Escaping the Florida Heat and Crowds via the Beautiful Trails of Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
New Port Richey in Pasco County’s “Nature Coast” is home to several beautiful underrated parks which allow you the opportunity to take step back in time and walk through Florida as it used to be before everything was built upon. One of my first parks I visited after moving to suburban Palm Harbor was Jay B. Starkey Wilderness. Hiking and wildlife watching at this wonderful oasis definitely left me with a great impression of the area.
This gorgeous 8000 acre park, is home to an abundance of wildlife and beautiful natural landscapes. It’s a bit place and there are a lot of great trails to explore in a rustic wilderness setting. On the trails, you will come across pinewood forests, marshes, lakes, scrub, sandhills, and swamps. As a native of the Midwest, it is exciting to explore so many new ecosystems. The park is one of the 500+ sites along the Florida Birding Trail, with ample opportunities for bird watching.
Hiking trails
You will find 27 miles of trails so there is an option for everyone. There are so many great preserves around this area, but many are quite small with no more than a few hiking trails. This place is actually pretty big and you can find a new hike with each new visit. Although Florida summers are hot, there is a considerable amount of shade here. I wouldn’t recommend hiking here on a summer afternoon, but the lush greenery does block a bit of sun. The quiet vibes also makes it a perfect alternative to crowded malls and beaches.
There is plenty of shade coverage as you will see in the photos below. The beautiful dense plant life offers you the opportunity to get out and explore nature in an area where businesses and housing are continually replacing many of the natural lands. While Pasco County isn’t as overdeveloped as Hillsborough and Pinellas yet, I see it becoming more and more crowded with transplants as rents rise in the upcoming years.
On our first visit here, we completed the basic 1.9 mile loop as the weather was so hot. We encountered a few gopher tortoises, as pictured below. These turtles are huge! They are native to the Southeast and can be found throughout Florida parks (although they are currently considered a threatened species according to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation). It is a unique experience to see them just walking along the roads and trails.
I would recommend this park to anyone seeking a nature escape, due to the variety of trails and activities available within the grounds. You can spend a few hours or a whole day here. You can choose a trail based on your skill level with part, half or all day trails available.
As a fun alternative to a hike, you can opt for a leisurely ride on the paved 6.7 mile (out and back) bike trail, which is also great for walkers. I really like this trail – it’s lined with pine trees and so peaceful. It’s the perfect distance for a weekend ride.
Additional activities within the park include: equestrian trails, picnic tables, primitive camping, and fishing.
Update: Since writing this, Mike and I have lived in the Tampa area for about 3 years. We have explored Pasco County a lot more. You can check out my Pasco guide for more great preserves and activities in the area. As I mentioned earlier, the parks out here are a bit quieter than those in Pinellas where most of the tourists go. I recommend a visit to The Nature Coast if you are seeking something a bit more tranquil. You can really get lost in the woods here (and I have a few times) because it is so quiet and peaceful.
Also, don’t forget about all the wonderful things to do throughout Tampa Bay. It’s a totally underrated area in my opinion with so many interesting things to do besides the beach (although these are fabulous as well!).
Tips for a great visit
*Bring with plenty of water. There are no drinking stations near the trails. You will see many warning signs, such as the one posted below. In fact, I have never seen so many warning signs! It’s a nice gesture as some tourists may be unfamiliar with the hot and humid climate.
*Bring your camera. You may come across many different types of wildlife, including gopher tortoises, rare birds, armadillos, and more.
*Plan hikes for the morning or late evening when temperatures are coolest, preferably in the cooler winter months.
*Pay close attention to the signs so you do not get lost along the way. If you miss a sign, you could end up doing much more walking than you intended. Follow the color coded marks on the trees and the loop signs. I recommend bringing with a GPS watch to track your distance.
Location/Fees
This park is located at 10500 Wilderness Park Blvd in New Port Richey. Parking is $2 for the day. You will pay at the machine and put a sticker in your window that is good for the entire day.
