Indian Rocks Beach Nature Preserve Reviews

You might miss this park as it is just off Gulf Blvd, the entrance is actually off 191st Ave. Nice quiet place with ample parking, shelter and good restroom facilities. The elevated walkway leads all the way to the Intercoastal waterway. Total length about 0.15 miles, so it’s not a long trek. Great place to walk off that seafood dinner. Bring your bug spray just in case the little beasts are hungry.

My several experiences going to this beach the past week or so have been excellent. If you like shallow water that doesn't get deep too quickly, a beautiful water and soft sand, you'll love this beach. There were baby sea turtle eggs buried at the front of the beach so no one would touch them, I thought that was cool. My only issue is that there's only limited space since the beach isn't all so big. We never have a problem finding a spot but it is crowded and full of cool people between 12-5pm. Never seen any sharks or jellyfish. Only very few small fish that swim by from time to time. Seaweed isn't an issue in the water and waters still relatively murky when we went but a pretty emerald green color.

I enjoy nature walks and found this by one of my favorite beaches to visit. This park has a sectioned off area for dogs to play, restrooms and a community garden. The boardwalk trail is almost a mile through mangroves and leads to the intercostal waterway. Afterwards we had just a short trek across the street to the beach, to of course, walk along the alluring sand with waves brushing over our feet. We went three times while visiting Florida.

The beach access is very limited, since the parking is on small avenues off Gulf Boulevard. Sometimes you are lucky to find a parking spot and other times, it may take a while, but the search is worth the work.
The beach is south of Clearwater and Sand Key Park. I find the sand a bit coarser than Clearwater as it is full of shells, but still really nice. We go here because it is so quiet and not very many seagulls to pester you while having a lunch. (gulls are very aggressive at the busier beaches and will literally steal the food from your hand).
The strip of beach has a few hotels nearby, but most of the land is for residential homes set back from the beach. You can walk for miles on the beach. This area is not commercialized, so don't expect vendors, washrooms or umbrella/chair rentals. This is what we like about the beach.

This was my favorite stop of all the parks along Gulf Boulevard. I know a lot of you may disagree with that, but that is my opinion. It doesn't get the press of better known places to the north and south but I think it has more to offer. There is the bay of course but other scenery too along the accessible boardwalks and through the marsh. We only did a short segment as it was still unseasonably cold but quite a few people braved the brisk chill to enjoy the park. Take the time to stop instead of just cruising on by and you'll be glad you did. Also has restrooms.

ok, I am not really sure if this is the actual address of where we were to see the
BEAUTIFUL SUNSET, but, I can tell you this, it is across the street from GUPPYS Rest.. we were able to park in a public beach access lot.
we arrived while the sun was just beginning to descend. indeed, it was a BEAUTIFUL
sight.
and, when the sun finally "sinks" into the horizon, a GENTLEMAN PLAYS TAPS.
BEAUTIFUL, SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL.

A great place to take the dog to let the run off leash. I went right before the new grass was put in and after all the rain in July so my furry friend found a glorious mud puddle to play in. I always have towels in the car just for such an occasion. There are park benches and water fountains to keep you cool and shaded. A great plus to the IRB community.

We walked through the mangroves and saw a few snakes. Quiet walk but most of the walk looked exactly the same. It is still nice to get away from the buildings for a bit.

What a nice little park right in Indian Rocks! Dog park for the 4 leggers, play ground for the little 2 leggers. Nice boardwalk taking you to the intercoastal. Benches along the way, plus benches right by the water. Was disappointed to see all the trash people threw out along the way, when there's plenty of garbage cans along the boardwalk! Nice place to get away from the hustle/bustle! Restrooms & picnic tables also!

We were driving around house hunting and we came across this spot and decided to take some time off to relax. Great sand and water. Not crowded like Clearwater Beach, awesome local spot.. We'll come back when we move down for sure.. Almost didn't post,don't want to many people to know. Kidding

A lot of these reviews is not for the preserve. Theres no beach, even though its close to the beach. The preserve is a boardwalk through mangrove trees. You can see small crabs on the way, and we encountered a snake chilling.
This was our jogging trail, but we had to do a lot of dodging so we wouldn't step on the small crabs, so not really recommending that to someone else.

This park provides a beautiful walkway that takes you to the intercoastal. The views of nature, the tranquility of the beach and water is great for that time out on a hectic vacation.

The coastal town area is nice, not built up too much but enough where you get a lot of non-chain beach restaurants and shops. The parking is tough though during busier times! We lucked out but others had to wait around a bit and follow people heading back to their cars. It is also $2/hour. I read there are several parking areas but we hit the first one we saw which had a bathhouse and outdoor shower so I don't know if all the parking areas have that or not but that was convenient! The walk to the beach is short which is nice with a toddler and beach stuff in tow. It was crowded but it was also a spring break week so that was expected. The sand isn't that soft sugar sand like you see further south at Siesta Key but it was a bit courser with lots of broken shells at the shoreline. The water wasn't the aqua blue clear water at other beaches either and was a bit murky but not seaweed. But freaked me out a bit because there were stingrays swimming by at one point and they were hard to see. But I know at certain times of year this is common at all the gulf beaches and you have to do the "Stingray shuffle". The water was cold but not freezing. There weren't many seagulls which was nice cause at other beaches they can get very aggressive but here we ate our lunch no problem. So overall we like the area and it is a lot closer to where we live than some of the other beaches so we will be back but being honest here are nicer beaches not too much further from here with sugar sand and clear blue water. But they are also usually even much busier than this beach so it depends on what you are looking for!

One of our favorite spots.... such a wonderful little walk. So much to see in such a short distance. Rest Rooms, parking, dog park... all make it wonderful. Walking distance from many condos.

Nice walk through the area. A little shorter of a walk but nice. Great spots to sit and watch the birds.

I've been to Indian Rocks Beach twice during my various trips to Florida. It is a clean beach, perfect for friends, couples or families. It is never too crowded. Pretty much any beach you visit in this area of the gulf coast will have white sand and lots of shells. Some more than others.

We enjoyed walking the boardwalk through the preserve and learned from the informative signage. Nice to have such a pleasant place near where we stayed.

I'm not a beach person. However the water was clean, the sand is beautiful. The beach is not crazy crowded. For someone that doesn't like the beach. I had an awesome time.

The beach was kept extra clean, my family and I parked in the free parking on 11th street everyone was so nice and it was so relaxing. I would live there if I could who ever runs the beach is doing a fantastic job.

We enjoyed the short walk along a boardwalk through mangroves and other trees/plants. Boardwalk is well maintained... takes you out to open bay and circles back to starting point. The nature/botanical signage along walk were interesting.

Very easy & flat walk. Sign for the park was hard to see and we drove past it the first time. We did not see any wildlife till we got to the bay.

Escape the gym and enjoy your exercise in nature. Good place to view birds. Except on weekends, you will find parking pretty easily.

This is a nice little park for locals to take their dogs to use the leash-free area, but a permit is required. There is a boardwalk that goes all the way back to the intracoastal waterway through salt marsh wetlands. You may see a variety of birds and some fiddler crabs along the way. Other than that, not much to do at this park. But, the parking is free.

We visited the preserve in the morning and had a very pleasant walk - there is a flat boardwalk that runs a loop through the mangroves and has a beautiful view of the intracoastal waterway. The walk ends at the 10th Ave Park and Playground. Perfect for young kids to walk or ride in stroller. Great way to spend an hour!

The wooden boardwalk leads you through mangrove and all the way out to the intercoastal where you can sit on the bench (provided) and enjoy watching the boats cruise by. There are a few paths to choose and although they are marked it is unclear for a first time visitor it all trails lead out and back to the parking area....they do not as you can enter on 9th ave and also 10th ave, but they are close enough to walk back to the other parking area.

Took a short walk along the boardwalk and there were many pretty views. Nice to read the signs posted about birds, fish, plants as you walk along so you get to learn some info too. Park is very cute, safe - a great place to take kids. There is a paracourse with a few machines. Also a small kayak/canoe launch. Really nice and we enjoyed our hour there.

A local told us this beach was where "the locals go". We weren't locals, but figured if a local told us about it we'd better check it out!

Great place to hunt for shells! You have to go out a bit and dig with your feet/hands (bring your goggles!).

The boardwalk through the Indian Rocks Nature Preserve is easy and interesting. It is a level stroll though the mangroves. You are likely to see turtles, fish and numerous seabirds.

If you love nature more than people, this is the beach for you. Not a lot of people or water sport. Instead, soft beautiful white sand, clear blue water, and seashells spreading over the long long beach....the beach is a giant seashells wind chime.
Parking is easy, and there are restaurants and cafe < 3 minutes walk from the beach.

The lady in tourist information told us about this park. It is a nice place for a short walk and there are many turtles. Chatted to a guy at the center who recommended the Botanical gardens up the road, which were even better.

We discovered this on a bike ride, and enjoyed our walk out to the intercoastal on the provided boardwalk. Saw a snake enjoying a fish lunch, and shared the experience with some families and couples. Nice detour for a short visit.

A beautiful quiet beach when we visited and a fantastic place to watch an amazing sunset over the sea. Not to be missed

It was cold and windy the day we went there. We were looking for a place to walk that would be out of the wind. This place was perfect for that. Nice relaxing walk.

It rained all day but cleared by the time we finished having dinner across the street and so we took a walk. It's a lovely Beach and I can imagine on a sunny day a wonderful place to go swimming. Even right after the rain all day long the water was very warm.

Indian Rocks beach is so beautiful and clean! I would highly recommend it to anyone! Nice walkways to the beach.

Nice Nature Walk - Safe for Adults and Children - Free - I love Free - You will walk safely on wood walkway out to the Bay - lovely view

Sand Key Beach was excellent. Only $6 to park all day. Did a B and B with beach front access. Walked to the Kooky Coconut for ice cream every day and Cuban sandwiches. Also excellent. Don't miss Heritage Village. Check out the art museum here. Great free activities along with Indian Rocks Beach Nature Preserve. Also free. Short drive to the amazing Dali Museum. Go to the Florida Shell Shop. You won't be disappointed! Don't miss Yellow Banks Grove citrus shop for everything from fresh taffy to key lime pie,fresh juice, and produce. Including all varieties of honey,jam,jelly, and other condiments. And great soft serve fresh orange 🍊 ice cream.

Such a great little area full of crabs and birds. The wooden path is well maintained and the view on the water is beautiful. The kids enjoyed it greatly. I am so happy they didn't develop this little area.
As an aside..I do not recommend going into the restroom at the front of the park.

You can bring your dog and walk the front portion of the park, visit the dog park, and/or have a picnic. If you come without a pet, there's a playground, community garden, and nature path. You can also recycle newspapers, plastic, etc.. All in all, it's a friendly place to be!😎

Nice boardwalk which was good for handicapped. Convenient restrooms. Saw only a few lizards and a few fish jumping. The rest was mangroves.

Beautiful mangroves, easy to walk in a beautiful scenic area with free parking . Morning walks are recommended to see birds

Last year on our first IRB vacation, our 2 dogs enjoyed going to this dog park each day. Of course on this years' vacation, we had to make return visits.
They loved it! So did we. Friendly people and their dogs. They even improved it over last year.
All good!
Cheers! ----- Ken

Great brach, free parking! ! I repeat, FREE PARKING! Quiet, and great for small kids and families. There's a great ice cream shop that's won't too. There's only 2 restaurants so you may want to pack your lunch.

Very nice place to walk! There was a dog park for your 4 legged friends. A yoga class was going on while we were there. Just a pretty relaxing walk.

Nice private stroll in the evening or early morning. Enjoyed it greatly. Even has a dog park at the beginning of the trail. Plus a place for picnics.

This park is pretty cool. With two entrances, it is bigger than it seems. Nice stroll on boardwalks to view the intercoastal waterway. Signs give more info about wildlife on the way. Dog areas at both entrances, plus picnic areas and exercise equipment, pretty great!!

We stayed in a condo in Indian Rocks Beach and decided to visit this lovely nature preserve which was close to where we stayed. We were very surprised at how pleasant it was to walk around.

There are long boardwalks that meander throughout the Florida wetlands to view natural wildlife habitation. Calm and peaceful walks, listening to the sounds of nature was wonderful.

There was a good size dog park before you entered the boardwalk and restrooms. If you like to fish - there was a nice fishing pier as well. Bring your lunch and enjoy sitting at the lovely covered picnic Pavlovian. Want to learn about some of the wildlife and habitation in this area - well just stroll along the well maintained boardwalk you will find tidbits of interesting information posted throughout your walk. When you arrive at the observation deck - pause and take it all in. Its all free to the public - what a nice hidden find.

Water was clean but not stunning. Sand was white and soft but still very inconveniently littered with shells and rocks. Beautiful views though and in discreet location meaning no crowds and pollution.

Loved the trolley...totally recommend using it. Had some excellent restaurants. Not far from John's Pass!

We love all of the beautiful parks here in Pinellas County, we walk in so many and discovered this little gem one day when we decided to go somewhere different. It is so interesting to learn about what lives in these waters and the land we are so fortunate to live around and on. The boardwalk goes out to the Intercoastal Waterway and it's beautiful, and a good mile walk all the way around the whole Nature Preserve. One of our favorite places to walk, for sure!

Kids loved the turtle
Pond and feeding them! It was nice and quiet and a very nice walk. Playground is nice and big and keeps the kids busy!

It was a few blocks away from the cottage we rented, and the boardwalk was a shorter walk through the mangroves, and great views of the intercoastal waterway in that a area.

....bring ur girl and some champagne and watch the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico

Lots of shells but mostly beautiful cool white sand that runs forever....

$1.50 hr parking for this experience?!
Well worth the trip and nice locals propped up on beach chairs willing to offer the opinions on the local fare

We really enjoyed a casual stroll through the meandering boardwalk though the mangroves and bay. There is plenty of parking and clean restrooms.

Really nice boardwalk that takes you into intercoastal waterway. My only complaint is that there was a lot of garbage left in the park despite the numerous garbage cans located on the boardwalk. Disappointed that people would throw garbage into the the mangroves. These places need to be respected.

This is a small park with limited parking. We saw one night heron, an anole, and some pelicans across the bay. There are some great nature parks within ten minutes of here that we will continue to visit.

There weren't many animals or wildlife to see. The only animals I saw in 90 minutes were a lizard going back to my parked car and a squirrel running by my car. It was not my idea of a nature reserve. The walk around the raised wooden foot path was uneventful and very hot in the sun. The trees and bushes shielded any breeze until you got to the waters edge. I would not recommend this visit. I actually read some of the reviews and the higher star ones are very misleading.

You can relax here and its peaceful. Worth a quick visit and you can see turtles and some birds. Not a fancy place but you can relax there.

Experienced the most beautiful sunset at the beach. There aren't many places to see a good sunset in Florida. This has to be one of the best. Parking is difficult but if your lucky enough to find a spot you'll be rewarded.

We have been in Indian Rocks Beach for almost 2 months now and my husband has been taking our dog to the dog park almost every day. He has enjoyed meeting many of the locals who bring their dog there. It's a very friendly park. There has been only one experience with a dog who wasn't well behaved but the owner was great and took the dog out right away. The park is well maintained and has water fountains and a bathing section. There is a $45 cost for a yearly pass. The only thing that would make it better is if there were separate areas for small and big dogs.

Love this beach it was beautiful me and my husband picnic the people were polite, nice loved this beach cant wait to go back

Nice walk. Clean. Friendly people. Relaxing. Always stop here when we are in town.
After a nice walk to restaurants. Great place.

Took our pet a small shitzu to the doggie park and noticed this Nature Perserve area went over to the boardwalk and our dog couldn't go in to a boardwalk area for heaven sakes....... pets were not allow Nature Preserve....... is located in the dog park. I was disappointed with the signage as it was confusing as to whether our dog was welcome anywhere there as it said residents only???We only got as far as the sign but may visit againwe are again in Indian Rocks Beach. Obviously disappointed and at the time didn't want to walk 10 blocks to come back as it was very hot and humid....I wish IRB as much as I enjoy the beach would make their town more favorable to pets that is a peeve of mine not really pet friendly as pets aren't allowed on the beach. Most beaches in VA NC and SC Whats wrong with FL having a policy to at least have them on the beach after 5 or 6 in the evening.....After all many people who visit.........have pets.......We love them and want a friendly area for them.
The dog park is not marked well for tourists to take their pets and language makes it
impossible to know whether out pets are welcome after all who brings in the money for the locale........VISITORS!!!!!! and some have PETS I was told it is that way all the way down to Fort Desoto what a shame FL!

Traveled to Indian Rocks Beach in May 2017. The weather was perfect and the water was beautiful. The beach had lots of shells and I even was able to see a manatee swimming nearby eating seaweed. That was the highlight of my day! Highly recommend this area!

As we did last year, we spent a lovely 5 weeks at a cluster of apartments that's 1-1/2 blocks from the beach. So, an easy walk to nearby restaurants, and an easy drive across the local bridge to Largo and shopping. If only the weather had been more cooperative early on. Regardless, everything worked out well.

We took our granddaughter to Florida a week during Christams. This place had all kinds of birds and was just a nice outing

Park here for cheap parking. Beach is walking distance across the street! Very quiet and nice area. Awesome beach!

We didn't have much time, but what time we had was wonderful walking on the beach and splashing in the water.

We were staying in a vacation rental not far from Indian Rocks Beach Nature Preserve, so we decided to take a walk around it. It's a nice stroll around mangroves and a bit of the bay via a wooden deck/pathway. We saw several birds, a snake (on the ground below, not on the wooden pathway) and a bunch of crabs.
It's a great nature preserve for the locals - somewhere for them to take a nice stroll, but not necessarily something I'd drive a long way to visit. I'd also suggest wearing some bug spray as there were quite a few bugs around due to the standing water around the mangroves.

What a wonderful, almost magical little slice of nature. Take the winding path through the mangroves, with fish swimming under your feet and fiddler crabs scuttling to get out of your way. Enjoy the Great Blue Herons and Egrets. Stop and watch the Mullet fly out of the water in the intracoastal waterway.

Good place for a quiet walk. Parts can be shady and you don't really run into lots of people. If you make a wrong turn on the boardwalk you may come out in a different place but it is only a few blocks away. You can get to the intercoastal and enjoy the scenery.

Note--don't go around noon when it's about a million degrees like we did. It has a great boardwalk path and the kids liked stopping at the unique playground partway through the walk (full set of park exercise equipment). Cute dog park next to it too. The best part was stopping at the nearby Kooky Coconut afterward for ice cream.

This is a nice walk, very quiet and serene. You do see wild life. Saw many birds and fish. There is a bathroom and many places to sit and relax. Great way to get some exercise, and enjoy the outdoors.

This nature preserve was located right behind a house we rented for vacation. It was a beautiful walk through the preserve on the deck. We sat and watched the fish jumping up out of the water. It was a great relaxing experience.

Nice little boardwalk through mangroves. The nature center has children's playground, dog park, small fishing pier, informational signage, and boardwalks. Not a hugh place but I enjoyed it .

My family visited this beach 6 out of 7 days and loved every trip. It is not a busy beach and the water was clear. My family loved the non-commercial feel we got each time we went to the water!

Enjoyed the walk through the vegetation on the boardwalk. The signs helped explain what was there. Good way to take a break from the beach.

We were in Indian Rocks on a very windy, chilly weekend. We wanted to walk the beach but the wind was brutal. We escaped to the Nature Preserve and wow, it was an oasis!
The boardwalk trails are very well kept and shielded from the wind. You will see birds, mangroves and at the end a panoramic view of the intercoastal. Well worth a trip and if you have dogs and/or kids in tow its perfect. There a wonderful playground in the middle complete with workout equipment for adults and the dog park is exceptional.
You can't miss!

This place is a small but great little hidden gem. If you are looking for a good little pass time for an hr or 2 to kill then this is a must. They have a little sanctuary with birds of different kinds and they even have a little museum inside with some great volunteers to help answer questions for you. There is a play ground and some nature trails to top it all off. Fun little spot! Though they accept donations (encouraged) this little gem is free and open to the public.

What a great place! We were visiting family in the Lakeland area and the kids wanted to do a beach day, but given it was a holiday week, we didn't want to deal with the traffic at the more popular beaches. A review suggested Indian Rocks Beach and visiting the nature preserve - so glad we did! We spent 30 minutes walking the trail - the kids say crabs, snakes, titles, jelly fish and unique birds. Great little side trip - glad we did it.

Best part is the view from the bay.

To reach it, start near the restrooms and take ALL RIGHT TURNS on the boardwalk

On the walk back to the parking lot, I took the paths I had skipped on the walk to the bay

In mid April, I saw no wildlife other than lizards and tiny 1" fish in one of the mangroves

I was looking forward to a visit on the nature preserve, but when I was unable to take my dog, I was stopped right at the entrance!

Nice dog park - except for the stickie things that get all over the dog’s hair that come from a recent mowing - and not caring for this portion of the dog area. We went six times and despite keeping my dog out of that area, she got the stickies on her.

Nice Amenity for locals and visitors. Met both while there.

This is a well done nature trail all through the park that goes all the way to the intercoastal and back. I walk this trail every year when I return. Everyone I show this place to enjoys their self.

We only had about an hour to visit the beach but enjoyed our short time there. The water was very pretty and it wasn't insanely crowded even though we were there on a Sunday. Finding a parking spot proved to be a challenge, but we finally got one after driving around for 15-20 minutes. There were quite a few small shells if you're a beachcomber like me.

This park has a dog park and provides a few parking spaces. The highlight is the boardwalk that takes you along the inter-coastal waterway.

A wonderful beach on the gulf side of Florida. It's a very clean beach and I think less crowded than some of the other beaches. We did go during off season, but this beach was quieter than the other ones. There are some small restaurants around this beach, which is nice. It's a really cute area. You do have to pay to park, but cheaper than the bigger beaches, like Clearwater.

The Nature Preserve has a very good staff, it has a boardwalk through the mangroves. It is boarded by the Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf of Mexico, it has soft white sand beach, mangrove with swamp, wildlife, birds, snakes. Lots to do: miniture golf, alligator exhibit, water park, museum, seabird sanctuary, hotel w/restaurants.

Very nice boardwalk with interesting bends through the mangroves. Appreciated the facilities and good parking. Saw a snake, anole lizard and trail map was very helpful.

It was wonderful to see these animals cared for. The nature park is in good hands. I loved the walk ways. I think they are constructed out of recycled shredded rubber which is permeable, allowing for drainage during wet events without destruction. And it was very nice on which to walk!
Very relaxing and calming, walking through this sub tropical forest.

The nature preserve is a relaxing place to walk. There a different paths that lead to the bay. There is a dog park but it is closed for renovations right now.

We go here when we have time to kill before a flight. As a Biology teacher, I find it very interesting.

Went to Indian Rocks Beach this past weekend. I was a little unsure because the media keeps saying it’s nothing but dead fish and red tide is everywhere.. this is not true!! The picture was taken on Saturday October 6th, 2018. We had a small family gathering- the water was crystal clear, no dead fish at all, no bad smells- the beach has been beautified with dredging over the summer and now it is triple the width and there is nothing but white sand.. absolutely beautiful!! Such a shame, there are literally no tourists!! This is the beach communities livelihood (tourism)- I live in tampa so I don’t need to stay at the beach but checking out arbnb and other sites like it (including trip advisor) there are some great deals to be had! Come on Down the water and beach are gorgeous !!

This is an amazingly well kept and intricate boardwalk that can be completed in less than a half hour (if it is chilly) or more if you take time to enjoy the information panels. Great dog park attached to this with very friendly humans and dogs. Free.

Even though everybody told us to go to Clearwater beach we have decided to try something else this trip. So we discovered Indian Rocks Beach. And it is so much better than Clearwater - not overcrowded, plenty of parking, clean, quiet - in one word - LOVELY!

Indian Rocks Beach is our Favorite Local Beach ,we drive from Orlando Area to this spot a few times a year.Its quiet ,sand is great and less populated..

I stumbled upon this preserve while out walking one day. I brought my children back the next to check out the board walk and park. They loved it. There is also a beautiful community garden (to look at not eat at ;)) and a great dog park. A hidden gem in the city limits

We spent three weeks in Indian Rocks Beach in February of 2015 and our rental was located a very short walk from the Indian Rocks Beach Preserve. Since I am an avid walker, I visited the Preserve at least once a day. The boardwalk which runs through the Preserve weaves its way through the beautiful tropical trees and shrubs. The boardwalk also runs along the Inter-coastal for a short distance where ospreys, pelicans and other sea birds can be seen fishing for their dinners. This is a nice place for children because they can run along the boardwalk and also observe fish, crabs, birds and snails in the ponds from the boardwalk. There is also rest rooms available, which is nice. I highly recommend a visit to the Indian Rocks Beach Nature Preserve.

One of the best nature preserving ,here I come .best I ever seen , you must visit here relaxing and comfy

If you want a public beach with white sands and not crowded, Indian Rocks Beach is where you should go. There are many beach accesses, many have parking by them, not many parking spots. We just kept driving down Gulf until we f found one with a parking spot open. Bring your own chairs and umbrella.

The Park and Preserve runs almost the full width of the barrier island, stretching from Gulf Road all the way to the intercoastal. It begins with a park area - in particular a dog park. The boardwalk circles around through mangroves and waterways. There is a fishing dog over the bay. We saw many people using the boardwalk, both enjoying the walk and running. The back exit of the park opens to a beautiful playground with outdoor exercise equipment. We enjoyed our time there and got a little work out at the end

We stayed near the preserve and found it by accident while walking past. The preserve is small but has a beautiful boardwalk through the mangroves. Just right for a stroll in the early mornings, evening or on a cloudy day. The park area at the beginning of the preserve also has a very cute and well maintained dog park.

After finding parking ( the hardest part) the beach was great. It is not one that has a lot of shops or places to eat but if you are just wanting the beach I wouldn't hesitate to stop here! The current was very strong while we were there. It was difficult to stand in one place waist deep as an able bodied adult, just be careful with children

What a neat place to visit! There is so much wildlife and beauty here, it is a must see for everyone!!

Went fishing there right before sunset. Beach was extremely crowded but as soon as it set, they dispersed.Parking is extremely limited but the beach is absolutely gorgeous.Its super Clean and has an older crowd as opposed to somewhere like Clearwater Beach, there's nothing with the latter, just alot more of a party vibe instead of mellow family beachgoers.A restaurant nearby called Aqua Prime is a hidden gem, literally Ruth Chris steakhouse quality but alot less. They also serve prime meat, not like Outback or Longhorn.You cant really fish the beach area during the day with it being so crowded. I did catch a sting ray and sail catfish and plenty of bites. It's like once it got dark, the bite turned on. Used cut bait like squid and sardines, 30lb test with a steel leader and circle hooks. We walked about up to our waist in the water and whipped it out as far as we could, then retreat to more shallow water. Definitely could catch some fish here with the right conditions. Bring lightweight water shoes or sandals, bug spray, and a headlight. You'll thank me later..The only way to catch fish is to wet the line brother. Happy Fishing and be courteous of fishing trash..used line,hooks, bait containers.

I wanted to find a nice quiet beach to relax on and this was definitely perfect. There are several public places to park along the beach when you arrive in the town of Indian Rock. The sand is soft white with an array of shells along the shoreline. The sunset was stunning!

Metered parking is nice because you can pay by the hour. $1.25/hour. The machine that dispenses the parking ticket doesnt give change so bring what you need or use a credit or debit card.

The sand and water is clean. The beach is not too crowded, at least on the weekday that we were here.

The IRB nature reserve is a great amenity providing a boardwalk through mangrove to the bayside, with lots of opportunities to watch local wildlife. We found it a very enjoyable diversion from our walk along the beach and appreciated the bench seats on the boardwalk.

It's great that the City has preserved an area of natural vegetation instead of allowing every square foot to be developed.

The preserve is relatively compact and is a level walk – well worth a visit if you're in the area and are looking for some light exercise and interesting views.

We chose Indian Rocks Beach for our wedding ceremony because we wanted a sunset wedding away from touristy areas. This beach was perfect! Being more of a "locals" public beach we had an intimate beautiful ceremony. Clean beach and nice people!!

High tide was fun but where did the fiddler crabs go? Nice long boardwalk through a mangrove swamp abutting the intercoastal. Might get hot and buggy in the summer but nice in the spring.

So peaceful and a pleasant place to walk. Circular, so you can enter on one end which is a playground/park, and exit on the other end few blocks away with a full bathroom, water fountain and dog park. Great place to see ocean, and flara and fauna of the area. Walked often. Nirvana.

After visiting this area for years, we just discovered this Nature Preserve in Indian Rocks Beach. During our 1 week stay, we visited 4 days :) We enjoyed the walk along the boardwalks, seeing the lizards and cute fiddler crabs. At the end of the boardwalk, we were pleasantly surprised to find a small fishing pier right on the intercoastal waterway! We fished from this pier for a few nights and enjoyed catching Redfish! We also enjoyed watching the fish jump out of the water during sunset - lots of action from the fish and the Pelicans diving into the water. The kids loved playing at the small playground off 10th Avenue (right before the Nature Preserve). In order to access the pier easier, we parked at the playground and walked with our fishing gear to the pier. Just make sure you bring bug spray, in case there are bugs biting. It didn't bother me much, but bothered my husband and son a couple nights... the Off spray helped. We used bait shrimp we bought from the Publix frozen section and the fish really preferred the shrimp over the squid. Our kids are older (12 & 10), but they still enjoyed doing obstacle challenges at the playground. It's nice feeling like a local and just "chillin"

Its a nice place. a lot of pelicans and other birds. be careful where you stand. you might get dropped on I did. Went to the office to see if I got a prize but the lady in there had a small bird on her shoulder and was also pooped on. She thought it was funny. Felt sad for a lot of them they cant be let go. injuries

If you have the time, it's definitely worth a visit. It's very relaxing and I have always loved Indian Rocks Beach. We all enjoyed a relaxing and fun afternoon.

Small, but perfect for young children to experience a boardwalk. Peaceful, well maintained, saw snakes, several bird species, and dolphins.

This was a short walk from our rented beach house; the nature walk is in a park with a playground and dog park. We did not see much wildlife ( some white ibis and little fiddler crabs) but the walk was pleasant and at the end you are on the other side of the island on the intracoastal waterway ( not sure if that is what it is called ) --- it is a lovely view and there was a breeze there; the boardwalk was kind of hot so not sure how hot it would be on a typical july day... we visited in mid march.

A beautiful clean beach with a relaxed atmosphere. We got lucky yesterday and had the pleasure of watching the dolphins swim as we did last year. My favourite go to place in Florida

Slightly off the beaten path of Gulf Boulevard sits this little gem. Parking out front and a walk about and you get to see a lot. Take your camera because you never know what you might see. Great place to take the kids for a visit with nature!!!

The preserve is a pleasant walk. Not a hard walk, short. Takes you to the water, very nice. It’s also near some great restaurants.

I started walking through this nature preserve on a bright sunny morning but cut it short because the wooden bridges leading through the preserve area were in disrepair and a huge spider ( thought it looked like a tarantula!) stopped me in my tracks and I retreated. There is a dog park at this attraction and the "community garden" was nothing but rotting plants. Disappointed as there are not many attractions at this tourist town.

The Nature Preserve in Indian Rocks reminded me of the Indian Shores Nature Park (mangroves, boardwalks, scenic views of the bay and mansions on the other side of it), it was quite fascinating to see again how people of Florida care about preserving the beauty of nature.

Also quite spectacular was the Indian Rocks Beach itself - most memorable is their beach library (!), for me as a college professor it was very unexpected and thrilling - Indian Rocks rocks, as far as culture, as well!

And the beach itself is beautiful, with wide dunes and white sands.

A very nice stretch of beach. Great shelling. Soft sand. Wasn't overly crowded. People were friendly and having a nice day.

It was neat as far as a board walk and nature, but some of these reviews have to be for a different place. There's no beach. Just a walk on a boardwalk above a bog or whatever you call it. It was easy, quick, but not a trail that leads to a beach! (Sadly there was litter including stuff not for kids eyes. Bleck.)

This park has a super board walk down to the inter coastal. lots of opportunity to see local wildlife. you can follow the board walk to tenth street and find a playground for the kids and a workout area for the adults

Loved it. Had two people in wheelchairs and made it fine. Loved walking through the terrain. Enjoyed seeing the real FL. Lots of plants and beautiful trees. The path was spongy material and easy on your feet. Went out on all the water walk ways. There were several birds of prey in pens there. Very pretty and we saw a stray raccoon. Enjoyed just being in nature and seeing something different than out home state of TN.

We rode our bikes here. We walked through the mangroves and saw several birds. Fun to spend an hour or so. Nice dog park and restrooms.

I believe this was the park we stopped at to go to the beach.

We actually had been told that this was a nicer beach area then Clearwater but I would have to say NO.

There seemed to be more seaweed coming up in the water and the sand there was definitely not as smooth and clean as Clearwater Beach.

You also have to pay to park (about $2.50 for 2 hours).

It was nice to go there, but we liked Clearwater better.

We found this park on the map and decided to take a look. It was really nice with little crabs in the water, some birds and a beautiful little dock to look out over the waterway.

Indian Rocks Beach is quite a relaxing place; full of options for the family to have fun!

We enjoyed the white sands; walking up and down the shore!

Some recommendations:

- Public parking is available but you have to be patient to find a spot close to the beach.
- Public bathrooms are not the cleanest but they are available in a number of locations.
- If you are not ok about dealing with algae from the ocean, then this is not your place.
- Bring snack and take your trash; although they have some pretty big size bins, they are usually full.

I had a wonderful times walking around observing all the wonders of this beautiful place that God created. It was not a very busy place and where people were it was just very quite. You can go and just be carefree. I will definitely be returning when we come back.

A small nature boardwalk, easily wheelchair access. Very interesting sights of birds, both shore birds and birds fishing and otherwise enjoyable viewing from the boardwalk. Easy parking.

We just returned from a 2-week visit to IRB and rented bikes for the duration. Every day we would ride our bikes on the bike lane to the preserve and take a walk (about .5 miles total walk). It was a lovely walk giving us a chance to see crabs, snakes, fish, birds and so much more. Water and restrooms are also available.

Now, I know this is an Indian Rock Beach review but to appreciate this area, I must take you on our short journey of Clearwater Beach first.

We originally came to vacation at Clearwater beach ( My husband and two teenage boys ). We have read mixed reviews about this beach. We decided that we would give this area a try for our vacation. I will say that at this time of year, this little town is very busy! This beach may be different during non peak seasons. ?? This review is just my family's experience.

Our experience was as follows for Clearwater Beach:
Very very busy! Traffic everywhere, trash thrown all over the beach. Just on our short stroll on the Clearwater beach we encountered, jagged beer bottle caps, dirty socks drifting in and out of the waves, half eaten rotten chicken bones drifting in and out of the waves, several used condoms laying near the water in the sand. Young children were playing in the sand only feet away from the used condoms. Sad..... just sad.... There was a huge white garbage bag busted open with dirty diapers and styrofoam plates, pop cans were everywhere. Someone must have attempted to clean up their area and left the bag on the beach for someone else to throw it way. After seeing all of this, we packed up and left the beach area. This was not relaxing at all.

***** Disclaimer ***** PICK UP YOUR TRASH PEOPLE ! Other people are on vacation too. No one wants to pick up your trash. It's your trash, so be responsible and clean it up. Be respectful to others who want to visit the beach trash free!
Children play on the beach. It should be a place were they can play without parents having to worry about them picking up a used condom, don't you think?

We decided to drive down to a few other beaches like Indian Rock. We were so happy we did. This was the cutest little town with quaint eateries, fine dining, snack shacks, ice cream shops. Less hustle and bustle. It was clean and a more laid back atmosphere. Parking was easy to find. The beach... oh.... the beach.... clean, white powdery sand. Not crowded. No garbage thrown anywhere. We finally found it! This was our spot to come throughout our vacation.
We would come in the morning around 7AM for our morning strolls. We would find all kinds of large intact unbroken seashells. Then we would return around 7:30PM for our evening sunset stroll on the beach. Very nice and relaxing. The way a beach should be.
*** Parents, please be aware that there are no lifeguards on duty in this area like there was in Clearwater beach ***
Indian Rock saved our vacation. It is the beach for us when we return.

This is a hidden gem-nice walk-you can see many of the local wildlife. My daughter and I walked here every morning. They also have a very nice dog park here if you have your pooches along for vacation.

Indian Rocks Beach Natural Preserve Boardwalk is located between 9th/10th Ave. Beautiful views at the Bay.
Many different kinds of birds.
Nice place, very quiet.
Dogs place. Restrooms.
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This is a beautiful area filled with mangroves and a boardwalk overlooking the intercoastal waterway. Beautiful spot to watch the sunrise.

Beautiful white sand beaches and clear calm water. Perfect for a walk on the beach or a few hours lounging by the waves. Relax and enjoy!

Great for small kids and pets. The view of the river is amazing. You can be done n an hour or if you have a pet play in the doggy part.

Parking can be an issue but there are a couple of public access parking lots. Get there early. Also limited sand real estate but still worth visiting. Not the usual tourist beach. There is a bohemian feel to the area.

Spent an hour here walking along the path, looking at the bay. They have a nice dog park. Free parking.

This nature preserve has a boardwalk that goes through swampy/marshy brush/forest and eventually leads you to the intra-coastal waterway.

I saw some fish and one snake. It is a nice way to see the swampy/marshy area without getting your shoes dirty.

Not too exiting but I'm giving it four stars because it is free.

I visited here during the morning as a non-beach activity before it got too hot. Its a nice walk on boardwalks. There are tons of little lizards and crabs all over the boardwalks, little kids will probably love them. The view at the end of the boardwalks is nice. There is also a nice playground that the kids will enjoy.

Spent a couple of hours here and found it to be very clean and friendly.

Could use a little better signage in the preserve as signs are very small.

Signs could also tell more about what is there as there is not a lot to see!

The water side of the preserve is very nice to see with a great vista.

The day I visited this beach was beautiful. It did not have many people, the sand quite fine compared to other beaches of Eu. At the entrance where I entered I had a free bookseller that you could take a book and return it or take it and leave one, so it happened with toys in another space. It has a shower to remove sand. I recommend being careful with food and birds. They're coming at you.

we love to walk through this place. We have rbought field trip groups as well as are own children here several times and we will be back soon.

What a wonderful place to come for a walk among the mangroves and end up viewing the intercoastal waterway. Very peaceful, as the many small crabs on the seafloor don't make much noise or bother you :) Great place to read a book or daydream or even plan your day. Also, a fenced area for your dog is available for running and playing in a secure area.

It is nice. Hard to find a parking spot but easy access to beach area from parking lot. Small. Family friendly. Clean.

The wind blew like everything, but it was still a nice day at the beach. There are chair rentals, restrooms, and a place to shower off before getting back in your car. We saw a wedding at sunset. Not the best white sand, but its still the beach!

wonderful place to visit.. hard to find parking.. quiet town. clean, nature preserve,. walk or bike everywhere.. food, shops, no public bathrooms.

This is a very simple area to show you what the mangrove/swamp looks like. Parking is free and shaded and there is a shelter with a shower if you require one. Nothing special but interesting enough. Longer then expected as it weaves thru the swamp.
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It was frequented by locals, but they were all friendly and shared with us places to go. Our 90 pound lab just loved the dog park, especially since it already had tennis balls in it! We appreciated how clean it obviously had been kept by other dog owners and there was plenty of plastic bags and trash bins to encourage owners to keep it clean.

Lots of fun for the grandkids they can run and play. I know its a safe place for them to go. And I can take a little brake seatting down for a hour and watch them play.

This is a very small train that is easy to walk/jog in the morning. Takes you out to the inter-coastal and back. You can see som wildlfe/birds but not much. They do have a great dog park out front. Dogs are not allowed on the trail however. Neither are scooters if you are going with the little ones. I ended up carrying 2 for the entire walk!

Nice nature park then you can get to the beach by walking across gulf blvd to ninth Avenue beach entrance. They have bathrooms too.

Went for an early morning walk, went through the whole park, very nice lots of birds, crabs, and even saw manatees.will definitely return.

My husband and I were killing some time and thought we would check it out. Nice little waterfront park, mostly boardwalk. Nice for a relaxing stroll.

We had a very nice time. Super laid back and just right for our family. You are between St Pete and Clearwater. Lots od

The nature preserve is centrally located in IRB, has free parking, bathrooms, a dog park and a boardwalk to the Intracoastal. Additionally, the beach is a short walk away. While the park itself may not be a destination, it definitely is a good stop for a 30 minute to 1 hour excursion!

This park is tucked away among the busyness and traffic of Gulf Boulevard. At first look it seems like a small and simple park, but it is much more. It has a large dog park, multiple boardwalk trails where you can see local wildlife, a great playground for the kids right next to some amazing outdoor workout equipment so you can keep an eye on the kids while you work out, it has a community garden, picnic areas, shady trees, and restroom facilities.

We visited the dog park daily. One day it was closed due to pesticide spraying; which I appreciate their efforts to keep ticks and fleas at a minimal.
Good facilities there and a community garden.
No dogs allowed on the Preserve trail; so I did not venture on it.
Overall; nice park.

Disappointment about the beach is there are no dogs allowed. However, at least there was a nice dog park.

Love the nature preserve and the winding boardwalks among the mangroves. A little shadier than the beach. The Red Tide has been a real issue this year( we come every fall) but the town REALLY is diligent in keeping the beaches in pristine condition. Patrols, several times a day, clear away any dead fish they find plus huge motorised racks groom the newly restored beach. It took a big hit from the hurricane a year ago but they have brought in tons of sand to bring the beach back to it's full glory. Right after hurricane Michael this year the air quality was really bad from the Red Tide.. not smelly but extremely irritating causing one to cough after being exposed only for seconds. Just off the beach was no problem. Really sad all the media hype as in 3 weeks only 2 days we weren't able to spend time on the beach. But the nature walks, countless restaurants and shops kept us busy. Hats off to Indian Rocks Beach for restoring and preserving nature. They also have a great recycling centre near city hall.

My server, Janet,went out of her way went out of her way to make sure my food was exactly as I ordered it.The best:)

Wow. This place really is something else. What a gorgeous beach and powdery sand. I am a beach bum, mermaid to the core, and this place screamed heaven to me. Make the drive. You'll be happy you did!

Yet another lovely unspoilt area in the gulf coast don't expect to find lots of sun loungers on these beaches,or bars,it's just not that sort of place,it's in its natural state which we like.

wonderful indeed! one of the best beaches i have been to so far. very quiet and clean. area is safe but parking may not be found easily during summer; yet, it's definitely worth it!

Beautiful so beautiful maybe a Lil to much booze ingested prior but nonetheless beautiful. I adore IR beach.

My husband & I took a walk & came upon this preserve. We enjoyed walking through it and coming to take a quick rest by the inter coastal. Quiet place to walk.

Even though you pay to park here (by the hour), it was one of the most beautiful, quiet beaches I've ever visited. The beach was extremely clean, the pathways from the highway were well maintained, the parking area had benches to sit on after washing off, and it was peaceful and restful. Children, retirees, families, and singletons were all there, in an uncrowded spot of beauty.

This is a nice place to go and get away from the hustle and bustle for a little while.Beautiful foliage and scenery and plenty of wildlife. This would be a nice place for a park type day trip, such as a picnic or family outting. They are not pet friendly, as most parks in Florida, so leave fido at home.

The sand is white with lots of shells to collect. You have all the water sports, swimming, fishing. They have lots of water birds, some wildlife, good views.

This is such a hidden gem in IRB. A great way to wander through mangroves (without the associated muck on your boots), to see birds, or even to go for a run. It's a peaceful and well maintained little park that shows you other ecosystems beyond the beach. Very highly recommended.

I love this beach! It's so beautiful and peaceful. It's the perfect example of tranquility. I come here when ever I feel stress or sad and it relieves me. The beach is clean majority of the time, however there pointy shells which are on the shoreline. So watch where you step! The beach has restrooms and showers to clean off the sand before leaving.

Since we were staying pretty much across the street from here we decided one morning to check it out and it's Free to do so! It's not a strenuous walk so would be great for all ages and abilities, a flat boardwalk thru the mangroves to the intra-coastal waterway. We did see some wildlife, birds, fish, crabs, lizards....glad no snakes as others mentioned seeing some.....doesn't take alot of time so it's worth it to check out if in the area......

Fun to walk and few bird to see, make sure to visit in the morning when its not to hot and humid, total walk time is about 10 minutes.

Short walk through a salt marsh on a boardwalk. We saw blue crab, blue heron, lots of lizards and one very photogenic egret. My son loved it.

Nice, relaxing walk. You can see lots of crabs on the boardwalk and once you reach the water, there is a lot of birds to see. Very enjoyable.

This beach is south of clearwater beach and is free of the chaos, parking problems, etc. It has a pay(credit card) lot for parking but is limited in space. Turn over though is about every three hours. Washrooms, outside shower are available. You can walk for miles in either direction on this beach. There were some umbrellas, etc for rent.

Visited Indian Rocks Beach Nature Preserve today. Great dog park and playground area. The best part was the well kept boardwalk that winds around tidal waters and mangroves. Then opens up to the inter coastal waterway. Beautiful. Would recommend this park to everyone. And the best part it's all free.

Indian Rocks Beach Nature Preserve, during our day there in early March 2017, was quiet, not crowded and gorgeous. Pristine white sand beaches and loads of shells made for a fantastic day for my family, ages varying from 8 to 49! Make sure to check out Keegan;s Seafood Grill (sp?) while you're in the neighborhood.

Its always nice to see beach communities that preserve part of nature and not build condos . IRB has done a nice job here in maintaining this green space across from their excellent beach. It has a community garden area, a dog walk, two pavilions, a washroom building and a lengthy board walk thru the mangroves that ends with views of boca ciega bay/intercoastal water way!

This place is a hidden gem and worth the visit. The entry is free and the animals there are great. The preserve is shaded which makes it a nice spot to get off the beach and out of the sun. Don’t miss it if you are in the area. The volunteers were there to answer questions and make sure you don’t miss anything.

Vacationed across Gulf Blvd and unfortunately didn't notice the nature preserve until end of stay. What a great place to see the sun rise. The boardwalk is well-maintained through the mangrove swamp. It is a safe place to walk in the morning with several nature lovers all enjoying the park. The boardwalk is alive with little black crabs the skitter off as you approach. Would love to go back when the manatees are in the channel. There are several benches on the boardwalk for sitting and enjoying nature. Very relaxing and beautiful.

Just so peaceful and so beautiful. We stopped by on Saturday evening and we had it about to ourselfs.

We take our dogs there daily. The people are friendly and considerate. If you have a friendly dog this is a good place to bring him/her to run and play with other dogs.

We enjoyed it. Quiet and serene (and free), We only wish it was larger. We will be back, and recommend it to others.

The beach was quiet and lovely. Sand not as white as Clearwater. Was worth the trip but bring your own chairs and umbrella. The beach attendant was extremely rude and did not make us feel welcome. We will stay at Clearwater Beach where you are made feel welcome and the staff there is very friendly.

Lovely little spot, great elevated walkways out to the water, plenty of wildlife about to try and spot!

Don't miss the sign! If you are driving East from the beach on Walsingham you will need to turn left at the sign. If you pass the sprawling white (black shutter) Walsingham condominiums, you've gone too far.
This is a gem of a park! Walking/running trails, boardwalks through the mangroves, geckos everywhere, multiple turtles swimming, sunbathing, ducking underwater, and a selection of wild birds that have been rescued. Even the nature center building, though small, is packed. Two walls are lined with inexpensive (mostly children's) take home gifts. We are flying home so I chose two coloring books (related to nature) and a dinosaur and you put in water and it expands 600 times! Wow!
I swear the air in the park is so clean you can tell the difference. Maybe it is because the temperature is lower than the surrounding area with all of the trees. Either way, I love a walk through the park!

During the holiday season after Christmas one afternoon we got footballed out and decided to visit the Preserve which is literally next door to our townhouse complex. It was a great afternoon and the care takers have really done a great job in explaining via signs all the critters and flora that you see on the walk. It was exciting to actually see a fiddler crab and other little critters scurrying about. To our surprise, on the portion that juts out very close to the intercoastal there was a couple, both painting, and they were happy to talk about their art and their exhibitions. Parking and admission is free and if you can even inspect the community garden area where locals can grow what they like for a small fee. There are benchs placed at strategic points to rest those who are not up to a non-stop trek. Adults and kids will really enjoy the visit.

Like this beach since it is so close to where we stay. Restrooms are close and parking is available.

This town is quiet and quaint with beautiful beaches and nature trails. There’s not much going on, but that was exactly what I wanted for a few days!

Walking area, some posted signs of possible sites, its FREE! Its not very long mostly trees until you come to the water area, there is a small island to see from a distance, did see three Sheep Head Fish, but thats it.

Not a whole lot of people,very quiet,private and Awesome views. Lots of walking,lots of shade and plenty of picture opportunities . We parked and walked across to the beach as well.

Lots of nature and animals all over. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Beautiful place for a great nature walk !

This whole area is fairly dog unfriendly. No dogs allowed on beaches or any green space. The nature preserve has a small well kept dog park that is a lovely green oasis where your dog can be off leash and run free.

Quiet and secluded - nature in the middle of gulf boulevard. Interesting walk through pier path from street to water. Very serene.

A reasonable short walk on a well-kept boardwalk. We didn’t spot any wildlife (save 3 fish), but enjoyed the park.

If you're looking for a large park with lot of amenities, you'll need to keep looking. Here at the Nature Preserve you'll find elevated walkways through marsh areas. The walkways go back further than you would initially think and eventually lead to the water. You won't find anything like a playground, beach access, concessions, sports courts, etc. But that's not what this is. This is a nature preserve.

You'll also find a community garden which you don't see everyday. It's of average sized with plants in planters (as opposed to be planted right in the ground).

This makes for a good place to take a walk. Children would probably get bored quickly. Free parking.

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We stumbled onto this because we were looking for parking. Parking is free and there are public bathrooms. We ended up walking around and learned a few things about local wildlife.

This place is a giant bridge with nothing to see. The first moment of apprehension came when I saw that no one else was around. We walked around a windy bridge for 30 minutes with nothing else around but a few trees. The only animals we observed were a few tadpoles And a bird. I'm not sure if there was something awesome that we simply missed.

Beautiful little nugget in a populous area...an oasis from the beach. Dog walking park adjacent and a kiddie park. The boardwalk going through the mangroves was well maintained and there were stops along the way with environmental education signage. Only takes about an hour at most to complete. A good way to walk off your big breakfast from Crabby Bill’s!

Or are there 2. That was not the sign we saw. It is a nice walk among the mangroves on a walkway to the water. There is a dog park and bathrooms. Love to see the jumping fish. Good short stop

Husband and I were visiting the area on the way to visit friends. Since it was less than a half hour away from or hotel, we went to Indian Rocks beach early in the morning around sunrise to take a nice walk on the beach. I wanted to find shells. The walk was great, the waves calm and many others were also enjoying the beautiful views at that time of morning. As far as shells--well, we find much better shells down our way on Bonita Beach and Barefoot beach. Next time we'll go to St Pete's to check it out. I cannot comment on how the water sports are there since we were there to enjoy the view.

Always cool to walk the Beach and view the Gulf. Water is in the 90’s during the Summer so you won’t be chilled. Lots of wildlife and Beach art to see. A host of great restaurants to get a Beer, cocktails or fresh Seafood. Worth the trip and visit.

I went with a group of friends and my family. The ocean is speak less! !! No weaves and very clear...you can see your feet...beautiful!!! Easy to park...there is a public park all around e the beach walk is very close to the restaurants, farmacy..if you have a GPS, use this address:Gps... 401 Gulf Blvd
Indian Rocks Beach
Crabby Bill,s.. the parking is on the restaurant street..you need to bring all stuff. ..chairs, umbrella. .... they don't offer to rent...

This was a very nice surprise for us during our 10 day Christmas vacation at Indian Rocks Beach. Even our young dogs enjoyed it.
The Nature Trail is a nice walk. Saw some birds, nice close up views of the marsh, and pretty water view at the end.
The best was the dog park. It's well maintained, and it's nice talking the the locals on a daily basis. Nice people & pets. Our dogs just loved it!!!!!!!!
Thanks!
Cheers! ------ Ken

A short walk, but beautiful! The boardwalk meanders through the mangroves all around you and then at the end it opens up into the intercostal water with great views of the Indian Rocks area. There is opportunity to see some wildlife throughout the walk, which overall is only about 10 minutes in and out. The perfect addition to your morning walk or bike ride while on vacation.

We love to walk at the nature park. It's a half mile walk through mangroves surrounded by beautiful birds and water. We walk around the boardwalk about 4 times. It's so peaceful. Wish we had a park like this at home.

Free Parking, dog park, people rest rooms. If you find yourself in the area stop in and enjoy the board walk. This is truly a "locals" park that tourist are only recently beginning to enjoy. Each time I walk around on the board walk the vegetation is beautiful and signed. I would rate this a fun free excursion.

This is a great preserve- it offers a dog park, and a boardwalk that ends in a small playground for kids and a few exercise machines for adults! Not a long boardwalk which would be good if you have children.

AREA,,THE WHOLE COAST IS BUSY WITH SHOPS,,EATING OF ALL CHOICES POSSIBLE,, the water at these beaches are a nice emerald greenish tint that i really like,,,nice sand throughout the whole island,,,plenty of acsess points to enjoy i will come back to this area and do them again!!!!

A nice, easy walk through the mangroves, overlooking some tidepools and other native flora and ending up on the coastal waters. Plenty of little areas to sit and think and lots of informational stops along the way.

its a very quiet place for a walk orba bike ride. Few animals on sight. Very tidy and well maintained.

An elevated boardwalk winds its way through a mangrove wetlands for one half mile. Easy going, suitable for wheelchairs or other ambulatory aids, level for virtually the entire distance. Didn't find any mosquito issues, but insect repellent might come in handy during bug season. The walk is in full sun most of its length, sunscreen recommended. Cute pocket playground at one end, dog run near the parking lot. Peaceful refuge from busy beaches and tourist attractions.

Free is good. Nice nature walk on decking. Didn't see any wildlife except a few lizards. Nice view of the bay half way through. Nice little park for kids with exercise equipment for moms and dads. Also dog park.

This beach is very quiet and kind of secluded. There was a group doing yoga on the beach which was cool. There is very limited parking, but if you have a handicapped parking permit, you are able to park for free at this beach. There are no restaurants or places to get beverages so you must bring everything. The most amazing this is the amount is shells that cover the shoreline. It's crazy.

Just a quiet walk with seats to watch the world go by. Large restroom clean every time I have been there. We have gone every year for the last 8 years.

The park is relatively small but in very good repair and a nice place to walk and see some wildlife. The boardwalk has the potential for excellent bird watching. It is free to park and there are restrooms, picnic tables and a playground.

I have five children from 4~20 and we all enjoy walking the trail and playing at the park. Great place to explore and play!