Are there alligators in the Loxahatchee River?

Are there alligators in the Loxahatchee River?

“We tell people to expect to see an alligator on the river. That’s one of the attractions of the wild and scenic Loxahatchee River.” With Bill DiPaolo steering my boat we started our adventure, and around the first river bend, Clegg spotted something. “Yeah, that’s a big gator,” said Clegg.

Where is the Loxahatchee River?

The source of the Loxahatchee River is in Riverbend Park on the south side of Indiantown Road about 1.5 miles west of I-95 and Florida’s Turnpike in Jupiter, Florida. The Loxahatchee River flows out of the Jupiter Inlet and into the Atlantic Ocean.

Is the Loxahatchee River saltwater?

The Northwest Fork of the river is Florida’s first federally designated Wild and Scenic River. Once this slow moving river reaches the central embayment, the water becomes brackish, part freshwater and part saltwater, as it mixes with incoming tides from the Jupiter Inlet.

What does the word Loxahatchee mean?

River of Turtles
What does the word Loxahatchee mean? It’s a Seminole Indian word meaning River of Turtles or Turtle River.

Where to go to see the Loxahatchee River?

Past Trapper Nelson’s Cabin, the river widens into a mangrove estuary and the tidal influence starts. At Jonathan Dickinson State Park, the river is wide and tidal. Trapper Nelson’s Cabin (about 4 miles from Riverbend Park) is a good stop-off point for picnicking and to visit the historical site.

How long is the Loxahatchee River paddling trail?

The full 8.5 mile ride can take 5-7 seven hours in low water due to many pullovers; the outfitters provide shuttles. The most scenic part of the paddling trail is the 4 miles through cypress between Riverbend Park and Trapper Nelson’s Cabin. This portion of the river can be twisty and narrow.

Who was the wild man of the Loxahatchee River?

Known as the “Wild Man of the Loxahatchee,” Nelson was a fur trader in the 1930’s who went on to build a zoo and botanical garden. The State took over the site after his death in 1968 and incorporated it into Jonathan Dickinson State Park.