Hobe Sound. Dickinson, his family and other
survivors, made an arduous journey along the coast to St.
Augustine. His journal, describing encounters with Native
Americans and Spanish settlers, gives valuable information about
life in early Florida.
THE LOXAHATCHEE RIVER
The 44-passenger Loxahatchee Queen II takes visitors up the
Loxahatchee River to the pioneer homesite of Trapper Nelson.
Nelson came to the area in the 1930s and lived off the land by
trapping and selling furs. He quickly became famous as the
"Wildman of the Loxahatchee." After his death in 1968, the state
acquired his land, preserving his home and grounds for future
generations to enjoy.
TRAILS
Four scenic nature trails and a
bicycle trail provide rare
opportunities to glimpse
endangered, threatened and
unique animals, such as the bald
eagle, Florida scrub-jay, Florida
sandhill crane and gopher
tortoise.
About 20 percent of the park is
covered in coastal sand pine
scrub, a biological community so
rare it is designated "globally
imperiled." Trails through the
scrub are located off the
entrance station parking lot and at Hobe Mountain.
CAMPING
Two campgrounds are available within the park. Tree-shaded Pine
Grove is located a short distance from the entrance station. The
other is near the Loxahatchee River. A primitive youth camp is
also available by reservation. Cabins may be rented at the
concession facility, along with canoes.
For general park information and camping reservations, contact:
Jonathan Dickinson State Park
16450 S.E. Federal Highway
Hobe Sound, Florida 33455
(561) 546-2771.
For cabin and canoe rentals and river tour information, contact the
park concession at (561) 746-1466.