Philippe Park
North coast launch
Philippe Park is a north-coast kayak and paddleboard launch, free to park.
This is a paddle for the story, not the clarity. Philippe Park sits on the east shore of Old Tampa Bay and contains a Tocobaga ceremonial mound, a 20-foot earthwork built by the indigenous people who lived here from around 900 to 1500 AD, before Spanish contact wiped them out. The mound is still there, walkable, with interpretive signs. The water itself is upper-bay tannic, stained brown by mangrove tannins like strong tea. Totally healthy, just not see-through. Giant live oaks dripping with Spanish moss line the shore, some of them several hundred years old. Manatees congregate in the warm-water pockets around Safety Harbor in winter; spotted eagle rays glide the shallows in summer. Pack a picnic, paddle for the history.
Where do I park, and is it free?
- Cost
- Free
- Parking
- Ample
Free parking, restrooms, shade, and a boat ramp in a large county park. The water is tannic (tea-brown from mangroves), which is natural, not dirty. Easy, low-key spot.
How clear is the water?
Upper-bay water is tannic (brown like tea) from mangroves. That's natural, not pollution. Paddle here for the giant oaks and the old Tocobaga mound, not the clarity
What will I see?
- Manatees congregate in Safety Harbor's warm pockets
- Spotted eagle rays in the shallows
What's the fishing like?
Snook, redfish, and trout along the shoreline; sheepshead around the seawall and structure. Tannic but fishy.
How do I share the water here?
Manatees gather in the warm pockets along this shore in winter and spotted eagle rays glide the shallows in summer, so move slow and keep your distance from both and never reach down to touch one. The Tocobaga ceremonial mound on the bank is a National Historic Landmark, so launch and land from the regular shoreline and leave the mound and its slope undisturbed.