- Shelter
- NW, N, W, SW
- Seabed
- mud
- Anchoring
- Allowed
Tidal inlet linking the Intracoastal Waterway to the Atlantic between Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton, Florida, with a mud bottom.
Guide
Approach and anchoring
The inlet can run hard with wind against tide and is best entered with local knowledge and a fair tide. The Hillsboro Inlet light on the north side, first lit in 1907, marks the approach and the northern limit of the Florida Reef. Anchoring room inside is tight and current-swept.
Practical
Lighthouse Point Marina lies about 0.4 nm to the north and Hidden Harbour Marina about 1 nm to the south-west, both off the Intracoastal Waterway, for berths and fuel. The inlet is busy with sport-fishing traffic.
History
The Hillsboro Inlet lighthouse was first lit in 1907 and remains in service. After a xenon lamp upgrade in 1966 it was rated among the most powerful lights in the world, visible up to 28 miles offshore.
Key facts
- Type
- Anchorage
- Coordinates
- 26.25941, -80.08318 (26°15.56'N 80°4.99'W)
- Country
- United States
- Shelter
- Sheltered from north-west, north, west, south-west winds
- Seabed
- mud
- Anchoring
- Allowed
- Boaters' rating
- 2.8/5
- Updated
- July 7, 2026
Getting there
Hillsboro Inlet lies at 26°15.56'N 80°4.99'W, that is 26.25941, -80.08318 in decimal degrees.
Boaters' reviews
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Write a reviewFrequently asked questions
Which winds is Hillsboro Inlet sheltered from?
Hillsboro Inlet is sheltered from north-west, north, west, south-west winds.
Can you anchor at Hillsboro Inlet?
Yes, anchoring is allowed at Hillsboro Inlet.
How do boaters rate Hillsboro Inlet?
Hillsboro Inlet is rated 2.8/5 by boaters on BoatMap.
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