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RIVERBEND PARK: ENJOY COWPEN LAKE

7/8/2022

Riverbend Park

The Wild & Scenic Loxahatchee River is a peaceful portal to a connect with nature at Cowpen Lake.

By bicycle or kayak or canoe, the short trip is a fabulous adventure — whether you hire one of our expert JUPITER OUTDOOR CENTER guides or head out on your own.

By water, you’ll likely see tropical birds, yellow-bellied turtles, owls, otters and maybe a ‘gator or two. By bicycle, keep your eyes peeled for deer, turkeys, sand hill cranes and butterflies.

Walking, who knows what you’ll see in Riverbend’s Park.

 

PEDAL…

 

Before you can say Loxahatchee River, you adventure begins when you select your bicycle and head out on the crushed-shell paths from the chickee hut at the JUPITER OUTDOOR CENTER in Riverbend Park.

Tandem bikes, kids bikes, bikes with fat tires, bikes with soft seats, bikes with tow wagons for little kids, bikes with baskets — JUPITER OUTDOOR CENTER has ’em all.

Need a helmet? We got them. Seat not right? We’ll adjust it for you. Want to go for a test ride? Sure.

Riverbend Park has about 10 miles of wide trails, much of it shaded by oak, palm and other trees.

To register for a Mangrove Mystery Tour, click here.

… PADDLE

a close up of a flower

A daydreaming paddle down the Lox River to Cowpen Lake is a dose of serenity.

Spider web-like air plants dangle overhead from towering cypress trees. Birds, insects and splashing sea turtles provide a soothing symphony. The cool, ice-tea red waters make for a refreshing breeze. Sweet-smelling water lillies provide a delicate aroma.

You might have to portage a little to get to Cowpen Lake. But it’s worthwhile. Having the lake to just you and a few ducks, great blue herons and limpkins is worth the effort.

To register for a Wild and Scenic Loxahatchee River Tour in Riverbend Park, click here.

 

… HIKE

a person riding a bike down a dirt road

Walking is big in Riverbend Park.

Locals like heading out at different times. First thing in the morning, expect to see deer. Later in the day, owls and great blue herons.

Many avoid the heat of mid-day.

Walking in Riverbend Park is a fun way to make new friends. And renew old friendships. Ask on old acquaintance to come out for a stroll.

Scientists say walking boosts creative output by an average of 60 percent. They call it “divergent thinking,” which they define as a thought process used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions.

We call it: GET OUT THERE AND CLEAR YOUR MIND!

SHADY OASIS

Chickee huts with picnic tables along Cowpen Lake in Riverbend Park provide cool shelter.

The temperature drops dramatically when you step under the chickee roof from the bright sunshine. The Seminoles, the designers of the structure, built them out of cypress logs and palm thatch leaves woven together by vines or thin ropes to handle our tropical weather.

 

SO WHATS OUT THERE AT COWPEN LAKE?

Deer – we spotted this deer near Reese Trail in Riverbend Park —  otters, wild turkeys, red-bellied turtles, butterflies and more critters are common in the park.

Sandhill cranes, great blue herons, red-shouldered hawks and other birds are regulars. Maybe a peacock or two.

There’s yellow-bellied turtles, otters and alligators.

Our Riverbend Park guides recently reported several manatees.

Don’t forget your backpack with a hat, bug spray, binoculars, sun protection and sun glasses.

Many visitors bring their lunch. We like to have ours under the chickee.

 

HOW ABOUT A TWO-FER?

ADD A LITTLE PADDLE TO YOUR PEDALING ADVENTURE?

Check out JOC’s Pedal & Paddle tour.

Our expert Riverbend Park guides will take you for a pedaling adventure on more than a dozen miles on the crushed stone trails.

Single bikes, tandem bikes, kids bikes, wide-tire bikes, bikes with baskets — JOC has ’em all when you enjoy Things To Do in Jupiter.

Then, hop onto a kayak and your JUPITER OUTDOOR CENTER  guide will lead you on an adventure under the cypress canopies of the the Loxahatchee River.

a young girl standing next to a tree           

For more THINGS TO DO IN JUPITER, check out our blog here.