Hidden gems: Nature preserves in East Lake-Orient Park

Discover the city's hidden treasures—remarkable spots that are relatively undiscovered but offer exceptional experiences. Our selection criteria? A rating of 4.5 or higher with fewer than 150 reviews. Explore these lesser-known yet outstanding places that promise a delightful visit in East Lake-Orient Park. This list contains 18 places from Nature preserve category.

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Heartwood Preserve image
1
Heartwood Preserve
Cemetery
5.00 (21 reviews) (~36.45 km from centre)
Cypress Creek Preserve image
2
Cypress Creek Preserve
Nature preserve
👍👍 Nice little tucked away spot. There are 2 entrances possibly 3. I saw one for collier pkwy on way out hiking(fence opening)but must be for neighborhood walkers bc its not marked from the road itself. There are 2 or 3 spots where it looks like you can turn into but has closed fences. Will see nex...
4.90 (25 reviews) (~33.35 km from centre)
Mangrove Shell Tree image
3
Mangrove Shell Tree
Nature preserve
👍👍 This is a unique and creative experience in nature that's small yet mighty. Getting here is going to be a workout! Here's what you need to know: 1. Wear your most comfortable flip flops and bring a pair of walking sneakers and socks (in case the flops wear you down) 2. Bring a fannypack/tote fi...
4.80 (88 reviews) (~44.38 km from centre)
Hillsborough River Rapids image
4
Hillsborough River Rapids
Nature preserve
4.80 (63 reviews) (~24 km from centre)
Alafia River Corridor Nature Preserve - North image
5
Alafia River Corridor Nature Preserve - North
Nature preserve
👍👍 This is my favorite place to hike in Lithia. You can also bike here. It has ten miles of trails and you can do a loop. The first part of the trail goes along a train track and is not shaded. The rest of the trail system is shaded. The place feels totally secluded, away from everything. If you want t...
4.80 (50 reviews) (~26.67 km from centre)
Cattsperr Hole image
6
Cattsperr Hole
Nature preserve
4.80 (5 reviews) (~49.31 km from centre)
Lower Green Swamp Preserve image
7
Lower Green Swamp Preserve
Nature preserve
4.70 (23 reviews) (~32.27 km from centre)
Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge image
8
Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge
Nature preserve
👍 For a kayak trip I started at Maximo park and paddled here. Bit tough due to wind that day, but nice views here. Shorter paddle would be to launch from the rest area parking lot.
4.70 (14 reviews) (~48.21 km from centre)
Coffee Pot Bayou bird preserve image
9
Coffee Pot Bayou bird preserve
Nature preserve
😐 This island smells really bad up close, but I'm not a bird so my opinion isn't really that important!
4.70 (13 reviews) (~32.16 km from centre)
Brooker Creek Headwaters Nature Preserve image
10
Brooker Creek Headwaters Nature Preserve
Nature preserve
👍👍 Honestly this place is PERFECT for what we use it for. The trails are secluded and private. There is some flooding at the entrance after heavy rain but once you get further in I haven’t encountered issues yet. Depending on time of year there can be a lot of mosquitoes so bring some bug repellent jus...
4.60 (108 reviews) (~24.67 km from centre)
Triple Creek Nature Preserve image
11
Triple Creek Nature Preserve
Nature preserve
👍👍 Great trail. Very wide, pretty exposed so bring water and sun protection.
4.60 (96 reviews) (~24.38 km from centre)
Possum Branch Preserve image
12
Possum Branch Preserve
Nature preserve
👍👍 Found this little place. literally 2 mi from my home. Never knew about it. What a beautiful little preserve here. I got here 10 minutes before sunset. The sun coming through the trees lit up all the foliage. Couple more weeks everything will be turning green again. In the winter is our Fall ll seas...
4.60 (34 reviews) (~33.37 km from centre)
Blackwater Creek Nature Preserve image
13
Blackwater Creek Nature Preserve
Nature preserve
👍👍 Love coming here to hike. Went just over 12 miles today. The whole time you can watch the skydivers from across route 39. Today I saw 3 deer, 2 turkeys, and a couple black snakes. Blackberries should be ready soon. You have to look for them, but they are out there. All the trails are nicely mowed di...
4.50 (132 reviews) (~27.27 km from centre)
McIntosh Preserve image
14
McIntosh Preserve
Nature preserve
👍👍 Hiked June 29, 2023. Trails well marked. From our hike, purple trail very limited shade. Green trail - some shade. East part of red trail - some shade (until the stretch that takes you back to the parking lot). Well maintained. Benches along the trails are awesome! Observation tower is the be...
4.50 (49 reviews) (~26.96 km from centre)
Alafia River Corridor Nature Preserve - South image
15
Alafia River Corridor Nature Preserve - South
Nature preserve
👍 There is no water, no toilets either but the trails are well marked and well maintained.
4.50 (43 reviews) (~28.87 km from centre)
Gladys Douglas Preserve image
16
Gladys Douglas Preserve
Nature preserve
👍👍 Beautiful place to enjoy nature. When I arrived there were 2 red shoulder hawks in a tree next to the parking lot. They flew away before I could get my camera ready. Still a work in progress but definitely a gem for Dunedin.
4.50 (39 reviews) (~37.62 km from centre)
Hammock Hall image
17
Hammock Hall
Nature preserve
4.50 (33 reviews) (~39.66 km from centre)
Starkey Wilderness Preserve image
18
Starkey Wilderness Preserve
Nature preserve
👍👍 One of the biggest parks around. Several types of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Not all who wander are lost.
4.50 (20 reviews) (~37.03 km from centre)
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