Jonathan Dickinson State Park

Joel and I just got back from here, and I can only echo ardilla’s “this is definitely a Worth It, Want to go Back kind of place” comment. I didn’t get to go kayaking, but I’ll make a special trip back to do so – it looked so peaceful out on the river.

I did walk the Kitching Trail, which was enjoyable. There’s a beautiful silence in the forest, broken only by your own footfall, occasional birdsong, and rustling in the undergrowth. (Lizards?) On the last stretch before the end of the trail, there’s an osprey nest. I was lucky enough to spot him a short way away on a tree limb with it’s catch.

I stayed for a few days camping last year and went back for some kayaking last weekend, and I’ve enjoyed this park very much both times. The Loxahatchee River flows through the southern end of the park and branching into Kitching Creek, which is an amazing mangrove & cypress ecosystem, home to great fauna & flora. The park offers primitive and non-primitive camping, cabins, bike & equestrian trails, canoeing, kayaking, picnic areas, fishing, and great hiking trails. It’s great for bird watching in the winter, too.

I particularly enjoyed kayaking & canoening and look forward to visiting the park again in the near future, this is definitely a Worth It, Want to go Back kind of place.