Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail

The Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail is often referred to just as the Pinellas Trail, and it's one of the most popular paths in Florida. You'll find portions of the trail from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs, and the Pinellas trail spans nearly 50 miles. This trail is part of a network of 1,600 trails in America that were built along former railway lines. Today, this multi-use trail is used by walkers, joggers, inline skaters, cyclists, and dog walkers, but pets must remain on a leash.

It would take nearly 24 hours to walk this trail end to end, so visitors can choose from several access points along the trail where they can then walk for as long as they'd like. Pinellas Trail is open during daylight hours, and there are several free parking spaces at the different access points along the path.

If you start your trek in St. Petersburg, you'll cross several pedestrian bridges where you'll get great views of urban landscapes. One of the most notable bridges is the 0.25-mile Cross Bayou Bridge, which crosses the beautiful Boca Ciega Bay.

As you continue north, you'll reach the towns of Largo, Clearwater, and Dunedin. There is plenty to see in each of these towns, but Dunedin is particularly special because you can take a two-block detour from the path to visit the Gulf of Mexico coastal area.

Along the trail, you'll see nine different sculptures, and each one pays tribute to the railroad history of the path, as well as the town that each sculpture marks. The Pinellas Trail has been open for more than 25 years, but as recently as 2017, it's undergone improvements and expansions, with more planned for the future.

You'll find waste disposal stations along the Pinellas Trail, but remember to bring doggie bags and drinking water for your visit to this lovely dog-friendly trail.