Hiking John Chesnut Sr. Park 🌿 Trails, Wildlife Encounters & Lake Tarpon Views!

Описание: 🌞 Come hike with me, Valerie Ann with Salty Floridian Traveler channel through the beautiful trails of John Chesnut Sr. Park in Palm Harbor, Florida! This Pinellas County park is a hidden gem along Lake Tarpon, offering shaded boardwalks, wetlands, and forested paths packed with wildlife and peaceful views. In this video, we explore the park’s nature trails and soak in everything this ecosystem has to offer — from swampy cypress forests to open lake overlooks.

👣 Trail Information – What to Expect
🌲 Three primary nature trails, each approximately 3,000 feet long, winding through floodplain forest and wetlands
🪵 Elevated boardwalk sections that cross marshy and swampy areas
🔁 Peggy Park Nature Trail loop (~0.8 miles) featuring both shell paths and boardwalk
📏 Total trail experience is short, scenic, and family-friendly, with multiple loop options
🗼 A 40-foot observation tower overlooking Lake Tarpon and surrounding wetlands — great for wildlife spotting and photos
These trails are well-maintained and perfect for casual hiking, nature walks, and wildlife observation.

🐾 Wildlife You May Encounter
This park is known for frequent and natural wildlife sightings, including:
🐊 Alligators (always admire from a safe distance!)
🦝 Raccoons often spotted near wooded areas
🦦 River otters, occasionally seen near the water
🦌 White-tailed deer quietly moving through forested sections
🦉 Owls, especially active around dawn and dusk
🐢 Freshwater turtles and gopher tortoises
🐿️ Squirrels and a wide variety of birds, including herons, limpkins, migratory songbirds, and seasonal bald eagle sightings
Wildlife here is truly wild — sightings vary, but that’s part of the adventure!

🏞 Park History & Ownership
John Chesnut Sr. Park spans approximately 255 acres and is owned and managed by Pinellas County Parks & Conservation Resources. The park was developed with assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is named after John Chesnut Sr., a longtime Pinellas County Commissioner who played a major role in expanding and protecting the county’s park system.

🎉 Activities Available
✔ Hiking & walking✔ Birdwatching & wildlife viewing✔ Picnicking (multiple shelters and grills available)✔ Playground and dog park✔ Boating & fishing access on Lake Tarpon
This park is great for families, solo hikers, photographers, and anyone needing a nature break.

🚫 Important Park Rules (Please Read!)
❌ Do NOT feed wildlife. Feeding animals causes them to lose their natural fear of people, alters their behavior, can make them sick, and increases dangerous interactions — especially with alligators. Feeding wildlife is prohibited and can lead to serious consequences for both people and animals.🐕 Pets must be leashed at all times🗑️ Pack it in, pack it out — no littering🌿 Stay on designated trails and do not disturb plants or animals🚫 Swimming is not permitted in park waters
Respecting these rules helps keep this park safe and wild for everyone.

👀 Watch till the end to see what fun resident wildlife we encounter today!
👍 If you enjoyed this hike, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and comment with what animal you’d hope to spot here!