Fort Pierce Inlet State Park, a part of the
Florida State Park
There are 175 state parks and 9 state trails in the U.S. state of Florida which encompass more than , providing recreational opportunities for both residents and tourists.
Almost half of the state parks have an associated local 501(c)(3) non-pr ...
system, is located just north of the Fort Pierce Inlet, on
North Hutchinson Island, near
Fort Pierce
Fort Pierce is a city in and the county seat of St. Lucie County, Florida, United States. The city is part of the Treasure Coast region of Atlantic Coast Florida. It is also known as the Sunrise City, sister to San Francisco, California, the Suns ...
. It consists of
beach
A beach is a landform alongside a body of water which consists of loose particles. The particles composing a beach are typically made from rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles, etc., or biological sources, such as mollusc sh ...
es,
dunes and a coastal
hammock
A hammock (from Spanish , borrowed from TaĆno and Arawak ) is a sling made of fabric, rope, or netting, suspended between two or more points, used for swinging, sleeping, or resting. It normally consists of one or more cloth panels, or a wo ...
between the
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...
and the waters of Tucker Cove, an indentation of the
Indian River Lagoon.
[Map of Fort Pierce, etc, 1998, Fort Lauderdale: Dolph Map Co.]
Recreational Activities
The primary use of the park is as a recreation area. Activities include
fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from stocked bodies of water such as ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. Fishing techniques inclu ...
,
swimming
Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, or other liquid, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Locomotion is achieved through coordinated movement of the limbs and the body to achieve hydrodynamic thrust that r ...
,
surfing,
picnicking,
hiking
Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...
, and
birding
Birdwatching, or birding, is the observing of birds, either as a recreational activity or as a form of citizen science. A birdwatcher may observe by using their naked eye, by using a visual enhancement device like binoculars or a telescope, ...
as well as
scuba diving
Scuba diving is a mode of underwater diving whereby divers use breathing equipment that is completely independent of a surface air supply. The name "scuba", an acronym for " Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus", was coined by Chr ...
,
snorkeling
Snorkeling ( British and Commonwealth English spelling: snorkelling) is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped breathing tube called a snorkel, and usually swimfins. In cooler waters ...
, and youth
camping
Camping is an outdoor activity involving overnight stays away from home, either without shelter or using basic shelter such as a tent, or a recreational vehicle. Typically, participants leave developed areas to spend time outdoors in more na ...
. Amenities include a half-mile beach, primitive youth/group campground, a paved bike path, playground, picnic area, a
nature trail
An educational trail (or sometimes educational path), nature trail or nature walk is a specially developed hiking trail or footpath that runs through the countryside, along which there are marked stations or stops next to points of natural, techn ...
, and a reef about from the beach.
Jack Island State Preserve
Jack Island State Preserve, located a mile north of Fort Pierce Inlet State Park on
State Road A1A is under the same management as the state park. Jack Island features trails for hiking, biking, and studying nature. At the west end of its Marsh Rabbit Run Trail, there is an observation tower with views of the Indian River and of Jack Island itself.
Gallery
File:Ft Pierce FL Fort Pierce Inlet SP path01.jpg
File:Ft Pierce FL Fort Pierce Inlet SP picnic01.jpg
File:Ft Pierce FL Fort Pierce Inlet SP rocks04.jpg
References
External links
Fort Pierce Inlet State Parka
Florida State ParksFort Pierce Inlet State Parkat Wildernet
at Absolutely Florida
State parks of Florida
Parks in St. Lucie County, Florida
Fort Pierce, Florida
Indian River Lagoon
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