A Relaxing Tram Ride around St. Petersburg’s Boyd Hill Nature Preserve
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St. Petersburg, Florida is home to many beautiful natural attractions, including: preserves, bike paths, beaches, and parks. Most worthy of a visit, Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, a 245 acre park consisting of several different ecosystems and dozens of wildlife species, is the number one spot to visit while in town. This local gem is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail. It’s one of the best places in the Bay to bird watch and to date over 200+ species have been identified.
Since moving to the Tampa region, Mike & I have been exploring preserves all over the metro. After a weekend dealing with the crowds and heat at the beach, it is time for us to take a relaxing break at one of the many gorgeous preserves. This is the nice thing about living in this area – we can enjoy a mix of touristy Gulf beach fun and low-key preserves to spice things up a bit.
At this beautiful preserve, you will find numerous attractions including an interpretative center, a narrated tram ride, and 6 miles of trails and boardwalks. There is enough to do here to easily justify at least a half day out.
The birds
There are several interesting birds to view while you are waiting for your tram tour. The preserve rescued these injured birds. I recommend taking a look before your hikes/tram tour. The highlight for us was seeing the smallest falcon in the country. The staff took the bird out of its’ cage so we could all get a better look and up close photos which was nice.
Tram tours
The highlight here is a 1 hour guided tram tour which takes you around most of the preserve. The ride is relaxing and educational. As opposed to hiking, you will enjoy a nice breeze even on hot days. Along the tour, we saw alligators, gopher tortoises, ospreys, tons of butterflies, and various other small wildlife. It’s nice that they offer this tour to guests who do not want to/are unable to walk the trails. This allows all guests the opportunity to see wildlife and birdwatch in a beautiful setting.
We learned a lot in a short period of time about the history of the preserve, different plants and mammals found within, and a general history about Florida. The tour guides are very knowledgeable and will point out different types of wildlife and plant life seen in each section of the park. Our friendly volunteer was able to show us where the alligators typically hang out, in a location we may have never thought to explore by ourselves.
We saw many Gopher Tortoises along the sand scrub trail, as well as an Osprey nest.
During the Lake Maggiore Island portion of the tour, we saw several baby alligators. Although we have seen many gators at other preserves and even at our apartment complex, we have never seen a baby gator until taking this tour. Plus, it was fun and educational to learn more about these prehistoric creatures via our tour guide.
I highly recommend this tour, especially for anyone new to St. Petersburg. Trams are offered once a day, twice on Saturdays. Arriving for the first tram ride will greatly increase your chances of seeing a gator. We were informed that the morning tour group saw 10 gators, compared to 3 on our afternoon outing. Also be aware that gator sightings are much more common during the cooler months (when they sunbathe to regulate their body temps). Luckily, it was a rainy, overcast day so we were able to see many gators up close.
Hiking trails
In addition to taking the tram, I also recommend taking some time to explore a few trails. Hiking will take you on a journey through several different native ecosystems. This is what makes taking a walk through the variety of nature trails so interesting. You get to observe various forms of landscapes including: pine flatwoods, hardwood hammocks, swamps, lakes, marshes, and sand pine scrub. The diversity in plant life also gives you the opportunity to see various forms of wildlife.
The trails are clean, although a bit under marked. You can access the side trails from the main trail loop, which is approximately a mile long. I have provided a brief description of each trail along with some photos.
Main Trail
This trail comes in just under a mile. You can access all the other trails by starting on the main loop.
Lake Maggiore Island
One of the best areas in the park to see gators. We saw several baby alligators up close. This is also a great spot to see turtles in the water.
Sand Scrub Trail
This trail comes in at just 0.32 miles so another easy one. It is home to a large population of gopher tortoises, an endangered species that prefers dry, sunny climates. According to our guide, this preserve is home to the largest population of these tortoises. It’s also one of the best trails for birdwatching. Along the trail, you will find turkey oak, sand pine, and wiregrass.
Pine Flatwoods Trail
This short 0.20 mile trail features beautiful tall pine trees and plenty of shade coverage. It is the most peaceful of all the trails within the preserve.
Our tram tour guide pointed out elderberry. We later found some ourselves on the trail. If you are unfamiliar, elderberry is an immune supporting berry used in juices, teas, and pies. You will likely see a lot of elderberry products in the grocery store starting in the early fall months.
Wax Myrtle Pond Loop
This is a really short trail which comes in at just 0.12 miles, so obviously you will want to combine it with other hikes. The highlight is a beautiful man made pond. This is a great spot to see gators.
A cool Armadillo sculpture created by a local artist
Uplands Trail
This one comes in at just under a mile. This trail is a hotspot for gopher tortoises. We have seen a lot of these turtles at various preserves since moving to the area with this park being no exception. This trail has a lot of Spanish moss trees which I love and also great views of the marsh.
Willow Marsh Boardwalk
A beautiful spot for photography. Also, there is a hint of the city skyline in the distance.
Swamp Woodlands Boardwalk
A walk across this boardwalk allows you to take in beautiful views of a Florida swamp. Even in the heat, it is a comfortable stroll due to the shade coverage provided by cypress, bay, and sugarberry trees.
The Education Center
The education center has several interesting exhibits to browse through including this gator skeleton. You can learn a bit more about the park’s ecosystem if you are interested.
On our visit, Mike was invited to hold a tarantula and learn some interesting facts in the process. Did you know that a tarantula bite is not strong enough to cause any major damage? At most it will feel like a bee sting. Tarantulas rarely ever attack. In fact, it takes a lot for a tarantula to bite.
Why you should visit
Visiting this oasis provides a much needed escape from city life and also the hectic, commercialized St. Pete & Clearwater beach areas. Here, you can wander around for hours without a single person in site, especially during the less crowded summer months. It’s a treat for locals who are tired of the tourist crowds at the beaches and super interesting for tourists who want to explore the wild side of Florida. The natural hiking trails provide a beautiful setting for long weekend morning walks.
Things to Know
- Bring your camera – there are plenty of beautiful pictures to take of trees, swamps, lakes, and wildlife.
- Water stations are located around the park for your convenience.
- Restrooms, snacks, and souvenirs are found in the education center.
- Bikes are allowed.
- Dogs are prohibited.
Admission, Locations, Map & Parking Fees
Address: 1101 Country Club Way South St. in St. Petersburg
Admission fees: $3 per adult & $1.50 (ages 3-16)
Hours: Tuesday-Friday from 9am-7pm, Saturday from 7am-7pm, and Sunday from 9am to 7pm
Tram tours are offered daily at 1:00pm. On Saturdays, additional 10:00am tours are offered. Prices are $3 per person.
Please check the website for updated pricing info.
Update: I believe the trams only operate now by private tour. Please check with the preserve for full details.
Tips for a great experience
- Bring a reusable water bottle. You can refill it up at any of the water stations. You will need it, especially during the hot, humid summer months.
- Pick up a map at the front desk. It will help guide you around the park.
- Wear plenty of sunblock. Some portions of the trails are not shaded.
- Take the guided tram ride. Not only is it a relaxing, scenic ride, but you will also learn loads of new information.
- Sign up for an event – various programs such as Night Hikes, Bird Watching Hikes, and Yoga are offered throughout the month. Check the website for more details.
- Plan your visit for the morning or evening hours during the winter months. This is the best time to see a gator.
- Wear a hat and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun.
- Wear gym shoes as opposed to sandals. The boardwalks can get very slippery when wet. You never know when it may start raining- random thunderstorms are common during the summer months.
- Wear bug spray. It is not uncommon to come home with 10 mosquito bites after a Florida hike.
