Hiking Eagle Lake Park

In the heart of Pinellas County, Eagle Lake Park is the legacy of the Taylor family, who helped to found Largo – then known as Citrus City – with their groves and citrus packing plant.

Surrounding their homestead was one of the last significant pine forests in the most densely urban county in Florida, as well as a lake where eagles have long nested.

Left as a bequest to the people of Pinellas, the family grove is one of the county’s youngest parks, a delight for hikers, bicyclists, birders, dog-lovers, and families alike.

While most of the trail system is paved, this is truly an urban forest, so if pavement gets folks out into the woods while still in their comfort zone, good for them!

One of many picnic pavilions at Eagle Lake Park

Boardwalks and natural pathways round out the 3-mile trek we describe below, which is partially shared with bicycles.

Since there are so many possible ways to walk the trails through the park, you can design a loop hike of anywhere from a quarter mile up to five miles without too much retracing of your steps.

Open water of Eagle Lake

Resources

Resources for exploring the area

Orlando & Central Florida: An Explorer's Guide

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Overview

Location: Largo
Length: 3 miles in loops
Trailhead: 27.930408, -82.763472
Address: 1800 Keene Road, Largo
Fees: Free
Restroom: At several trailheads
Land manager: Pinellas County
Phone: 727-582-2100

Open 7 AM to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome. Bikes permitted except where posted.

Park amenities also include a dog park (near the trailhead this hike starts from), a themed playground, six picnic pavilions, and piers suitable for birding.

Directions

Eagle Lake Park sits between US 19A and US 19 immediately south of Clearwater off Bellaire Blvd. From the junction of US 19 and SR 60 (Gulf to Bay Boulevard) in Clearwater, drive west 2 miles to Keene Road. Turn left. Continue south 2.1 miles, crossing Belleair Blvd, to the park entrance on the right. Inside the park, turn left and park in the parking area near the dog park and restrooms.

Hike

Starting from the parking area near the dog park, follow the paved path to the right of the restrooms and through the oak hammock.

After you pass the main entrance of the park on the right, turn left on the first side trail, which leads to a boardwalk around a marshy slough.

Paved path paralleling park road

Turn left again to cross another slough flowing between the marshes. The trail emerges on the outer loop, facing a forest of young longleaf pines. Turn right.

Following the perimeter of the property, the trail works its way along a pond on the right. A natural surface path comes in from the left.

A fork in the path at a half mile is at the edge of another parking area. Continue straight, passing the parking area and its picnic pavilions, with the remains of the old orange grove off in the distance.

The trail jogs to the left, slipping around a half-fallen tree and remnant of old farm fence line.

Along the loop around Eagle Lake

Passing a crosswalk off to the right, where buildings from the Taylor farm sit at the edge of the orange grove, the path continues up to a crosswalk and comes to a T.

This marks the start of the loop around Eagle Lake. Turn right to start the loop and make the first left at the “Picnic Pavilion 4″ sign.

The old Taylor homestead

This path leads to Pier 3, the first of several overlooks on Eagle Lake. Follow the path to the left around the lake, taking time to look off the piers into the water.

From the comfortable shade of an oak hammock past Picnic Pavilion 5, you see the playground, a fanciful citrus grove complete with barn.

Beneath a large live oak near the playground

As the trail continues around the lake, keep to the right, avoiding trails that branch off to the left, including one that leads to a gate into the local neighborhood.

Past Pier 2, the path crosses a small bridge over the outflow of Eagle Lake, where young cypresses have been planted along its banks.

Crossing a sturdy bridge along the paved path

The bald eagle nest comes into view in a tall pine just outside the park boundary, to the right-hand side of the corner of the park on your left.

Rounding the corner, you reach Pier 4, and cross a steel bridge over a stream flowing into Eagle Lake, a stream so clear you can see coontail waving in the current at the bottom.

Viewing Eagle Lake from a pier

After 1.6 miles, you complete the loop around Eagle Lake. Cross the crosswalk again, and up ahead, make a left at the stop sign.

Ramble along the edge of the big parking area to where you can see the farmstead, including the historic home and barns. Turn right when you see them.

Dayflower blooming near the farmstead

Take a walk into the citrus grove to follow an old gravel path between the trees. In spring, some of the trees are laden with oranges, while others are full of fragrant blossoms.

Cross the park road to walk past Picnic Shelter 3 and Restrooms 2, and work your way down to Pier 2. This overlook is great for birding.

The smaller pond

Red-winged blackbirds fuss and squawk from the trees while blue-winged teals cruise the open water.

Follow the boardwalk around to the right between the series of ponds. Past the next pier, make a right, and you’re back at the first wetland area you encountered.

Terrible thistle in bloom along the wetland

Popping out at the paved perimeter path, take a left this time. At 2.2 miles under the tall longleaf pines, you reach a T intersection. Turn right.

A boardwalk crosses reconstructed marshlands, where ducklings scurry to follow their mother into the tall reeds.

A gallinule near the marsh

The longleaf pines are quite old at this end of the park, with oaks making up the understory. The paved trail ends at an exit at Rosary Road into a local neighborhood.

Turn left on a shellrock path and follow it into the pine flatwoods. Take the right fork at the Y intersection.

Paved path on south perimeter of park

The trail swings to the left to follow the park boundary, where the sound of traffic becomes noticeable.

Although Eagle Lake Park is surrounded by busy roads, there is so much birdsong in the air and so many views to delight the senses that you don’t really notice the traffic.

Until you reach this corner of the park, that is. The trail comes up to a short boardwalk over a wetland area.

Natural surface path near the wetland

After the next major pedestrian entrance to the park, the Keene Road entrance, at 2.8 miles, turn left.

Beyond a bench, another paved path heads over a bridge to the left. Continue straight, since you’re now within sight of the parking lot where you started your walk.

Passing the dog park on the right, you come up to Picnic Pavilion 1 and its adjoining restrooms, completing a 3-mile walk.