Kitching Creek Preserve - Hobe Sound, FL
Kitching Creek Preserve is a scenic 51-acre natural area located in Hobe Sound, FL, offering a peaceful dog park experience for pet owners seeking dog-friendly hiking and pet-friendly trails. This preserve features a mile-long loop trail around a large lake and wetlands, perfect for dogs and their owners to enjoy nature and wildlife. The park is wheelchair accessible, making it inclusive for all visitors, and is known for its diverse bird population including bald eagles, osprey, and herons, providing a unique outdoor experience for dog lovers.
While the park is basic with minimal amenities such as a single picnic table and no restrooms, it is ideal for those looking for a quiet, uncrowded dog park in Hobe Sound, FL. Visitors should note there is little shade, so planning for hot days is recommended. The preserve also allows dogs, making it a great spot for dog-friendly hiking and exploring natural habitats alongside your furry friends. Whether you’re bird watching or enjoying a peaceful walk, Kitching Creek Preserve offers a natural retreat for dogs and their owners in the area.
FAQ for Kitching Creek Preserve in Hobe Sound Florida:
- Are dogs allowed at this park? Yes, dogs are allowed at Kitching Creek Preserve.
- Is the park wheelchair accessible? Yes, the park has a wheelchair accessible entrance and a wheelchair accessible parking lot.
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, there is a mile-long loop trail on natural earth around the lake that is easy and scenic.
- Is there shade or shelter available? There is not much shade available, so plan accordingly.
- Are there benches or seating areas for owners? The park has very limited seating, with only a picnic table available and no benches or pavilions.
- Are restrooms available for owners? No, there are no bathrooms on site.
- Is there a playground or activities for kids nearby? The park is good for kids and has kid-friendly hikes.
Reviews
Kitching Creek Preserve is a 51 acre natural area managed by Martin County. They acquired this former vegetation recycling facility in 2009 to help restore the Central Flow Way of Kitching Creek and the Loxahatchee River. An engineering firm helped the county develop a way to capture water from a nearby ditch, hold it on-site in a series of lakes and wetlands, and then slowly discharge the water back into Kitching Creek and flowing into the Loxahatchee River. The project involved constructing a 24-acre lake with 8-acres of shallow marsh and wetland habitat.The lake and its surrounding ponds are an excellent place to bird watch. Bald eagles, roseate spoonbills, tri-colored herons, and osprey have all been spotted here. You may also come across alligators, otters, song birds, raptors, herons, and egrets. Around the lake and ponds is a mile long loop trail on natural earth.As I made my way around the lake I could hear the splash of alligators as they left the bank for the water. It is nice to know they are more afraid of me than the other way around. I also saw a few birds like a great blue heron and a couple of egrets. This an easy and scenic hike that anyone can do. Martin County offers free guided hikes of this and their other natural areas on their website along with many other great events.
Great little park. Lots of biodiversity in the marsh area, we saw osprey, ibis, blue heron, crows, sandhill cranes, and egrets. Not much for shade.
This park is very basic. It has a picnic table, period. You can walk around the preserve but there are no bathrooms or where here.
This place is fantastic on a cool day. There are a lot of birds. It is basically a big lake surrounded by a narrow patch of grass that one can use to walk around the lake. There are several picnic areas. It was around 59 degrees when we went and we loved it. But there is no shade so I think it would be miserable on a hot day.
Quiet, uncrowded. In fact, it’s usually empty. Lots of birds, and various species of fish in the lake and surrounding canals. There are no pavilions, tables, or benches, and not much shade, so plan accordingly. There is a shallow ramp that leads into the lake, so kayaks and canoes are do-able. I’ve been there several times at early dusk and it hasn’t been buggy. Watch out for the fire ant mounds in the grass though.Jan 2022 update — the ramp is now overgrown and inaccessible, but the east side of the lake has a few spots you’d be able to put in at.