Defending a historic spring whereas offering household recreation, Wall Springs Park has a simple accessible spur to a loop on a mangrove-fringed island.
Alongside it are picnic pavilions, a number of overlooks on Boggy Bayou, and a shocking view throughout St. Joseph Sound on the Gulf of Mexico from its 35-foot commentary tower.
Boggy BayouThis largely paved 1.2-mile circuit has an non-compulsory footpath element close to the spring. But it surely’s not the one path you’ll discover at this coastal park.
Grazing previous the doorway gate, the Pinellas Path extends north to Tarpon Springs and south to St. Petersburg. This park serves as certainly one of its trailheads for cyclists.
Pinellas Path at Wall Springs Park entranceBordering Lady Scout Camp Wai Lani, a more recent portion of the park, the Wall Springs Addition, has a separate trailhead and a set of natural-surface loops for an additional 1.2 mile hike.
Beginning at this trailhead, a 2.5-mile spherical journey on a paved multi-use path to the tip of a peninsula passes that trailhead, ending at commentary decks and a fishing pier on the Gulf.
As proven on our map, you possibly can hike 4.9 miles throughout Wall Springs Park and Wall Springs Addition out to Kloisterman Bayou.
The outline under focuses solely on the unique footprint of Wall Springs Park. We’ll add particulars on Wall Springs Addition at a later date.
Sources
Overview
Location: Palm HarborLength: 1.2 milesTrailhead: 28.106405, -82.771371Address: 3725 Desoto Blvd, Palm HarborFees: FreeRestroom: On the trailheadLand Supervisor: Pinellas CountyPhone: 727-582-2100
Open 7 AM to sundown every day besides the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas. Bicycles and leashed canine welcome besides on boardwalks.
Instructions
Hike
Begin by the kiosk on the west finish of the parking space close to the picnic tables. The paved path leads in direction of two ramps with a motorbike ramp between them.
Take the one on the left for the boardwalk round Wall Springs. As interpretive panels clarify, the spring was purchased by Charles F. Wall from the state in 1876.
Wall SpringsHe enclosed it and added bathing homes. By 1926, this alkaline mineral spring attracted rich guests from across the nation to “take the waters” for his or her well being.
His authentic enclosure across the basin is the place the deep principal spring rises, pouring its waters right into a basin that turns into Boggy Bayou.
Spring outflowA roofed shelter with a bench seems over the outflow. Proceed by it because the boardwalk edges the basin and its vigorous circulate of crystalline waters.
Keep on the shoreline boardwalk, passing by the boardwalk over the water. It’ll be your return route on the finish of the hike.
Boardwalk over the spring runSubsequent to a big cedar tree, the boardwalk ends at a large concrete path by a coastal hammock. Flip proper, paralleling a split-rail fence.
The pure basin created by the spring stretches behind the palms. Occasional breaks in vegetation present views of the expanse of clear water.
Spring pool behind the palmsHemmed in by fences, the concrete path reaches a junction with a pure floor path at 0.2 miles.
Swing left to cross a bridge over a puzzle of mangrove-lined channels alongside Boggy Bayou.
Bayou bridgeA straightaway walled on either side by tall white mangroves meets a junction in entrance of picnic shelter 3. Bear proper, following the curve previous the restrooms.
Sadly, the hurricanes of 2024 created a ghost forest. Most of the oaks and pines had been unable to resist salt water intrusion and salt spray.
Cabbage palms and a handful of hardy slash pines survived, together with a rim of oak hammock on the jap fringe of the island.
Begin of paved loopCurve previous Shelter 5 to a Y junction with a artsy bench formed like a fish. Bear proper.
The coastal hammock opens up into a big inexperienced house with one other sculptured bench. The commentary tower attracts consideration from afar.
Curving previous a bench in direction of the towerReaching the concrete path branching off to it, head in direction of the big construction, a half mile into the hike. Skip previous the spur boardwalk to go up the tower first.
Most of its huge bulk is a zigzag of ramps to achieve the highest deck. Alternatively, a staircase ascends up the center of the primary construction.
Remark towerTwo wraparound decks present panoramic views. The decrease one is on the higher cover stage of the largely-dead pines and oaks surrounding it.
The view from the highest reveals an extended island offshore with the Gulf of Mexico past, and extra greenery within the coastal hammock under.
A mangrove-lined channel lies due north alongside a spur of land inside Lady Scout Camp Wai Lani.
View in direction of the Gulf of MexicoThe ramp gives extra views than the steps, however whichever approach you descend the tower, take the spur to the left.
The mangrove tunnel components to disclose an commentary deck alongside the waterway alongside the east aspect of this island.
It’s shallow and tidal, so when the tide is out, mud flats seem. Look ahead to chicken exercise alongside its edges.
Remark deckLeaving the tower complicated, flip proper. Go one other uniquely sculptured bench on the curve to a gap to an commentary deck that additionally serves as a fishing pier.
Whereas fishing shouldn’t be allowed within the spring basin, it’s a preferred pasttime alongside the decks fronting open waters.
Fishing pierStick with this shoreline path, separated from the water by mangroves and sea grapes, because it passes a picnic shelter and involves a second deck.
After taking on this completely different perspective on the bayou, attain Shelter 3 and the tip of the loop at 0.9 mile.
Fog swooping in on the waterfrontProceed straight forward between the mangroves to the bridge. On the curve after it ends, bear left previous the bench onto a footpath.
Shaded by palms, it follows a causeway alongside the north aspect of the spring basin.
Causeway alongside the spring poolA wilder tackle the pure fantastic thing about Wall Spring, it gives glimpses of the water framed by large leather-based ferns.
The nearer you draw to the upwelling of the spring, the extra vivid the colour of the water.
Spring runThis overwhelmed path exits onto the concrete path close by of the 2 boardwalks in the beginning of the hike. Take the rightmost one this time, adjoined by huge purple cedars.
Loop by the bushes out throughout the water. Aquatic vegetation like coontail are seen within the clear water under, small fish wriggling between sandy spots and inexperienced stalks.
Take the boardwalk to the suitable of the cedarMeet the boardwalk from the spring at a T and make a left to stroll by it and stare into its depths a remaining time.
Exit the boardwalk to the concrete path to the parking space, finishing a 1.2 mile stroll.
A take a look at the spring from the crossover boardwalkPath Map
Discover Extra!
Be taught extra in regards to the Pinellas Path
Pinellas Path A paved ribbon stretching the size of Pinellas County from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs, the Fred Marquis Pinellas Path gives cyclists with practically 38 miles of low-stress cruising.Video
Mountaineering Wall Springs Park
Slideshow
See our pictures from Wall Springs Park
Close by Adventures
Official Web site
Articles collectively researched, written, and photographed by Sandra Good friend & John Keatley, Florida authors and publishers of FloridaHikes.com.
