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Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area

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At the confluence of the Indian and Loxahatchee Rivers at the Jupiter Inlet, the 1860 Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse crowns 120 acres of nationally significant property surrounded by urban development and busy waterways. Long considered a local treasure, our organization partnered with local governments, Congressional representatives, community members and the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to provide long range protection of this important slice of Florida wilderness.

Our efforts paid off!

The Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area (JILONA) was federally designated by Congress in May 2008 to “protect, conserve, and enhance the unique and nationally important historic, natural, cultural, scientific, educational, scenic, and recreational values of the Federal land surrounding the Lighthouse for the benefit of present generations and future generations for the people in the United States.” Here you will find 25 special status species, cultural evidence of 5,000 years of human occupation and a north-side hiking trail to a lagoon overlook through three Florida habitats. Equally important, JILONA was designated as a unit of BLM’s National Conservation Lands—one of only three Outstanding Natural Areas in the country. These exceptional lands are found throughout the West, Alaska and Florida. They are our nation’s newest system of protected public lands—standing in stature with our National Parks, National Forests and National Wildlife Refuges. We encourage everyone to visit as many of these national gems as possible!

JILONA offers visitors scenic hiking trails on the north and south side of Beach Road. The North Trail meanders through Florida Scrub and tropical hammock to a covered observation platform overlooking a quiet mangrove lagoon. An optional loop passes through a rare sand pine forest. The South Trail loop provides access to the Indian River, views of the lighthouse, and a variety of flora and fauna.

A shoreline observation pier is now open on site and may be visited as part of daily admission at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum or through various Bureau of Land Management programs.

A small playground for children is located in Lighthouse Park and leisure waterfront activities such as fishing, paddle boarding and bird watching are favorite pastimes behind the Museum.* Visitors are encouraged to bring their cameras and binoculars for exceptional flora and fauna sightings. Recreational opportunities at Lighthouse Park include soccer fields, tennis and pickleball courts.

*Note 2022: The area of the park behind the Museum building may be closed periodically by the Town of Jupiter for safety purposes during the US 1 Bridge construction project.

Learn more about the preservation of these beautiful natural areas.

Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area
Bureau of Land Management
National Conservation Lands