Jay B Starkey Wilderness Park

The whole park is great but the bike trail is hands down the best in the Tampa Bay Area. A 13 mile loop through this quiet preserve is a great workout. Lots of wildlife viewing opportunities — not uncommon to see deer, wild turkey, lots of birds (including the Florida Scrub Jay during certain times of the year) and the many resident tortoises. It is generally not too crowded which is nice, and there are ample places to rest (benches) and water boxes (which are maintained — have never come upon any that were not filled). It’s not a challenging course of anything like that but it is definitely a pretty one that makes you really feel like you are out in the middle of nowhere. At the end it connects to the Suncoast Trail if you want to ride some more miles. Great not just for cycling but walking too… and there are some unpaved hiking trails as well with birding opportunities. Easy to find and clean restrooms which is always a plus too.

Every time we visit the New Port Richey, Florida area we stop by here at least once. It’s super close to our house and is super cheap…$ 2! You really can’t beat that! There are tons of walking and biking trails and at the end a very nice expansive playground. I noticed many birthday parties gathered around rented shelters. Great spot for a kids party or to host a large. Umber of people. Restrooms were clean and regularly placed in short walking distance. Also a bonus… During select number gets in December they have an amazing drive through holiday lights display, still only $ 2 a car. I look forward to that each visit as well.

Poorly managed park and park events. The website should really state when the park is closed to visitors due to an event, then maybe I wouldn’t have driven 45min for nothing. A off road trails park does not need to be closed entirely for a paved road based race.

The facilities were very clean and the log cabins were located in a great area. It was a very wooded lot so it was nice and shady. There was a fire pit and a ton of firewood readily available. A playground and swing sets were right there as well as a covered pavilion. The bathrooms and showers were clean and located nearby. The park rangers were also very nice.

This is a terrific great big Florida park in Pasco County. There’s a paved 7 mile trail. It gets pretty sunny so bring water (the water stations run out). It goes through some different ecosystems which is fun and links up with the Suncoast to the East if you want to go go go more more more.
There are also Geocaches and off-​road trails. The SWAMP mountain bike group is active here and does rides. Check em out if that’s yo thing! You can also hike and nature walk looking our for birds and such. Or BBQ and picnic at a grill.
There’s a parking fee. I believe $ 2.
:)

Great park with long hiking and biking trails. Only $ 2 for the day. Also cabins and secluded, private camp grounds. Best park I’ve been to in the Tampa area. Will return!

Always a breath of fresh air and beautifully maintained. The bathrooms are always clean and the staff is very knowledgeable and courteous. It’s a wonderful place for events and children.

Top notch park! Lots of paved trails for running, biking, and walking.
Fantastic playground. Hiking, camping, and more!
They recently opened an education center too that my kids love to visit.
A park certainly worthy of a visit!

My boyfriend and I came here for the day. Although it was sprinkling the whole time, we had a blast on the bike trails. There’s so much more to do here and we are already thinking of going back for camping and hiking.

Great park for everyone! There is so much to do here from hiking, camping, playgrounds, pavilions for cooking out, equestrian trails, historical sites, biking, etc. This preserve is only one part of a much larger tract of land that was given to Paso County, the other parts are the Serenova Tract to the north which has a lot of equestrian trails and Anclote River Tract to the south which has a lot of primitive hiking areas. Take a look at the SWMD website for the park for all the details, but you will not be disappointed in your day trip here!

Great park, lots and lots of walking trails, fun for all ages, miles of biking pathways even leads you to the bike path that’s beside the sun coast parkway, over night camping with Cabins you can rent, always see great wild life including a lot of different birds … Even deer with there fawns walking around … I go there often

Huge wilderness park with hiking, biking and nature trails in natural woodland and scrub with palms and pines. $ 2 all day parking. There are paved and unpaved trails, picnic areas and even a camping ground.
The had drawn maps aren’t very easy to follow and only approximate so bear that in mind.