George McGough Nature Park

Donated by to the city by members of his family, George McGough Nature Park is named after a conservationist who served as the mayor of Largo.

Preserving a variety of ecosystems along the Intracoastal Waterway, this property abounds with opportunities to learn about Florida’s natural habitats.

A recycled-tire loop trail provides an easy hike less than a mile in length, with side paths and boardwalks to explore.

Animal exhibits are on display at the nature center, where friendly volunteers are eager to answer questions about plants, animals, and the outdoors.

Boardwalk in a coastal hammock

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Resources

Resources for exploring the area
 
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Overview

Directions

Hike

At the nature center entrance, turtles bask along the edge of a small pond that is one of the most popular attractions in the park.

Small cups of food are available, and folks gather to watch the turtles bob, gobbling up treats.

Turtle pond

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A padded walkway winds around the left side of the building towards an open area with picnic tables, a pavilion, and stage for presentations.

At an intersection of paths, turning to the right leads behind the building to an impressive exhibit featuring dozens of birds of prey.

Path past the bird exhibit

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As the pathway meanders away from the nature center, it passes a pollinator garden filled with flowering plants, many of which are native.

Continuing along the peculiarly cushioned surface made of recycled tires, the main trail curves around a playground before entering a dense subtropical jungle.

Pollinator garden

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Palmettos line the corridor alongside clusters of tall coffee plants under a shady canopy of cabbage palms.

As the hammock transitions to flatwoods, sunlight filters onto a trailside bench through needles of thick, gnarled pine trees.

Shaded pathway

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Reaching a trail crossing at 0.3 mile, the padded section continues to the east where another pathway leads towards a boardwalk into the salt marsh.

For a scenic view of the intracoastal waterway, head straight down this mangrove-lined wooden walkway as it extends for nearly two-hundred feet over tranquil waters.

Intracoastal boardwalk

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Leaving the water, turn left at an intersection to remain on the boardwalk as it travels through an oak hammock.

Curtains of Spanish moss sway in coastal breezes, suspended by an array of branches arching over the elevated walkway.

Oak and palmetto boardwalk

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At a half mile, the boardwalk ends and the trail enters a mesic hammock carpeted with ferns.

Canopies of oak and cabbage palms shade a sandy path for a quarter mile before you reach the main padded trail again.

Mesic hammock

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High-pitched chirps of the resident bald eagle might be heard nearby as the loop concludes in a tenth of a mile at the nature center.

The building houses educational displays alongside exhibits of live animals and is certainly worth a visit if the center is open.

Inside the nature center

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Trail Map

Explore More!

Video

A virtual walk at George McGough Nature Park

Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

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.

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

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.

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.