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Print Friendly MapPalm Beach County's Bluegill Trail follows the eastern side of the C-18 Canal from Riverbend Park in Jupiter, through Karen T. Marcus Sandhill Crane Access Park and to Grassy Waters Preserve in Palm Beach Gardens. The trail features a shell-rock surface that may not be suitable for bikes with skinny tires. An adjacent grass path provides an ideal route for equestrian users.
Riverbend Park offers a perfect spot for picnicking and fishing over its 665 acres, but note that pets are not allowed. While significantly smaller, Karen T. Marcus Sandhill Crane Access Park offers much the same experience near the trail's southern end.
Parking for the Bluegill Trail is available at both ends of the trail at Riverbend Park (9060 Indiantown Road) in Jupiter and off Northlake Boulevard in the Grassy Waters Preserve (8264 Northlake Blvd). Additional parking can be found at the Karen T. Marcus Sandhill Crane Access Park (8175 PGA Boulevard) in Palm Beach Gardens.
We rode from Grassy Waters to Riverbend. Grassy Waters was easy to find but beware of the current 4:30pm closing time. From Grassy Trails to PGA the trail is first paved then firm dirt. After PGA the trail turns a bit rocky and uneven. Loved that the trail has only one street intersection to deal with. Wish my hometown had a trail this nice.
This trail takes you into Riverbend Battlefield Park which is an important historic area in Palm Beach County. This is where the second battle of the Seminole Indian War was fought. The trails in the park are marked and the battle is explained. The paths are shaded in the park and good for bicycling and walking. From this park you can also walk on the Florida Trail.
Not a fan of the trail from PGA to Indiantown all rocks however I ride from PGA to the Beeline almost 3 times a week. I live in PGA National and go from there west to the trail and end at the Beeline and back it’s 10 miles round trip.
Started at main parking lot at Riverbend Park off Indiantown Rd. You want to follow the Ocean to Lake Trail on the east side of the park to the intersection of Grove Traik near the equestrian trail. Go around the orange metal gate and over the bridge to access Bluegill to Trail. Riding this to PGA and then looping back is just over 14 miles. Nice quiet ride with a bit of nature. They have removed the water fountain from the PGA rest area so bathrroms are available there but no potable water.
The path is fairly easy, solid sand and shell rock with small rocks sticking out just enough to "annoy" your bottom a bit. Don't need a fat bike, normal tires will do fine. One way is 5.5 miles; so 11 miles if you make it back to where you started. The trail has not a single curve; it's not a lot to see riding along the canal, so it's really not that exciting to ride along.
From PGA National's south entrance at Northlake Boulevard, all side walk, travel west to the Bee-Line highway, turn right onto the paved section of the Bluegill Trail, and enjoy that section all the way to PGA Boulevard, and Karen Marcus Sandhill Crane Park, turn right onto PGA Boulevard and head East, returning to the West Entrance to PGA National, turn right into PGA National, and return to the resort or your community..
A nice 8 mile run for me or you...
Regards
A.
After biking in Fort Lauderdale along side of traffic driving 35 mph or more, this trail was a blessed change. I entered the trail from the southern trail head at the park. There is a nice parking area, clean restrooms and an overlook tower. The entrance to the trail is by the boat launch on the canal. The surface is packed gravel and my Trek hybrid did just fine on the surface. The trail is relatively flat. On the west side of the trail is the canal and on the east is protected marsh and forest. The north end of the trail is not so easily apparent. At the 5.5 mile mark there is a bridge that crosses the canal. The signage indicates parking 1.5 miles south of the bridge. Continuing north on the trail on the east side of the canal the trail becomes more like a service road with soft sand. So I'm not sure where the real north end of the trail is. The trail in completely sunny so be sure to take water and wear sunscreen. There are nature overlooks along the trail and a covered picnic table. Have a great ride.
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