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Florida State Parks

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Florida
Central West Region
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Alafia River State Park © Ben Prepelka
Fort Pickens State Park © Marshall Media
Florida Caverns State Park © John Bunting
Big Lagoon State Park View south from observation tower © John Bunting
This view is looking south towards the lagoona and across the island towards the Gulf of Mexico from the observation tower at Big Lagoon St. Park.
Rocky Bayou State Park Raw Oyster © John Bunting
freshly shucked oyster
Blue Spring State Park Blue Spring State Park_14 © Roger Schroeter
2013
Madison Blue Springs State Park Madison Blue Spring State Park, Lee, Florida © Marcine E Lohman
Swimmers enjoying the cool water at Madison Blue Spring State Park near Lee, Florida
Alafia River State Park © Ben Prepelka
Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park Butterflies and Lilly © Katrina Batson
Drinking from the Hurricane Lilly.
Saint Joseph Peninsula State Park Horseshoe crab © John Bunting
Thousands of these were washed up on beach on bay side
Blue Spring State Park Blue Spring State Park_6 © Roger Schroeter
2013
Rocky Bayou State Park Nice Cypress tree © John Bunting
Beautiful cypress along the shore at Rocky Bayou
Fort Clinch State Park Sea Oats on dunes © Ed Taylor
The Sea Oats on Ft. Clinchs Dunes.
Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park Sunshine On My Shoulders. © Katrina Batson
Anhinga drying his feathers.
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Florida's Central West Region Parks

1
National Memorial
11
State Parks
4
National Wildlife Refuges
1
State Forest
2
State Preserves
1
State Historic Site
Parks in this region are near these Florida Cities (click city name to see parks within 25 miles)
TAMPA
BRANDON
PORT RICHEY
PALMETTO
NEW PORT RICHEY
DUNEDIN
SPRING HILL
RIVERVIEW
BRADENTON
VENICE
SAINT PETERSBURG
VALRICO
HUDSON
CLEARWATER
PALM HARBOR
ARCADIA
Alafia River State Park
This park offers some of the most challenging off-road bicycling trails in Florida. Once the site of a phosphate mine, the reclaimed land has unique topography that offers some of the most radical elevation changes in Florida. Equestrians and hikers can explore 20 miles of trails that travel through ........more >
Anclote Key Preserve State Park
Enjoy the blue-green Gulf of Mexico waters that lap gently along the sandy beaches of the four islands that make up Anclote Key Preserve State Park - Anclote Key, North Anclote Bar, South Anclote Bar and Three Rooker Island. The 11,773-acre park is home to at least 43 species of birds, including ........more >
Caladesi Island State Park
One of the few completely natural islands along Floridas Gulf Coast, Caladesis white sand shores have been rated as the nations 1 best beach. Beach lovers can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and beachcombing. Saltwater anglers can fish from their boats or throw a line out into the surf. Nature enthusiasts ........more >
Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge
The Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1941, is comprised of over 31,000 acres of saltwater bays, estuaries and brackish marshes at the mouth of the Chassahowitzka River. The refuge, located approximately 65 miles north of St. Petersburg, FL, was established primarily ........more >
Crystal River Preserve State Park
A place of exceptional natural beauty, the undisturbed islands, inlets, backwaters, and forests of this preserve are especially cherished by nature lovers and photographers. The park borders 20 miles of the northern Gulf Coast between the two cities of Yankeetown and Homosassa. Visitors can hike or ........more >
De Soto National Memorial
On a sweltering day in May of 1539, Hernando de Soto and an army of over 600 soldiers splashed ashore in the Tampa Bay area. They arrived in nine ships laden with supplies two hundred and twenty horses, a herd of pigs, a pack of vicious war dogs, cannon, matchlock muskets, armor, tools and rations. ........more >
Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge
The Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge, was established in 1974 and protects a diverse community of animals and plants, many of which are either threatened or endangered. This island refuge was once the site of the former United States Army Fort Dade Military Reservation, and abundant reminders of ........more >
Fort Cooper State Park
The sparkling waters of Lake Holathlikaha were a welcome sight to sick and wounded soldiers during the Second Seminole War. In 1836, the First Georgia Battalion of Volunteers built a stockade for the soldiers resting here, enabling the Volunteers to hold their own through several skirmishes with the ........more >
Hillsborough River State Park
Opened in 1938 as one of Floridas first state parks, this park is divided by the swiftly flowing Hillsborough River. Fort Foster, a replica of an 1837 fort from the Second Seminole War, is located on the park grounds, adjacent to the river. Fort tours are offered on weekends or with a reservation. The ........more >
Honeymoon Island State Park
The pioneers called it Hog Island, but it became Honeymoon Isle in 1939 when a New York developer built 50 palm - thatched bungalows for honeymooners. Today, visitors can drive across Dunedin Causeway to enjoy the sun - drenched Gulf beaches, mangrove swamps, and tidal flats. Nature lovers will find ........more >
Lake Manatee State Park
This park extends along three miles of the south shore of Lake Manatee, which serves as a water reservoir for Manatee and Sarasota counties. The rest of the park is primarily pine flatwoods and sand pine scrub with some depression marshes and hardwood forests. A boat ramp provides easy access to the ........more >
Little Manatee River State Park
The Little Manatee River begins in a swampy area near Fort Lonesome and flows almost 40 miles before emptying into Tampa Bay. The river has been designated an Outstanding Florida Water and is part of the Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. Visitors can fish along the banks of the river. Wildlife enthusiasts ........more >
Myakka River State Park
One of the oldest and largest state parks, Myakka protects one of the states most diverse natural areas. The Myakka River, designated as a Florida Wild and Scenic River, flows through 58 square miles of wetlands, prairies, hammocks, and pinelands. Visitors can enjoy wildlife viewing from a boardwalk ........more >
Oscar Scherer State Park
A large acreage of scrubby flatwoods makes this park one of the best places to see Florida scrub-jays, a threatened species found only in Florida. The park protects scrubby and pine flatwoods that were once widespread throughout Sarasota County. Fifteen miles of trails through these beautiful natural ........more >
Passage Key National Wildlife Refuge
One of the first national wildlife refuges, Passage Key National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1905. This 30-acre meandering barrier island was once a mangrove island with a fresh water lake but a hurricane in 1920 had destroyed most of the island. The island hosts the largest royal tern and sandwich ........more >
Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge
The Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge, was established in 1951 as a breeding ground for colonial bird species. Herons, cormorants, egrets, endangered brown pelicans and many more species use this quiet refuge for nesting. Tarpon key, one of the islands making-up the refuge, hosts the largest brown pelican ........more >
Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park
This park protects four miles of pristine coastline along the Gulf of Mexico in western Pasco County. The salt spring looks small, but it is an amazing 320 feet deep. Gray fox, gopher tortoises, alligators, and West Indian manatees call this park and its waters home. Birdwatchers can enjoy sighting ........more >
Withlacoochee State Forest
Withlacoochee State Forest is currently the third largest state forest in Florida and is divided into eight distinct tracts of land. Using sound ecosystem management, the Division of Forestry provides for multiple-use of the forest resources which includes timber management, wildlife management, ........more >
Ybor City Museum State Park
Don Vicente Martinez Ybor came to the frontier near Tampa and built a city that became the Cigar Capital of the World. From the opening of the first cigar factory in 1886 until the 1930s, Ybor City flourished. This urban park is dedicated to the preservation of Ybor City's unique cultural heritage. ........more >
Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park
This site was once part of a thriving sugar plantation owned by David Levy Yulee. Yulee was a member of the Territorial Legislative Council, and served in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate after Florida statehood. The park contains the remnants of the once-thriving 5,100-acre sugar plantation ........more >
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