Backpacking Myakka River State Park
With 39 miles in four loops, the Myakka Hiking Trail at Myakka River State Park in Sarasota is one of the state's finest destinations for a weekend or long weekend holiday hike.
Camp Bayou Nature Preserve
Ruskin 2.8 milesLocated on the banks of the Little Manatee River, Camp Bayou Nature Preserve provides an easygoing set of trails through a variety of natural Florida habitats.
Conservatory Park
Bradenton 0.7 milesA place for nature play, Conservatory Park is a 55 acre family-friendly patch of wild in the thick of suburbia along the Bradenton-Sarasota border with an accessible loop hike.
De Soto National Memorial
Bradenton 1.2 milesInterpreting the landing of Spanish conquistador Hernando De Soto, De Soto National Memorial occupies a peninsula where the Manatee River flows into Tampa Bay.
Emerson Point Portavant Mound Trail
Palmetto 0.9 milesDelve deeply into Florida's past by exploring an ancient complex of mounds fronting the Manatee River at Emerson Point Preserve.
Emerson Point Preserve
Palmetto 6.8 milesWhere the Manatee River meets Tampa Bay, Emerson Point Preserve has a network of trails around a complex centered on one of Florida's most ancient temple mounds, the Portavant Mound, near Bradenton.
Emerson Point Terra Ceia Trail
Palmetto 2.6 milesAn immersion in mangrove forest and numerous overlooks on Terra Ceia Bay elevates the rugged Terra Ceia Trail to the best of the hikes at Emerson Point Preserve.
Felts Audubon Preserve
Palmetto 1.2 milesConserving a collection of natural habitats amid farmland and subdivisions north of the Manatee River, Felts Audubon Preserve isn't just for the birds. It's for hikers, too.
Florida’s Best Urban Parks
When you live in a tightly packed space, you need somewhere green as your go-to place nearby. These are our top picks for parks in Florida's urban areas, chosen for their diversity of outdoor activities and/or their unique green spaces.
Gamble Plantation Historic State Park
Notable as the last surviving antebellum home in South Florida, the Gamble Mansion once anchored a 3,500 acre sugar plantation along the Manatee River.
Hightower Trail System
Palmetto 4.1 milesStrongly influenced by nearby Tampa Bay, Terra Ceia Preserve State Park protects unique landscapes where marine and terrestrial ecosystems blend seamlessly.
Johnson Preserve
Bradenton 1.1 milesA 44 acre tract of wild amid suburbia, Johnson Preserve provides a rare opportunity for public access to the upper reaches of the Braden River.