Pinellas Trail: Bike & Hike

Hit the Pinellas Trail

Peruse the list of area parks and all probably qualify in one way or another as "Best this" or "Most that." But when it comes to "Most Unique," the honor must go to a "park" that is a scant several feet wide, at points. It's also 38-plus miles long. It's the Pinellas Trail.

The Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail is a former railroad corridor that is now reserved for biking, hiking or rollerblading and is one of our most vibrant and popular recreational areas. It begins off U.S. 19 near Tarpon Springs, and winds through the area before ending at Demen's Landing in downtown St. Petersburg. The Pinellas Trail, which has been recognized in the National Rails-To-Trails Conservancy's Hall of Fame, is celebrating its 20th year.

All along the way, rest areas, benches and water fountains greet visitors who want to take in some or all of the Pinellas Trail. It also provides access points to nearly every town in the area. You can feel "away from it all," yet be traveling through the very heart of the St. Pete-Clearwater area. Following an abandoned railroad right of way and providing a convenient smooth paved surface with nine overpasses whisk users over some of the busiest roads in the area. Other crossings have traffic control devices to assist the flow of traffic.

Meandering through the charming downtown districts of Dunedin and Clearwater, the Pinellas Trail winds along other parks, such as Pioneer Park, Hammock Park, Taylor Park and Ridgecrest Park. "Spur" trails also deliver visitors to nearby spots such as Honeymoon Island and Safety Harbor.