Hiking Anclote Gulf Park

In 23 acres along the Gulf of Mexico, Anclote Gulf Park packs a lot into its ribbon of waterfront.

The park’s fishing pier is its biggest draw. A picnic area gives families a place to enjoy a meal outdoors, and paddlers have a place to launch from.

View of the Gulf from the boardwalk

One corner of the park is a dog park with separate areas for large and small dogs, and a dog agility playset.

Hikers are here for the boardwalks, which offer views across the Gulf of Mexico and a connection to adjacent Key Vista Nature Park.

Looking out across the natural shoreline to Anclote Key

Resources

Resources for exploring the area surrounding Anclote Gulf Park

Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover

Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover

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Overview

Location: Holiday
Length: 1.1 mile round-trip
Trailhead: 28.1927, -82.7861
Address: 2305 Baillies Bluff Rd, Holiday, FL 34691
Fees: Free
Restroom: Near the pier and kayak launch
Land manager: Pasco County
Phone: 727-942-4030

Open daily dawn to dusk. Fishing pier open 24/7.

A dog park is provided in one corner of the park. Pets and bicycles not permitted on boardwalk.

Directions

From US 19 in New Port Richey, follow Moog Road west to Straber Memorial Hwy. Continue south to the T intersection, and turn left onto Ballies Bluff Rd. Pass the entrance to Key Vista Nature Park before reaching the park entrance on the right a mile later.

Hike

The parking area at Anclote Gulf Park is centrally located between the major points of interest for a walk in the park, allowing you to round-trip in both directions.

To the south, the walkway leads past the picnic pavilions and restrooms and makes a turn towards the Gulf of Mexico at the kayak launch.

Dense vegetation along the water’s edge

The paved path parallels the waterway, with a side pier just before the sidewalk turns to boardwalk.

Walk straight ahead at the junction to reach the observation deck on the Gulf of Mexico, a popular spot for watching the sun set over Anclote Key.

That barrier island protects this sheltered basin known as the Anclote Anchorage, why there is minimal wave action here, and no beach.

Blossoms on a mangrove

Return to the junction and make a right to walk out to the end of the pier, which is always busy with people fishing.

The view back along the coastline is worth the walk, with mangrove flats on the water’s edge and tall pines behind them.

A round-trip from the parking area out to this scenic corner of the park is 3/4 mile.

Beginning of the boardwalk

Head in the opposite direction along the sidewalk past the picnic shelters to reach the beginning of the boardwalk that connects to Key Vista Park.

It provides an elevated walk over coastal habitats that can get inundated during high tides and also after a heavy rain.

Looking north along the boardwalk

Crossing the outflow of a brackish pond, it comes to an overlook point towards a natural shoreline on the Gulf.

A straightaway follows, leading towards the pine flatwoods.

Shoreline view along the boardwalk

The east-facing side of the boardwalk has a thicket of mangroves with the pine forest rising behind them.

When you reach the second observation deck, stairs lead down off it into Key Vista Nature Park.

Mangrove flats and pine forest

This is the turnaround point for walking 1.1 miles in Anclote Gulf Park.

It’s only a quarter mile round-trip extra to continue ahead to climb the observation tower at Key Vista Nature Park.

If you add on the exterior loop hike at Key Vista, you can hike 2.6 miles between the two interconnected parks.

Return trip along the boardwalk

Trail Map

Explore More!

This trail system interconnects with Key Vista Nature Park

Key Vista Nature Park

Discover a new perspective on the Gulf of Mexico from the observation tower at Key Vista Nature Park, a coastal gem with a 1.5 mile loop to a natural shoreline