Beautiful John Chestnut Park in Palm Harbor, Florida

Pinellas County, Florida is home to an absolutely gorgeous 255 acre park, named John Chestnut Sr. Its’ scenic location on Lake Tarpon makes this park an ideal location for an evening stroll, with several spots to take in an incredible view of the sunset.

Beautiful sunset at John Chestnut Park - Palm Harbor, Florida
Gorgeous sunset at John Chestnut Park - Palm Harbor, Florida

On site, you will find plenty of activities and amenities, including: 13 picnic sites, playgrounds, softball fields, horseshoe pits, and a large dog park. Three beautiful nature trails take you past unspoiled natural Florida landscapes. Looking at all the beautiful tropical plants, I felt like I was in a Jurassic Park movie. The park was not at all congested; the perfect place for a quiet, reflective stroll. The highlight here is a boardwalk trail which will take you over a cypress swamp. Look closely – you may seen an alligator. Also birds, squirrels, and owls are always out and about.

Scenic views along the boardwalk

Views along the John Chestnut Park boardwalk in Palm Harbor, Florida
Pretty trees along the boardwalk at John Chestnut Park in Palm Harbor, Florida
Lush trees along the boardwalk at John Chestnut Park in Palm Harbor, Florida
Beautiful trees along the boardwalk at John Chestnut Park in Palm Harbor, Florida

Swamp views at John Chestnut Park - Palm Harbor, FL

Alligators and other wildlife

Alligator warning sign at John Chestnut Park - Palm Harbor, Florida

If you are lucky you may be able to spot an alligator. Alligators tend to be out most when temps are in the 80’s and 90’s. Be on the lookout for the alligator warning signs! This park is supposed to be one of the prime areas near Tampa for spotting alligators. Although we didn’t see any on this trip, I’ll be sure to provide updates when we do!

Note: this became one of our top alligator sighting destinations during our time in Tampa. We saw gators on multiple occasions.

A view of the resident gator which we saw repeatedly for months on end!

Alligator sighting at John Chestnut Pak in Palm Harbor, Florida

Other wildlife include: turtles, raccoons, and various birds.

Bird at John Chestnut Park - Palm Harbor, FL

John Chestnut Sr. Park is a great place to visit anytime of the year. Whether you feel like a morning jog, afternoon picnic, or evening walk to the lake to see a spectacular sunset, one thing is for sure, you will be surrounded by beauty!

Additional Info

John Chestnut is located at 2200 E Lake Rd in Palm Harbor. There is no entrance or parking fees. The park closes at dusk.

Tip: Stop for breakfast at East Lake Cafe, a long running local favorite which serves great comfort style foods on a beautiful outdoor patio. Also, Raining Berries is a great regional coffeeshop. Their coffee is great and they also serve refreshing smoothies and acai bowls.

Have you ever visited John Chestnut Park? Did you see an alligator? What are some of your top picks for parks in Pinellas county?