Burt Reynolds Park is the easiest place to paddle board in Jupiter. It sits on the Intracoastal Waterway at the mouth of the Loxahatchee River, has parking set aside for paddlers and a self-service paddle board rental kiosk, and the famous Jupiter Sandbar is a short paddle away. For the prettiest water, launch at DuBois Park on Jupiter Inlet, where the water is often clear enough to see the bottom.
Jupiter is a great paddling town because so many kinds of water meet in one spot. The Loxahatchee River, a nationally designated Wild and Scenic River, flows into the Intracoastal Waterway right at Jupiter Inlet, so within a few miles you have clear salt water, mangrove shorelines, a sandbar and a cypress-lined river. The water is warm all year. What you have to respect is current: the tide pours in and out of the inlet, and the paddling gets hard work when it turns.
Quick answer
- First time on a board: Burt Reynolds Park, paddling the quieter water along the shore on a slack tide.
- Most scenic: DuBois Park, under the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse.
- Rentals: the PADL self-service kiosk at Burt Reynolds Park.
- A quieter option: the Intracoastal side of Coral Cove Park in Tequesta.
- A river paddle: the Wild and Scenic Loxahatchee at Riverbend Park, best for confident paddlers (or by kayak).
The best places to paddle board in Jupiter
Burt Reynolds Park and the Jupiter Sandbar
Directions
Best for: beginners, rentals and a paddle to the sandbar. Tidal salt water, with boat traffic.
Burt Reynolds Park is a Palm Beach County park with 2,000 feet of frontage on the Intracoastal Waterway, on both sides of US 1 where it crosses the Loxahatchee. The Jupiter Sandbar, also called the Loxahatchee River Sandbar, is just west of the park: a broad, shallow sand flat where boats anchor at low tide and people wade in ankle-deep water.
Where to launch: The east entrance is at 805 US Highway 1. The park has canoe and kayak access and designated parking for vehicles carrying non-motorized boats without a trailer, so you don’t need the $15 boat trailer permit. Launch away from the six boat ramps. The park is open sunrise to sunset.
Rentals: PADL runs a self-service paddle board rental kiosk in the park (it isn’t operated by the county). The River Center, a nature education center, is also in the park.
Good to know: The sandbar gets crowded with boats on weekends; go on a weekday morning or at low tide on a calm day. Local tourism officials warn that the current in this part of the Intracoastal can be strong when the tide turns, so check a tide chart and plan to paddle back with the current. Our guide to the best tide for paddle boarding explains how.
DuBois Park
Directions
Best for: clear water and lighthouse views, for confident paddlers. Tidal inlet water.
DuBois Park is a 22-acre county park on the south side of Jupiter Inlet, across the water from the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. It has 1,200 feet of beach on the Intracoastal side, a small guarded swimming lagoon, a snorkeling area and a jetty. The water here is often a clear blue-green, and the lighthouse views are the best in town.
Where to launch: The park has a boat ramp for non-motorized boats only, plus canoe and kayak access, so it’s set up for paddlers. Address: 19075 DuBois Road. It’s open sunrise to sunset and has parking, restrooms and outdoor showers.
What to avoid: Stay out of the guarded swimming and snorkeling areas. And don’t drift toward the inlet mouth: the tide runs hard through Jupiter Inlet, and it’s the main route between the Intracoastal and the ocean for every boat in the area. Paddle inside, toward the lighthouse side and the river, and turn back before the jetties.
Good to know: Lifeguards are on duty every day during the county’s public school summer break and on weekends during the school year.
Coral Cove Park (Intracoastal side)
DirectionsBest for: a quieter launch north of the inlet. Flat Intracoastal water.
Coral Cove Park is a small county beach park at 1600 Beach Road in Tequesta, on the narrow strip of Jupiter Island between the ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. Most visitors come for the ocean beach and its rock formations, but the park also has 600 feet of frontage on the Intracoastal.
Where to launch: From the Intracoastal side of the park, not the ocean beach. The ocean side has rocky shoreline and surf; the Intracoastal side is sheltered. The park is open sunrise to sunset, with parking, restrooms and outdoor showers.
Good to know: You’re paddling a busy waterway here. Stay close to the shoreline, out of the marked channel, and watch for boat wakes.
Loxahatchee River at Riverbend Park
Directions
Best for: a jungle-like river paddle for confident paddlers. Freshwater river, narrow and twisting.
The upper Loxahatchee is one of Florida’s best-known paddling rivers. It winds under centuries-old cypress trees before widening into a mangrove-lined estuary downstream. Riverbend Park, a 645-acre county park at 9060 W. Indiantown Road, includes part of the Loxahatchee National Wild and Scenic River and about 5 miles of waterways.
Where to launch: The park lists canoe and kayak access, open sunrise to sunset.
Rentals: Jupiter Outdoor Center, based in the park, rents kayaks and canoes and runs guided Loxahatchee tours. It doesn’t operate as a county service.
Good to know: The river is narrow, with tight bends, overhanging branches and logs, so a paddle board is harder going than a kayak. Kneel through the tight sections. This is wild Florida, so expect alligators: give them space and never paddle close to one. Downstream, rentals and other concessions at Jonathan Dickinson State Park were listed as unavailable at the time of writing.
When to go
You can paddle Jupiter year-round. NOAA’s nearest station in its water temperature guide, at Lake Worth Pier a little way down the coast, averages around 75°F in January and February and 85–86°F from July to September.
- Winter and spring (December–April): the most comfortable season, with mild air and fewer afternoon storms. Fronts can bring days of strong wind; pick another day if it’s whitecapping.
- Summer and early fall: warm water and glassy mornings, but afternoon thunderstorms are common, so get off the water at the first thunder. Hurricane season runs June through November.
- Time of day and tide: mornings are calmest, before the sea breeze. Plan every paddle around the tide in Jupiter, especially near the inlet.
You won’t need a wetsuit most of the year, but our wetsuit check can help on cooler winter mornings. Planning a longer paddle, like Burt Reynolds Park to the lighthouse and back? Our Trip time calculator estimates how long it’ll take at your pace.
Rules and safety in Jupiter
In Florida a paddle board counts as a vessel whenever you’re outside a swimming, surfing or bathing area. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC):
- Life jacket: carry a US Coast Guard–approved wearable life jacket for each person. Children under 6 must wear one while underway. See our pick of the best PFDs for SUP.
- Sound device: carry a whistle or horn.
- After dark or in poor visibility: you need a white light, such as a flashlight, ready to show in time to prevent a collision.
Local rules and habits on top of that:
- Watch for manatees. Jupiter’s waterways are divided into speed zones partly to protect manatees. On a board you’re slow enough, but don’t chase or touch them.
- Stay out of the inlet mouth and the marked channels. Jupiter Inlet combines strong tidal current with heavy boat traffic.
- Keep out of guarded swim areas at DuBois Park and the county beaches; surfing and similar craft aren’t allowed in them.
- Give alligators room on the freshwater Loxahatchee.
- Wear a leash in open water, so a fall in current doesn’t leave you chasing your board.
FAQ
Where can beginners paddle board in Jupiter?
Burt Reynolds Park. It has paddler parking, a rental kiosk and calmer water along the shore. Go on a calm morning around slack tide, and stay close to the park until you’re comfortable.
Can you paddle board to the Jupiter Sandbar?
Yes. It’s a short paddle west from Burt Reynolds Park. It’s most fun at low tide on a weekday, before the weekend boat crowd arrives. Mind the current on the way back.
Do I need a permit to paddle board in Jupiter?
No, you don’t need a permit to paddle. The $15 daily permit at Burt Reynolds Park is only for boat trailer parking; there’s separate parking for cars carrying paddle craft.
Can you paddle board on the Loxahatchee River?
Yes, but the upper river at Riverbend Park is narrow and twisting, with logs and low branches, so it suits confident paddlers. Rentals there are kayaks and canoes. For an easier paddle, try the wide lower river around Burt Reynolds Park.
Is there anywhere similar nearby?
For more Florida paddling, see our guides to where to paddle board in the Florida Keys and where to paddle board in Destin. Not sure what size board you need? Try the Board Fitter.
