The Booker Creek Preserve is about 30 minutes from both Tampa and Clearwater, not far from East Lake. A few weekends ago I was looking for new local parks to hike at and this one came up. The preserve is about 8700 acres and is the largest natural area in Pinellas County.
What To Know
- The admission is free and there is plenty of parking.
- Wear good walking shoes. There’s sand, dirt, and mud areas that you will walk through.
- Bring a hat and sunblock. Some of the trails are directly in the sun without shade
- Pack snacks and water. There’s a few places you can sit on a bench and relax for a while while hiking.
- You can easily your own route to hike the trails. The trails go in a type of figure 8, so you can hike 1-2 miles, or about 4 miles of trails. Check out the map here to see the trails and the different habitats.
- You can also join others on various guided community hikes in the preserve. You can find those here.
- They do have a gift shop with literature, snacks and water. It’s not big but has the necessities.
- No dogs are allowed in the preserve. This is on quite a few signs. Don’t bring your dog.
- They also have a few stops specifically set up for children to interact with nature. I saw quite a few kiddos on my various trips there.
