When you think of Florida beaches, you think of soft sand and striped cabanas. We were looking for a less populated, natural Florida beach where sand is not dredged and trucked in. Blowing Rocks Preserve turned out to be exactly what we were in search of. Check out these amazing photos!
Rock cliff along beach
The barrier island that forms Blowing Rocks has a substrate of Anastasia limestone, better known in Florida as coquina. Blowing Rocks Preserve has the longest coastline with these features on the eastern coast of Florida. The Preserve runs for one mile from north to south. It sits between the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the Indian River Lagoon on the west.It is situated on Jupiter Island about 25 miles north of West Palm Beach.
Limestone Rocks!
When the waves come up during high tide, the water creates geysers through the limestone cliffs. The cliffs are very rocky and rough so good shoes are a must. Kenin took his shoes off to walk on the cliffs. This lasted a whole minute and then the shoes went back on.
Ken playing sans shoes
The waves at blowing rocks are unpredictable. Depending on the tide, waves, and wind speed, the geysers will come out of the rocks and blow right up at you.
Geyser
This beach is definitely off the beaten path. It is a bit of a drive to get there, but once you arrive, you will find that the journey was worth it.
The rocks are more exposed as the tide goes out
Blowing Rocks can be tough to find. We drove past the sign for it and completely missed the parking lot the first time we went out there. The key thing to look for is the sign that says Blowing Rocks Preserve and then park in the parking lot that is on your right 1/2 mile beyond the sign. You can get more detailed directions and schedule information at the Nature Conservancy Website
Blowing Rocks Preserve is open 9 AM to 4:30 PM daily, except major holidays. Admission is $2 per person ($1 for Nature Conservancy members), free for children 12 and under. Guided nature walks are offered Sundays at 11 AM. I would bring exact change. When we visited we were told that they do not keep change on site.
Take a look at our gallery, and tell us about our favorite beaches below!
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- Rock cliff along beach
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- Geyser
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- Limestone Rocks!
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- Is that a turtle head poking?
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- Brett and Ken climbing
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- Ken playing sans shoes
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- Practicing the Macarena???
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- Blowing Rocks Sign