The trail is open daily from 7 a.m.to sunset. Very bike friendly whether on the trails or streets. my most scenic rides were from clearwater beach. find trail maps, reviews, photos & driving directions on traillink.com We have set aside three days and look forward to exploring more spurs and more of the area, including Tarpon Springs and returning to Honeymoon Island State Park and its white, sugar-sand beaches. On Sundays there are the Girls ""Beach Ball"" games that go one during the afternoon hours as well as music and dancing under the Palm trees on the shore line of Boca Ciaga Bay. equally scenic south on the pinellas trail. We had a great ride on the Pinellas Trail from Dunedin to Tarpon Springs, FL on the last day of 2020. The best surprise on this trail was Taylor Park in Largo near the mid-point. The cars were very courteous, but there is a lot of slowing down and speeding up. I really enjoyed riding amd seeing the surroundings what the trail offerl. From Tarpon Springs' quaint business district, the trail continues under US 19 to Keystone Road (CR 582) at Melon Street. We've ridden the trail in the past and stopped at the fish store on the path on the way back. And then plan your ride according to your own personal desires! It is utilized for walking, jogging, and cycling. It follows an abandoned CSX railroad . This added a few extra miles to the trail, which is now, I believe, somewhat longer than the 34 miles listed on this site. Many walking groups with kids that didn't seem to even realize fast moving bikes could be on the trail as well. We recently purchased a second home in Dunedin, Florida and was so pleased to find that the Pinellas Trail runs within 2 blocks of our home. Started at an access point near Park and Pasadena and made it as far as Dunedin and back. It has rough spots, and I can say I would never ride alone there. However if, like me, you want to get on a trail and just really ride and get some miles in, this isn't for you. Use caution through here because the trail crosses roads with heavy traffic. (If you are considered a trip here - this is how I did it, I rented my bike from ABC Bicycle less than a mile away from the Crystal Bay. After several years of excellent rides on the Pinellas Trail, we finally experienced the hazards of an urban trail. Both rides were a lot of fun. Conquer anger with non-anger. We broke it up in to 8 to 10 mile sections due to other obligations, and did the whole trail in 2 weekends. (there are many scattered over main roads along entire trail) South in StPete is a more historical, art feel and city scape. Rode south about 5 miles did a turn around and went back and had brunch at Toula's Trailside Cafe. I recently rode the trail from Tarpon Springs to St Pete and back to Tarpon Springs in late Feb while visiting the area from PA. Aside from the numerous street intersections the the trail is a great urban ride. There is a large Steinmart at the corner of Pierce St and S Osceola Ave which is about a block or two west of the trail. ", "I rode the length of the trail from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs last month. and I enjoyed the downhill. The trail is reasonably wide and often has a separate pedestrian path paralleling the bike lanes, which is very nice. Beginning Friday and continuing for 30 consecutive days, the County's Facebook page will feature photos from some of our favorite locations on the trail. Length: 46 miles Trail end points: North Bay Trail/Demens Landing Park at 1st Ave SE & Bayshore Dr SE (St. Petersburg) and Duke Energy Trail/John Chestnut County Park on Northside Dr (Tarpon Springs) Trail surfaces: Asphalt, Concrete Trail category: Rail-Trail ID: 6015535 Activities: Bike Inline Skating Wheelchair Accessible Walking Go Unlimited In the north its less urban and more parks, can take it over the top of lake tarpon across Keystone to Starkey property thru cow fields. - about 19mi roundtrip. I ride it every summer from the Target Parking Lot North. The day I rode (March 2) the weather and temperature excellent. The trail is smooth and easy to follow! Great scenery with only one busy crossing on Tarpon Ave. People on the trail were very friendly and trail had only one section that was quite "bumpy" due to buckles in the asphalt. the second would be the 2.8 mile spur that crosses the Clearwater bridge to Clearwater beach. The small printed triptik-like map provided free of charge by Pinellas County Planning Dept was mailed to us and was invaluable. We did a side trip to Honeymoon Island; recommended but there is a fee. In Dunedin, all the crossings are four-way stops. Florida trail riders, please use trail etiquette. Get a FREE Rail Trails Guidebook when you become a Member with Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. On one hand (like many on here have said) if you enjoy a limited brief ride through the various towns, it is really awesome. Tunnel The Pinellas trail goes through a tunnel under rt. While in Palm Harbor this is not the case. Not crowded. The Pinellas trail is pretty typical of the trails we have been on. I hope this helps someone who was like me looking for help to plan a a detour to the beach. Do not remain stopped or standing on the trail. Michigan, This trail was great. So, I bought ALOE "after sun" cream to soothe my arms. At the Southern most end of the trail, there is a little park. Many cool over passes that go over water and roads. They have outstanding wheat, red and brown ales year-round, and the staff is friendly and outgoing (and very much into cycling). Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail See all things to do Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail 4.5 34 reviews #44 of 127 things to do in St. Petersburg Biking Trails Write a review About Suggested duration 1-2 hours Suggest edits to improve what we show. Cycling, running and walking are all popular activities along the trail. It was magical. I wanted to do a decent length ride, and had come to Trail Links to find a suitable destination. I saw that it was a 50 mile ride and I was looking forward to a nice long 4 hour ride where i can maintain a certain speed and such. Day 2: West St. Pete to downtown St. Pete and around the bay (don't recommend this - it was pretty but congested, better for a walk and not a ride), then an evening ride to Treasure Island Beach followed by a long beach walk. Explore the most popular trail running trails near Saarbrcken with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. l" Very fun and now extended at the north end. Now its just dangerous. There are also many bike shops along the way where you can stop and get supplies if necessary. Stop and look in the tops of the trees. What a great way to spend the day. The scenery is vast an varied on this trail. My wife and I have spent the past two weeks in Largo, Florida and I have had the opportunity to ride 400 miles on the The Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail. Single file do not take up more than half the trail. Right off the trail, underneath some beautiful trees, Eli cooks up some mean pork BBQ. If you make it to St Pete, dont miss Dr BBQ. The signage makes it easy for vacationeers like myself to access the trail and exit to visit surrounding neighborhoods. This was a fun day. It has been getting really bad for a while now, people on bikes are traveling to fast. I don't like eating out so right next to the bike store (a quick ride or < mile walk) from the hotel was the origins food market with a great salad bar - after that high calorie breakfast I needed to eat light at night). It's a nice urban/suburban trail but don't expect to do it very fast as there are so many stops & slowdowns at intersections. This turned out to be a mature bald eagle staring at me from about 15 feet away. Having finished our golfing (Pam, who had never hit a golf ball in her life, was convinced that she would be awesome at the driving range NOT!! Like all the overpasses, my speeds on the overpass were slower than slow, but I made it. I also wasn't clear where the northern trail ended. From what I can tell from the map, it actually begins by the waterfront on Tampa Bay. It's mostly city type riding but a nice trail to get through the city. The map below shows a trailhead where you can pick up the Fred . Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. My kids and I tired about 6 miles of this trail today. It's a wonderful asset to the area. The ADA compliant multiuse pathway is paved, smooth and varies from 12-to-15 feet wide depending on the section of trail. This trail is part of a network of 1,600 trails in America that were built along former railway . And, so, we did. We then headed to Casa Tina for an outstanding lunch of chorizo and steak tacos and chile rellenos. A green jewel that sparkles in a busy urban setting, the popular Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail reaches for 34 miles between St. Petersburg in the south and Tarpon Springs in the north, linking cities that include Palm Harbor, Clearwater and Gulfport with an eye-pleasing recreational corridor. Recently rode approx 15 mi south from Tarpon Springs. There was excellent scenery both days. We rode two sections on the northern part of the trail. Just exciting to see community's get this is a good thing. What a pleasant experience. It is more like an alley that runs through many towns in central Florida. Tarpon seemed dead-lots of antique shops but almost every restaurant was closed. Looking forward to doing other northern sections. Then took it north probably pretty close to the end, north Tarpon Springs. I would use caution at this point in the ride. The towns of Dunedin and Tarpon Springs are pretty cool though with lots to see and plenty of places to get a bite. Headed off Clearwater Beach, over the Causeway to the Trail. starting in clearwater beach, bike over to the bridge trail up to the pull off at the very top ,take in the view of the intracoastal waterway in both directions. While another writer noted that there was a mugging on the southern most section of the trail, I have not had problems. Just knocked Pinellas Trail off my biking bucket list. My favorite part of the trail is across the water north of Park Blvd/Target in St. Pete. Apparently whoever wrote it has never ridden it. The Trail, created along a portion of abandoned railroad corridor, provides a unique, protected greenspace for walking, jogging, skating and biking. Clearwater is a little run down and I wouldn't go through parts of it at night, but there are plenty of places to get provisions. I arrived at Clearwater and rode towards St. Pete's city limits and then returned going past Clearwater getting in 40 easy miles. Well maintained, well marked, drivers were alert stopping and letting us through to continue on trail. Duke Energy Trail spans 22.5 from Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail/Northside Dr (Tarpon Springs) to Belleair Rd (Clearwater). I can't imagine doing this trail in summer. The pedestrian bridges on the south end can be a bit grueling, especially at the end of an 80+ miles ride. You are never far from refreshments and I think there were at least a half dozen bike shops right on the path in the case of an emergency. So enjoy the trail, but please follow rules of bicycling and be safe and alert. Wonderful pedestrian bridges over the major roadways made it easy to stay moving. Warn before passing. In north Dunedin the trail is next to a major road with some fast food places if you get thirsty. Pinellas County Parks & Conservation Resources oversees the Trails maintenance and operating costs. Completed the largo to Clearwater section and detoured to the beach for lunch. Least liked was the section through downtown Clearwater at that point it really isn't a trail. We just returned from a vacation in Florida in which, amongst other things, we cycled the Pinellas trail. i continued straight ahead past a pretty golf course to dunedin. One of the many county busses are equipt with bike reacks on them. Don't know about the south end. I think its a great trail, well used, and in good condition. We did that and headed south. Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail See all things to do Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail 4.5 69 reviews #40 of 127 things to do in St. Petersburg Biking Trails Visit website Write a review What people are saying " Pinellas Trail now a danger to pedestrians " Jul 2021 This trail used to be a joy to walk. Also--this will keep you away from traffic on this side that goes over the Clearwater bridge. I am so impressed with this beautiful trail! A paved ribbon stretching the length of Pinellas County from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs, the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail provides cyclists with nearly 38 miles of low-stress cruising Tarpon Springs Palm Harbor Dunedin Clearwater Largo St. Petersburg ( 27.908262, -82.800091 ) 37.6 miles shares I would recommend staying close to the trail as parking and access are a bit confusing. I rode the section from Dunedin to Tarpon Springs a few times on a recent trip to Florida. She was oblivious to the fact that there were riders on the path. Best way to connect with your Spirit. Increased tree canopy and shade along the Fred E. Marquis Pinellas Trail, Pinellas Co., FL . It looks like it has been a long time since anything got posted here. I was looking for a trial for some interesting scenery and a chance to do some fitness riding. Administration, 12520 Ulmerton Road ", "The Pinellas Trail is a wonderful example of a county going all out for recreation. It's a little hard to find, and the neighborhood is a little rough, but for the most part, you should be okay as long as you do it early like I did on a Saturday morning. ), we decided that lunch was in order. On the whole trail, I recall seeing about 4 water fountains.For an exhilarating ride, there are ~ 7 overpasses on the trail. I really enjoyed this section yes, it had interruptions. Since it's finish appx 20 years ago, it's been very ignored by the county. The Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail is part of the Pinellas Trail Loop, a 75-mile loop running throughout the county. View maps, amenities, descriptions, reviews, and directions on TrailLink. to honeymoon island. ", "I love the pinellas trail, not only is it scenic in spots it is long. This a great trail and there are many great eateries along the way. Contact Parks & Conservation Resources at (727) 582-2100 (select option #2). The detour scheduled to be open March 1 probably wont open as it wasnt near completion today but the ride around is easy and well signed. We left the Springs at about 11 and headed back south to Dunedin, destination Dunedin Brewery. This is a popular trail for hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. From there, it follows Keystone Road east. I rode the northern half of this trail in Feb. Help. It expands over nearly 50 miles of mostly urban paved trails but is planned to extend to a 75 mile loop in the future! You will see the sign that says "to beach" follow that! We normally drive to the section we want to ride, so here are a few good places to get on the trail. Pinellas County is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail with a special social media campaign. My favorite part was Tarpon springs. My favorite section is between 102nd Ave in Seminole and the Cross Bayou bridge - beautiful! where you can take in a swim or (since i love nature) go to the visitor center, lock the bike, and walk the sandy paths all the time watching osprey and maybe an eagle feeding their young. I ride it daily, and there's areas where you just do not want to ride. For this Midwesterner, that was a real treat and something very different from the normal I ride. at the lights take a left on the trail along the ocean causeway . Michael", TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails conservancy, We're a non-profit all about helping you enjoy the outdoors, North Bay Trail/Demens Landing Park at 1st Ave SE & Bayshore Dr SE (St. Petersburg) and Duke Energy Trail/John Chestnut County Park on Northside Dr (Tarpon Springs). We ride along the Fred-Marquis . Atop poles next to the driving range alongside alternate Hgwy 19, there were ospreys in their nest and a flock of wild parrots. ( we didn't do that and ended up riding with traffic) It has a paved sidewalk with a yellow strip on the side with signs to show you the way. Its just not for everyone. On to the trail:
For Day 1, we drove to Honeymoon Island State Park, left the car, hit the spur over to Dunedin, took a left and headed north to Tarpon Springs. at the end go right on the trail then left. There are bathroom facilities available along the way and plenty to see and do. That doesn't happen on this trail, you stop over and over and over at every crosswalk. Love this trail. The trail through Clearwater is for the most part a bike lane on East Avenue (its designed for two-way bike traffic, but is along the west side of the Avenue, so if youre heading north, you are biking against traffic). only 20 miles, easy for a recreational rider like me(80 years) on a hybrid. ", "I live in Gulfport FL November thru April (Snow Bird)and ride this trail frequently. (727) 582-2100. On the north end of the trail in Palm Harbor, the John Chesnut Sr. Park (2200 East Lake Road South, Palm Harbor) provides plentiful parking as well. The Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail is a linear, multi-use trail extending from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs. The thing that impressed me the most, is the courteous Florida drivers. Worst was a dog walker who stretched her dog's lease across the trail and almost caused an accident. A more populated trail would lead to a safer trail. Users must obey all traffic controls, signals and the posted speed limit. Cant get much better. first , to take advantage of the most scenic parks, get a free AAA map of the county. I have been doing this for the last few years. I also like the signs over the trail with the town names. I began riding it around the area described and found out later it was about 2 miles from the start. We ride along the Fred-Marquis-Pinellas Trail, both north and south of the . Breweries and restaurants and wildlife and old Florida scenery. This trail is right next to my house and I've ridden on it for years. We loved the Pinellas Trail so much we are returning two weeks after our first roundtrip tour from Gulfport to Dunedin. Popular stops . There were a lot of bikers, runners and walkers on the trail with was awesome to see. Book your rental bike online today and hit the trail. I look forward to doing more way points. There was an immature, pileated woodpecker on a wire just above the trail. Near Bay Pines there is a nice bridge over the south starts a stretch of bridges and overpasses to challenge your legs. Exciting they are talking about making this a loop. Love the relatively flat landscap of this trail. I never put sun screen cream so I did not put it when I was in Florida. Would love to ride the trail again in the future. "Rode several sections of the trail this past January, it was excellent, loved the elevated sections! That is a beautiful park with full facilities and plenty of parking. (except in downtown St. Pete when you will need to stop at al the intersections). Kind of boring but like I said the trail is mint. National Recreation Trail Designated in 2003 View more details for this trail in the NRT Database Having read other reviews and the issues mentioned with the number of crossroads, I went with the expectation that this would be a recreational ride. john taylor park,lake with alligators, walsingham park(lake with bike trail, seminole city park(pond with ducks),boca ciega park(boardwalk,high wooden tower overlooking the intracoastal. Starting from near the middle, I rode an out and back of the north half the first day and the south half the next day. The Gulfport Spur is worth the ride. We wanted to have lunch right on the beach at frenchys Rockaway grill. Copyright 2023, Pinellas County. It now extends 47 miles from East Lake to Tarpon Springs to downtown St. Petersburg, and passes through eight cities and several unincorporated communities. Best meal of our entire trip!Some warnings: No (I mean NO) bike shop will do bike repairs beyond flats on a Saturday. I bought a condo a fifth of a mile off the trail so I can ride everyday without using my car. Florida has some pretty crazy drivers and a lot of bumpy sidewalks. It was safe and we had no problems with traffic. It's a wonderful trip, especially if you take your time and stop along the way to see sites and parks. The problem we encountered was the huge numbers of people. 12/26/15. The bikelane in Clearwater appeared quite new and the motorists very ''accomodating'' for mid-morning traffic. The Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail is often referred to just as the Pinellas Trail, and it's one of the most popular paths in Florida. Turns out there are several frenchys restaurants - so go for the "rockaway grill". ", "We stumbled upon this trail while on vacation and WOW what an asset to your community. I've been writing this trail for the last 20+ years,it's awesome! The cons: The beginning of the ride, mabey about 4-5 miles in goes through a tough area. The shop in Tarpon Springs was actually rude to us when we asked for help! Osprey fishing everywhere. There are exactly 9 pedestrian bridges from end to end not dozens. No one mentions that the Pinellas Trail is actually a county park, and therefore it is closed to the public at night! There were 5 overpasses in this 10 mile stretch.Good for leg burns and cardio, but not good if you are looking for a leisure trip on a flat trail. Local bicycle clubs are attempting to raise awareness and encourage the City of Saint Petersburg to increase police presence in the area.
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