20 easy city hikes in Tampa Bay for social distancing

Al Lopez Park

4810 N. Himes Ave., Tampa
The Al Lopez Park is home to a 1.2-mile asphalt nature trail with overhead lighting. Park amenities along the trail include: parking, restrooms, picnic shelters, grills, fishing piers, two ponds, fitness stations, a community center and a dog park. Entry is free

Photo via Google Street Screen Capture

Lettuce Lake

6920 E. Fletcher Ave., Tampa
The Limkin Loop trail in Lettuce Lake is more than 1.5 miles long and it includes a 3,500-foot boardwalk. The ability to walk through the forest trail costs $2 per vehicle.

Photo via Hillsborough County/Website

Kapok Park

2950 Glen Oak Ave. N., Clearwater
Kapok Park Loop is a 1-mile trail located near Safety Harbor. The trail is primarily used for walking, bird watching, fishing, and road biking. The largely paved walkway features a boardwalk and picnic areas and it connects with the Ream Wilson Clearwater Trail and Cliff Stephens Park.

Photo via Google Street Screen Capture

Florida Botanical Gardens

12520 Ulmerton Rd., Largo
The Florida Botanical Gardens is a 182-acre garden in Largo, which showcases flora and fauna. There are many amenities available to guests including restrooms, parking and picnic tables. Dogs are allowed in the Florida Botanical Gardens as long as they are on a leash and their owner picks up after them.

Photo via Florida Botanical Gardens/Facebook

Eureka Springs

6400 Eureka Springs Rd., Tampa
Eureka Park’s Peaceful Paths Trail is only 0.75 miles long, but it takes visitors through a forest of maples and cypresses. The park is open Mon.-Fri. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $2 per vehicle.

Photo via Hillsborough County/Website

Eagle Lake Park

1800 Keene Rd., Largo
Eagle Lake Park was recently restored and now is home to 2,000 feet of boardwalks. Amenities available to guests include six picnic tables, paved paths, restrooms and playgrounds. Eagle Lake Park is dog-friendly as long as dogs are kept on leashes and are picked up after. One key feature is the wetlands section on the western side of the park, which has been restored with 100% native plants. Common wildlife sightings in the park include fox squirrels, numerous bird species, gopher tortoises and water turtles.

Photo via Eagle Lake/Facebook

Courtney Campbell Causeway

Courtney Campbell Causeway, Clearwater
The Courtney Campbell Causeway is a more than 10-mile paved path for joggers, cyclists and skaters seeking views of Tampa Bay. The path runs along the entire southern side of the Courtney Campbell Causeway, from the Veterans Expressway in Tampa to Bayshore Boulevard in Clearwater.

Photo via Visit St. Pete/Clearwater/Website

Carillon Conservation Pond Trail

100 Fountain Pkwy N., St. Petersburg
The Carillon Conservation Pond Trail is a nature trail winding near Pinellas Park in St. Pete. Common wildlife sightings include ducks and alligators. Admission to the nature trail is free and there is an abundance of parking.

Photo via Google Street Screen Capture

Boyd Hill Nature Preserve

1101 Country Club Way S., St. Petersburg
The Boyd Hill Nature Preserve features five miles of trials and boardwalks. Admission costs $3 dollars for adults, $1.50 for children under 17 and is free for children under the age of 3.

Photo via St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation/Website

Bayshore Boulevard Greenway

Bayshore Boulevard, Tampa
Known as the world's longest continuous sidewalk, Bayshore Boulevard stretches for 5.4 miles, overlooking Tampa Bay and passing through old Hyde Park. The sidewalk begins at the Columbus Statue Park on Platt Street and ends at Gandy Boulevard. Admission is free and there are many places to stop while walking on Bayshore Boulevard like Fred Ball Park and Atrium on the Bayshore.

Photo via City of Tampa/Website

Pinellas Trail

Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail, Dunedin
The Pinellas Trail stretches from Tarpon Springs to St. Petersburg, passing through the towns of Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Largo, Seminole, South Pasadena and Gulfport. It is most commonly used for walking, jogging, and cycling. While on the trail, travelers can stop through the warehouse art district, the Duncan McClellan Gallery and Tropicana Field.

Photo via Pinellas Trail/Facebook

Rivercrest Park

4802 N. Blvd, Tampa
Rivercrest Park is located along the Hillsborough River in the South Seminole Heights neighborhood. The park is home to a more than 0.5-mile trail. The accompanying dock loop is 0.30 miles, the gazebo loop is 0.20 miles and the playground loop is 0.23 miles. Park amenities include parking, a fitness station, fishing docks, a canoe launch, a picnic shelter, a playground and benches.

Photo via Google Street Screen Capture

Rocky Creek Trails Nature Preserve

7415 Manhattan Dr., Tampa
The Rocky Creek Trail is home to a 0.25-mile dog-friendly trail. The wooden footbridge allows strollers to take in the vast nature surrounding it at the cost of $2 per vehicle. The trail is within 1 mile of the Citrus Park Mall and Tampa's Big Cat Rescue.

Photo via Google Maps

Sawgrass Lake Park

7400 25th St. N., St. Petersburg
The Sawgrass Lake Park allows people to walk through one of the largest maple swamps on the Gulf Coast of Florida through a mile-long boardwalk and a 0.5-mile dirt trail. Wildlife are common sightings along the boardwalk and include birds, butterflies and plants. The Sawgrass Lake Park is also near the Shoppes at Park Place.

Photo via Visit St. Pete/Clearwater/Website

Sheffield Park

1923 Cutty Bay Court, Oldsmar
Sheffield Park features more than two miles of walking sidewalks and paths surrounding a central playground and picnic area. Amenities available to guests include restrooms, picnics, playgrounds and a free parking area. For those looking for some watery excitement, there is a kayak launch in the park between Safety Harbor and Lake Tarpon.

Photo via Sheffield Park/Facebook

Sunken Gardens

1825 4th St. N., St. Petersburg
Sunken Gardens is a four-acre botanical garden located in the Historic Old Northeast neighborhood of St. Pete. The Gardens have existed for more than a century, and are one of the oldest roadside tourist attractions in the United States. The plants, trees, animals, and structured delicately and some of these plants and structures are over 100 years old. Admission into the botanical gardens is $12 for adults.

Photo via St. Petersburg/Website

Upper Tampa Bay Trail

7499 Montague St., Tampa
The Upper Tampa Bay Trail is located in northwest Hillsborough County. To walk along the scenic 7.25-mile trail guests must pay $2 per vehicle, which accounts for up to eight people. Amenities include grills, birdwatching, trails, restrooms and playgrounds.

Photo via Google Street Screen Capture

Tampa Riverwalk

Tampa Riverwalk, Tampa
Tampa Riverwalk is a 2.6-mile walkway along the Hillsborough River in downtown Tampa. While strolling along the riverwalk guests can stop by the Tampa Arts District, Curtis Hixon Park, MacDill Park, Tampa Museum of Art, Glazer Children's Museum, Straz Center for the Performing Arts and stop to eat at Armature Works.

Photo via Tampa Riverwalk/Facebook

Weedon island Preserve

1800 Weedon Dr. NE, St. Petersburg
Weedon island offers six trails along its 3,190-acre aquatic and upland ecosystem. The one-mile boy scout loop connects to a 1.7-mile trail. The park does not allow pets, even if they are on leashes. Admission into the park is free, and there is a large observation tower available to guests.

Photo via Weedon Island Preserve/Facebook

Skyway Trail

Skyway Trail, St. Petersburg
The Skyway Trail is a 8.7-mile trail located near St. Petersburg, which features beautiful wildflowers along its walkway. Common usage of the trail is walking, running, bird watching, and road biking. The Skyway Trail is also dog friendly as long as they are kept on leashes.

Photo via Google Street Screen Capture