The drive in is half the experience, a mile-long causeway lined with cabbage palms, the bay shimmering on both sides. Paddle from the small inner lagoon out through the mangrove channels and you'll pop into a quiet Gulf cove with a white-sand beach most tourists never find. Locals know it as the best sunset spot in the Tarpon area. The shallows hold horseshoe crabs, which are not actually crabs but living fossils. Their lineage predates the dinosaurs by 200 million years. Their blue blood is harvested medically (released alive afterward) because it detects bacterial contamination in vaccines. Just don't pick them up by the tail; that's their backbone, not a handle. Ospreys nest in the trees year-round and dive for mullet right beside paddlers.
Where do I park, and is it free?
- Cost
- Current paddlecraft cost unknown
- Parking
- Unknown
- Restrooms
- Listed in the checked source (checked 2026-08-20)
- Dogs
- Leashed dogs welcome
The county lists a canoe and kayak launching area, six restrooms, and 7 a.m. to sunset hours. Beach parking is 6 dollars daily, but the official page does not state whether that fee applies at the paddle launch.
Access sources: pinellas.gov (checked August 20, 2026).
How clear is the water?
Cleanest when the tide is coming in: Gulf water flushes through past the causeway
What will I see?
- Ospreys, herons, horseshoe crabs in the shallows
- Manatees nose into the warmer mangrove pockets
What's the fishing like?
Trout and redfish on the flats, snook along the causeway; Spanish mackerel and ladyfish nearshore in the warm months.
How do I share the water here?
The shallows in here hold horseshoe crabs, which are living fossils, so if one is flipped over help it gently by both sides of the shell and never lift it by the tail. Ospreys nest along these channels year-round and manatees nose into the warmer mangrove pockets, so give nests a wide pass and keep clear of any animal you share the water with.
See how it scores before you drive out.
Check Fred Howard Park on the live map