11+ Amazing Reasons to Visit Crews Lake Wilderness Park

Crews Lake Wilderness Park is a 113-acre park in Spring Hill, Florida. As the name implies, the park is located on the shores of a lake and, across the lake, abuts Jumping Gully Preserve (not open to the public). Crews Lake features mostly pine flatwoods, an easy-to-traverse terrain, and a variety of activities for the entire family.

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I visited Crews Lake Wilderness Park one Saturday afternoon just after spending several hours at Nature Coast Botanical Gardens. To my surprise, a disc golf course spread through some of the park and was in use for a tournament. Families as well as groups of young adults stared intently at their phones or papers in hand, backpacks slung over shoulders, an occasional raised glance to look down a sandy trail.

I drove along winding roads and quickly gave up any notion of knowing where I was within the park. Instead, I found a shady spot for Scarlett to park in a lot near the lake and set off on foot in search of the pier.

1. The Pier at Crews Lake Wilderness Park

My first stop once out of the car? The pier slash boardwalk. Extending a couple hundred feet or so into the lake, the pier provides good opportunities for fishing, bird watching, and taking photos. It’s a quiet, peaceful spot, the silence punctuated by an occasional honk from a moor hen. I spent quite a long time photographing the water lilies. I found them particularly striking against the water’s darkness.

Besides the moor hen, a red-winged blackbird entertained me with its acrobatics. It jumped from lily pad to lily pad in search of food. From time to time, it hopped to a branch sticking out of the water then back to a lily pad. Both birds appeared to be eating the algae that grows along the flower stalks and bottom of the pads.

2. Nature Trails

After leaving the pier, I chose a trail through oak trees, careful to avoid places where the disc golfers played through. There are two nature trails at Crews Lake. The inner loop is 1.1 miles in length and sticks mostly to the pine flatwoods with it’s sandy soil. The outer loop is roughly 1.9 miles and winds from pines to oaks and back again. It connects many of the major areas in the park, such as the playgrounds, the train and cabins, and amphitheater. Do both loops for a nice little three mile hike.

3. Central Pasco & Gulf Railroad at Crews Lake Park

The CP&G Railroad operates a train around the park on the second Saturday of each month. The train is a 7 1/2 inch scale railroad which can be ridden. The trains railroad is modeled after the Orange Belt Railroad which operated in this area and even includes stops modeled after real stops on the Orange Belt, such as Trilby, Lacoochee, Macon and Lenard. Volunteers with the railroad have laid more than 14,000 feet of rail. The CP&G Railroad is also available for birthdays and operates on special holidays such as Christmas, Halloween, and Easter.

4. Native Plants and Butterfly Gardens

As a native plant enthusiast, I was thrilled to find a butterfly garden and native Florida plant area. Both areas are relatively small and devoid of plants, compared to others I’ve seen. However, the important thing is that the beginnings of each are here. The butterfly observation area includes plants such as native coffee and American beautyberry. Nearby, the Earth Pond shows how different wetlands plants might grow around a pond, such as grasses and lily pads. In the native plant area – which sounds strange as the entire park has native plants and trees – you’ll find bushes and trees native to this part of Florida. There are also trellises for vines as well as covered benches and a gazebo.

5. Playgrounds at Crews Lake Wilderness Park

There are three playgrounds at Crews Lake. One is located by the lake between two picnic pavilions and is suitable for kids of all ages. The other playgrounds are located by the open ball fields away from the lake. Here, there is a larger playground for older kids and a smaller playgrounds for younger kids. There is also a swing set.

6. Primitive Camping

If you love camping like we do, you might consider camping here. Primitive camping doesn’t bother us at all. We’ve been kayak camping on spoil islands without electricity, running water, or restrooms. While primitive camping, you have to bring everything you need in and take it all back out with you. Spending time with family without electronics brings everyone together and creates a wonderful bonding night or weekend that everyone will remember. Primitive camping also helps teach children how to do things without electronics or electricity.

7. Outdoor Amphitheater for Nature Studies

Between the lake and the inner playgrounds, a wooded path leads across a street and through the woods to the amphitheater. This circular area surrounded by trees sits in a natural depression. Wooden benches form a semi-circle around a wooden podium. Several trails lead in and out of the amphitheater. It’s the perfect place for a classroom for nature studies, perhaps for a nature or photography club, school field trips, or summer camps.

8. Have a Picnic or Family Gathering

Crews Lake Wilderness Park offers four shelters with tables and grills as well as two pavilions with tables, grills, and a fireplace/brick grill in each. Plus, there are picnic tables scattered around the park. For an informal family picnic, just grab a table, but if you have a large group, call Pasco County to reserve a shelter or pavilion. They are the perfect place to hold your gathering, grill hot dogs and hamburgers, and have plenty of space to explore and play.

9. Watch Wildlife at Crews Lake Park

I saw a ton of wildlife while at the park. One of the first I encountered were a family of sand hill cranes by the boat ramp. Of course, I parked and snapped a few photos. On the other side of the park beside the pier, I saw another family of cranes. Besides those birds, I also saw moor hens, red-winged blackbirds, and the normal minnows, lizards, and the like. I’m not sure what other wildlife might live at the park or in the lake. Alligators probably live in the lake as well as fish. Perhaps deer and the more common but equally elusive racoons, armadillos, bunnies, and possums.

10. Take Photos

As you’ve seen, taking photos sits high on my list of things to do, anywhere. Crews Lake makes taking photos so easy! Filled with natural beauty from the lake to the campground, it’s a great place to bring your camera and capture nature at its finest. My favorite subjects on this trip were the lily pads. They covered the lake with their simple, iconic white flowers.

11. Other Things to Do at Crews Lake Wilderness Park

There are many other things to do at this county park, such as:

• disc golf
• horseshoes
• canoeing or kayaking
• volleyball
• observation tower

Wrapping It Up: Crews Lake Wilderness Park

I only spent a couple of hours at Crews Lake Wilderness Park and plan to revisit it in the fall. Now that I know the layout of the park a little better and everything to do there (and that the nature trails loop around), I think I can enjoy my next visit much more. If you love parks as much as I do, check out nearby Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park or head to St. Petersburg to explore a zoo-turned-nature preserve at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve.