Boyd Hill Nature Preserve – Florida Hikes

Named after a metropolis worker who ultimately got here to be the superintendent of the park, Boyd Hill Nature Protect has an intriguing historical past.

Initially named Lake Maggiore Park, this property as soon as contained a zoo and lots of non-native crops.

It has since undergone in depth restoration efforts to return the panorama to its most pure setting.

The protect could be very family-friendly, with an interesting nature heart and well-marked path system.

Nature Heart

A picnic space and playground are nestled among the many timber in entrance of the character heart.

A campground on the north finish of the park affords tent and cabin tenting only some miles from downtown St. Petersburg.

The protect affords quite a lot of nature packages all year long, that are posted on town web site.

Cabins on the Terry Tomalin Campground

Assets

Overview

Location: St. PetersburgLength: 3.5 milesTrailhead: 27.724806, -82.650194Address: 101 Nation Membership Approach S, St. PetersburgFees: $3 for adults, $1.50 ages 3-16Restrooms: Inside the character centerLand supervisor: Metropolis of St. PetersburgPhone: 727-893-7326

Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New 12 months’s Day. Open 9 AM – 6 PM Nov – Feb, 9 AM – 7 PM Mar – Oct. No pets.

Some trails are accessible. Strategically positioned chilly water stations across the park are a welcome reduction on a scorching day.

A picnic space with a playground can also be accessible to be used, outdoors the park gates.

Instructions

Hike

Starting on the nature heart, take a couple of minutes to discover the shows and animal displays earlier than heading out the again door to entry the paths.

The door opens to a small courtyard with a fountain surrounded by native crops. Comply with a concrete sidewalk to a formidable boardwalk underneath a stand of cypress timber.

Native plant backyard

Flip left at an indication for the Oak Pine Hammock Path, following the wood walkway alongside a stream to a gravel path.

It circles again, passing an aviary with a number of completely different birds of prey. Detailed indicators in entrance of the enclosure describe every raptor.

Additionally they present a brief historical past of how the birds got here to reside on the park.

Birds of prey aviary

Proceed straight to the Swamp Woodlands Path, the place a boardwalk loops by means of wetlands lined in big leather-based fern, marsh fleabane, crimson maple, and elderberry.

Returning to the primary path, flip proper to observe a large crushed shell pathway.

Lined with wild espresso and cabbage palms, it meanders in the direction of a shelter and water station close to a facet spur to Lake Maggiore Island.

Wetlands boardwalk

A bridge results in the tiny islet the place wading birds and small alligators inhabit shallows close to the shore.

On the island, a swinging bench overlooks cattails on the water’s edge and the St. Petersburg skyline within the distance.

View of Lake Maggiore and St. Petersburg

Proceed northward by means of a cover of twisted stay oaks strung with Spanish moss that opens to pine flatwoods after crossing a canal.

Keep to the appropriate, following a grassy hall alongside the lake.

On the finish of the Lakeshore Path, take a pointy left to chop by means of the center of the protect on the Heart Loop.

By means of the oaks

Curving southward by means of pine prairies and clusters of oaks, cross the canal once more earlier than passing a novel armadillo sculpture composed of recycled steel.

In lower than 1 / 4 mile, flip proper to enterprise by means of desert-like habitats on the Sand Scrub Path, a brief loop with a shelter and water station at the beginning.

Gopher tortoise burrows dot sandy soils underneath a spotty cover of turkey oaks and sand pines.

Armadillo sculpture

Returning to the primary path, take the subsequent facet path on the appropriate to discover the Pine Flatwoods Path, a shorter loop.

It leads by means of a set of slash and longleaf pines amongst shrubby underbrush.

Keep to the appropriate whereas passing a shelter and proceed straight alongside the primary path for one more 0.2 miles to complete the hike on the nature heart after 3.5 miles.

Pine Flatwoods Path

Path Map

Discover Extra!

Video

Climbing Boyd Hill Nature Protect

Close by Adventures

Path Map (PDF) Nature packages Official Web site

Alongside along with his spouse Chelsey, Chris Stevens shares outside adventures on Instagram and Fb as @sunshinestateseekers and is a co-host of a podcast about Florida’s outside, The Florida Madcaps. An avid hiker and camper, Chris serves as a Trailmaster and a board member for the Florida Path Affiliation.

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