Jonathan Dickinson State Park is one of the largest and most diverse state parks in Florida, covering nearly 12,000 acres of river swamp, scrub, flatwoods, and mangrove estuary about 12 miles north of Tequesta. The Loxahatchee River runs through its heart, and boat tours depart from the park's marina up to Trapper Nelson's homestead — a genuinely strange piece of Florida history, a hermit's compound preserved in the jungle.
Kayak and canoe rentals are available at the park. Wildlife here is exceptional: Florida scrub jays (a threatened species found almost nowhere else), manatees, alligators, ospreys, and river otters are all regularly spotted. The Florida Trail runs through the park for hikers who want to push further into the backcountry.