Resources
Resources for exploring the area
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Exploring St. Petersburg
Long home to the southern terminus of the Pinellas Trail, St. Petersburg now also picks up a Trail Town designation as the western terminus for the state-spanning Florida Coast to Coast Trail.
While natural habitats are scattered islands in this dense urban area, all of these parks provide a retreat and some of them offer an genuine immersion away from the bustle of the city.
Trails and Parks near St. Petersburg
Boca Ciega Millennium Park With its highlight an observation tower providing you a sweeping view of Boca Ciega Bay, Boca Ciega Millenium Park is a popular family-friendly getaway in Pinellas County.
Boyd Hill Nature Preserve An oasis of natural landscapes in St. Petersburg features a nature center, bird of prey aviary, and 3.5 miles of hiking through several distinct habitats.
Clam Bayou Nature Preserve Along an environmentally significant estuary of Boca Ciega Bay, Clam Bayou Nature Preserve offers well-established trails with several overlooks and a kayak launch
Cockroach Bay Nature Preserve Directly across Tampa Bay from St. Petersburg, two loop trails in Cockroach Bay Nature Preserve navigate restored wetlands and a lookout point known as Mount Cockroach. 
Eagle Lake Park Now an urban forest in the heart of Pinellas County, Eagle Lake Park is the legacy of the Taylor family, early citrus growers who helped to found Largo
Egmont Key State Park In Tampa Bay, Egmont Key, an island that was once a Civil War refugee camp, is now a bird rookery and historic site, with trails accessible only by boat.
Florida Botanical Gardens Walk through the garden gates into a wonderland of sensory stimulation. With nearly 180 acres in the heart of Largo, the Florida Botanical Gardens is a place for peaceful immersion. 
Florida Coast to Coast Trail With a corridor spanning more than 220 miles across nine Florida counties, the Florida Coast to Coast Trail (C2C) is Central Florida's long distance bike path.
Fort De Soto Arrowhead Nature Trail Explore coastal habitats on the Arrowhead Nature Trail at Fort De Soto Park, an interpretive walk where you'll learn about salt-dependent plants along Mullet Key Bayou.
Fort De Soto Barrier Free Trail The 0.4 mile Barrier Free Trail at Fort De Soto Park has a graded path wide enough for two wheelchairs to pass and six touch-activated interpretive speakers along the path.
George McGough Nature Park Introduce the kids to nature at George McGough Nature Park in Largo, where they can feed turtles, watch hawks, and bound along a bouncy accessible trail through a coastal forest.
Gizella Kopsick Palm Arboretum A lush oasis on St. Petersburg's Tampa Bay waterfront, the Gizella Kopsick Palm Arboretum features a bounty of palm species in a small space.
Hightower Trail System Strongly influenced by nearby Tampa Bay, Terra Ceia Preserve State Park protects unique landscapes where marine and terrestrial ecosystems blend seamlessly.
John R. Bonner Nature Park A hidden gem surrounded by neighborhoods, John R. Bonner Nature Park offers excellent birding opportunities along short loop trails and a scenic boardwalk.
Lake Seminole Park With a paved trail winding two miles through a shaded pine flatwoods ecosystem, Lake Seminole Park is a green oasis in the suburbia surrounding St. Petersburg 
Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site One among many intentional high points constructed by ancient peoples along the edges of Tampa Bay, this protected shell mound and adjacent burial site are what remain of a much larger complex at Terra Ceia.
Maximo Park A tropical oasis in the middle of St. Petersburg’s Skyway District, Maximo Park is an excellent urban destination for a breezy walk or a paddle on Tampa Bay.
Pinellas Trail A paved ribbon stretching the length of Pinellas County from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs, the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail provides nearly 38 miles of low-stress cruising.
Sawgrass Lake Park Explore a maple swamp and an oak hammock on a pair of family-friendly loops along boardwalks and footpaths that lead to a tower on Sawgrass Lake.
Soldier’s Hole Nature Trail The interpretive Soldier's Hole Trail at Fort De Soto Park offers a close look at the three varieties of mangroves that grow in Florida plus some gorgeous views of Bunce’s Pass.
Terra Ceia Preserve State Park Home to many wading birds, Terra Ceia Preserve State Park is an aquatic preserve protecting the ragged northern shoreline of the island of Terra Ceia.
Walsingham Park An accessible network of paved trails circles Walsingham Lake, offering a variety of views of open water and forested woodlands along an easy walk.
Weedon Island Preserve Tunneling through mangrove forests and palm hammocks to overlooks on Tampa Bay, the trails of Weedon Island Preserve offer unique perspectives for birders while interpreting one of Florida's ancient settlements. Related Articles
The new 50 Hikes in Central Florida (10/5/2018) We launched a new full-color edition of 50 Hikes in Central Florida at the National Trails Festival in Deland the first weekend of October. Take a peek inside.