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Key Vista Nature Park waterfront

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

New Port Richey      ( 28.199438, -82.779548 )      1.5 miles

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We first came to Key Vista Nature Park in search of grandeur. At the time, it was home to the largest known sand pine in the United States, standing 75 feet tall and more than 8 feet around.

Sand pines have a natural lifespan of 70 years or so, and are easily impacted by strong winds.

Sadly, that pine is no more, and a new champion has taken its place in a different Florida county.

Key Vista Park A spacious trail at Key Vista Park


Despite the loss of its giant, this 101-acre park is still a fascinating destination.

It provides interpretation of a gradient of natural habitats from the sand pine scrub at the start of the trail system to mangroves lining the Gulf of Mexico.

Why mangroves and not a beach? A barrier island offshore.

Anclote Key has the beaches, while this stretch of mainland is a mangrove forest along a part of the Gulf called the Anclote Anchorage, sheltered from wave action.

Key Vista Park A bench with a view awaits


Resources

Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover Complete Guide to Florida Wildflowers Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover

Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.


Overview

Location: Holiday
Length: 1.5 mile loop
Trailhead: 28.199438, -82.779548
Address: 2700 Ballies Bluff Rd, Holiday
Fees: Free
Restroom: At the trailhead
Land manager: Pasco County
Phone: 727-942-4030

Open daily dawn to dusk. Leashed dogs welcome. Accessible parking and restrooms provided. Trails are natural surface.

Picnic tables are provided in the central island of the parking lot. A dog water station is thoughtfully set up near the restrooms.

Key Vista Nature Park


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. The park entrance is on the right within a quarter mile.

Hike

Start the hike by following the sidewalk from the handicapped parking area by the restroom to the path leading towards the pines.

This was once a dense sand pine scrub with champion-sized trees, but is now very open. The sandy path winds between the trees.

Key Vista Park Sand pine scrub at the beginning of the trail


Slash pines are interspersed through the sand pines, noticeable with their longer needles and broader crowns.

These are the trees that osprey choose to nest in, and bald eagles as well.

Key Vista Park Slash pine


Passing a junction to the right, the path meanders through this open space with clusters of pines.

You see water on the horizon. Beaten paths lead down to a slender strip of sand on the edge of the Gulf, piled in sea wrack.

Key Vista Park Trail junction with a Gulf view


A trail leading due south parallels the shoreline through this coastal pine forest.

When you reach the staircase with an observation deck and boardwalk after a half mile, you’ve reached the boundary of adjacent Anclote Gulf Park.

Key Vista Park Boardwalk to Anclote Gulf Park


Add 0.4 mile to your hike if you take the boardwalk to the neighboring park to explore it, or an extra 1.1 miles if you go all the way out to the observation deck on their pier.

Turning around at the park boundary after taking a look from the deck, come back to the open area.

Key Vista Park Observation tower at Key Vista Park


Looking out over the Gulf, the observation tower is almost as tall as the surrounding pines. From the top of the observation tower, you get a grand view of the shore and forest.

Several side paths lead out to the edge of the Gulf in this area around the tower, where you’ll find local anglers trying their luck.

Key Vista Park Side path to the wrack line


Reaching where Rocky Creek flows into the Gulf, the broad path turns to follow this tidal creek upstream.

It’s a picturesque mangrove-lined waterway where fishermen also tend to stake out spots.

Key Vista Park Along Rocky Creek


Passing a trail junction on the right, the path continues through the coastal pine flatwoods.

Look up into the crowns of the slash pines a mile into the hike and you’ll see a very large bald eagle nest in one of them.

Key Vista Park Eagle nest near Rocky Creek


A turnoff leads directly to the parking area, but there is still another loop at the north end of the park.

It circles through the forest edging Sleepy Lagoon and returns back to the parking area, wrapping a 1.5 mile walk through the park.

Key Vista Park Trail junction to Sleepy Lagoon


Trail Map

Key Vista Park


Explore More!

This trail system interconnects with Anclote Gulf Park

Anclote Gulf Park boardwalk

Anclote Gulf Park

A place for spectacular sunsets, Anclote Gulf Park offers several observation decks along its coastal boardwalks overlooking Anclote Key and the Gulf of Mexico

Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Brooker Creek Preserve

The largest nature preserve in Pinellas County, Brooker Creek Preserve protects a mosaic of vanishing habitats while interpreting their value along more than 4 miles of trails.

Starkey Wilderness backcountry

Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park

Explore an expansive landscape of pine flatwoods, prairies, scrubby flatwoods, and open scrub along nearly 50 miles of trails just east of New Port Richey

Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park

Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park

Home to one of Florida’s deepest springs, at 320 feet deep, Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park protects crucial coastal estuaries along the Gulf Coast

Blue sky and palm reflected in river

James E Grey Preserve

James E. Grey Preserve hugs the shores of the winding Pithlachascotee River, an 80-acre preserve of natural shorelines with an extensive accessible boardwalk.

Official Website


Our thanks to Al Force (FT Class of 2015) for on-the-ground research and photos to help us bring our trail information up to date.

Category: Access by water, Central Florida, County Parks, Day Hikes, Hikes, Launch Points, Loop Hikes, Nature Trails, Paddling, TrailsTag: Dog-friendly, Family-Friendly, Fishing, Gulf of Mexico, New Port Richey, Observation Towers, Picnic, Tarpon Springs

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