A Complete Guide for Hiking at Starkey Wilderness Park

Are you thinking about going hiking at Starkey Wilderness Park? You’re in the right place for more information. Keep reading for all the information to make your hiking trip to Starkey Wilderness Park the best it can be.

Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park is an 8,000 acre park which is part of the larger Starkey Wilderness Preserve. It features paved and unpaved hiking and biking trails, camping, equestrian trails, and birding opportunities.

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Located in the Tampa Bay area, one of Florida’s most densely populated regions, Starkey Wilderness Park serves to conserve critical lands and wetlands while offering local residents and visitors a place to get outdoors and enjoy nature.

Together with the Serenova Tract, more than 18,000 acres are conserved, keeping intact a critical water and wetlands environment that provides homes to wildlife and native plants, filters water to the aquifer providing water to the region’s human population, and brings freshwater to the coastal estuaries of this part of the Gulf of Mexico.

Hiking at Starkey Wilderness Park gives hikers a glimpse at all of these natural features or just some time on less-crowded trails.

• Distance: 2.0 to 13+ miles
• Elevation: negligible
• Difficulty: easy
• Duration: 1+ hours
• Trailhead address: 10500 Wilderness Park Blvd, New Port Richey, FL 34655
• Parking: lot available, free

Nature Trail

The Nature Trail is a 1.2 mile family-friendly unpaved trail. With a beginning terminus at the day use area of Starkey Wilderness Park, this trail gets a lot of use. It winds from the playground and picnic shelter area to the Pithlachascotee River. Along the way, the tree canopy keeps hikers shaded.

During the wet months (May or June through October), the trail can be muddy or wet so water shoes are recommended. Boardwalks span the wetter portions of the trail making it easier to use.

One of the goals of the Nature Trail was to educate users about local flora and fauna. Signs on wooden posts strategically placed along the trail impart bits of information in bite-sized chunks.

Hikers on this trail can expect to see a variety of ecosystems, particularly the pine flatwoods in the drier areas and the hydric hammock closer to the river. Dogs are welcome on the Nature Trail, as long as they stay on a leash.

Hiking at Starkey Wilderness Park – Loop Trails

The Loop Trails begin at the equestrian parking area/campgrounds and are as short as 1.8 miles and as long as 7.4 miles. Spurs and additional trails lead out from these giving hikers the ability to hike well over 15 or 20 miles. There are also backcountry and primitive camping sites along the extended loop. Some of these are also accessible from the paved bike trail.

Like other parts of Starkey Wilderness Park, the loops trails and other trails south of the paved bike trail are unpaved and pass through a variety of ecosystems, mostly pine flatwoods characterized by pine trees overhead and palmettos dominating the undergrowth. The trails also pass through sand hill prairies where wide expanses of exposed land show very sandy soil, wire grass, wildflowers, and smaller trees.

Oak canopies along parts of the trails provide respite from Florida’s sun. The trails wind beside and between some of the lakes in the preserve with a few of the spurs leading to the Pithlachascotee and Anclote Rivers though those are 10+ mile hikes with the exception of the Nature Trail.

Lake Loop

One of the two most popular hikes in Starkey Wilderness Park, the lake loop is also a designated birding trail and winds along the banks of two of the preserve’s lakes. Though the trail remains dry in most places, it can become muddy and wet on the easternmost part of the loop where it comes closest to the smaller lake. A bird blind overlooking the larger lake provides a place from which to observe the wildlife in the area, particularly early in the morning.

Short Loop

This loop is a four-mile hike and is one of the other most popular options. It begins and ends with the Lake Loop, though rather than looping back to the parking area, hikers can continue straight to add on the additional couple miles. 

Hiking at Starkey Wilderness Park – Paved Trail

The Paved Trail runs 13.1 miles out and back. The most popular trail at Starkey Wilderness Park, expect to encounter walkers, runners, and road cyclists on this trail. It connects to the 42-mile Suncoast Trail, providing an opportunity to enjoy an extended walk, run, or bike ride. Dogs on leashes are welcome.

Other Things to Do at Starkey Wilderness Park

If you’re hiking at Starkey Wilderness Park and have extra time to fill, there are several other things to do. The Preserve has an educational center though it was closed the day we visited. There are several picnic shelters which can be used for parties, meetings, or other get-togethers.

Camping is another popular thing to do at Starkey Wilderness Park. Options for camping include tent camping, cabins, primitive and backcountry camping, equestrian camping, and group camping.

The preserve also has more than 16 miles of mountain bike trails and more than 7 miles of equestrian trails. 

McNeil Homestead

In 1847 the newly formed state of Florida platted this part of what was then Hernando County. In 1882, the McNeil family purchased this tract of land and built their homestead here, the remains of which can still be seen near the campgrounds and beginning of the loop trails. An interpretive trail provides information about the ruins and pioneer life in this part of Florida in the 1880s. 

Fun Facts About Starkey Wilderness Park

• Starkey Wilderness Park is approximately 8,000 acres..
• More than 150 bird species have been identified at the preserve.
• Cattle ranching and timbering operations existed on this land from 1937 to the 1970s.
• Starkey Wilderness Park, Anclote River Ranch Tract, and Serenova Tract combined form Starkey Wilderness Preserve.
• Starkey Wilderness Preserve totals 18,000 acres.
• There is a combined 6,000 acres of wetlands in the preserve.
• Starkey Wilderness Park is owned by the Southwest Florida Water Management District but managed by Pasco County.

More Information for Hiking at Starkey Wilderness Park

If you plan to go hiking at Starkey Wilderness Park, plan your day according to the season. From October/November to March, the weather will generally be cooler and the humidity less stifling. In April and May, the heat ramps up but the ground remains drier. These are typically our drought months. From July to October, rains pour down nearly daily in the afternoon. The heat and humidity make hiking potentially dangerous, especially for anyone who is not accustomed to Florida’s heat and humidity. Additional general tips:

• Wear weatherproof shoes, especially in the summer when you might encounter water on the trails.
• Bring water on the trails with you. There are no drink stations on the trails. Bring more water than you think you’ll need, especially if it’s hot out.
• Wear a hat.
• Bring sunscreen and bug spray.
• Bring your camera or phone for pictures.
• Bring your phone for emergencies though cell signal might be spotty on the more remote trails.

FAQs About Starkey Wilderness Preserve

Closing: Hiking at Starkey Wilderness Preserve

Hiking at Starkey Wilderness Preserve is a great way to get outdoors, see different ecosystems common in this part of Florida, and even learn a little more about Florida’s history at the McNeil Homestead. After hiking this nature preserve, try hiking at Lake Dan Nature Preserve in Odessa or hiking at McKethan Lake in the Withlacoochee State Forest in Brooksville.

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Hiking Resources:

Hiking Boots: My go-to hiking boot is Merrell’s Waterproof Hiking Boot. It’s extremely comfortable, lightweight, and water-resistant – perfect for Florida!

Hiking Day Pack: This daypack from Waterfly has been the best addition to my outdoor gear this year. I often take my camera and phone as well as the water we have to have in Florida’s heat. This pack is lightweight and has tons of pockets for storing everything I need to take with me.

Swell Water Bottle: I most often take my Swell bottles with me because they keep water cold, a must for me when hiking in Florida’s heat.

Collapsible Water Bottle: This is a great water bottle to keep in a hiking pack and fill at home or keep in the car in case you forget your Swell bottle at home.

Walking Poles: Though Florida’s mostly flat, there are places and times when walking poles are useful. I love these for their durability and because they’re collapsible so are easy to carry and store.

Hotels: We use Booking.com for lodging when we’re ready to compare and book hotels.