Another great thing about the cooler winter months in Florida, besides seeing manatees, it's the perfect time to hit up some trails! I heard about this trail from my visit to Kyle's Bike Shop, located in Orlando. I decided to take advantage of a (*cue the song*) sunny and 75 Saturday and break out my beach cruiser for some ocean views.
Technically the Courtney Campbell Trail starts at Cypress Point Park off Cypress Street in Tampa, but I wanted to skip to the beach part, and I started at Ben T Davis Beach.
Check out these parking lot views!
There is plenty of parking, and you pay at one of the lot meters. I gave myself 5 hours for biking fun and it cost $9.00. This trail is completely unshaded, so suggest wearing longer layers and sunscreen up.
This trail is plenty wide but can be quite busy so make sure you bike safely and nicely. I loved seeing all the different people on the trail. People were walking their dogs, roller-skating, watching their kid try to figure out how to scooter, and even parking a chair right by the water.
And the views! I couldn't get over how stunning the water looked. Even though you are next to a busy road, you are so distracted by the ocean, palm trees, mangroves, and fresh Florida air, that you don't even notice.
This trail has a significant but gradual incline as you go over the bridge, reaching a height of 45 feet above the water!
Be sure to take a pit stop at the top and take in the view of both Tampa and Clearwater city skylines. And don't forget the fishermen below.
You will of course see some beautiful Florida birds on this trail. I made friends with a yellow-crowned night heron.
And before you know it, you are in Clearwater!
The trail, from my starting point, was about 9 miles one way.
There are two major beaches on each side of the causeway. Ben T Davis Beach, where I started, is on the Tampa side, and Courtney Campbell Causeway Beach is on the Clearwater side. Ben T Davis, has a larger parking area, with picnic tables and grills. It also had the only public restroom I saw on the trail, so keep that in mind when planning your adventure.
If you want a snack or drink after your ride, Whiskey Joe's Tampa is right next door to Ben T Davis.
*Note* if you are driving it is valet only, but it was super easy for me to park my bike at one of the bike racks.
I checked out their beach bar area. It is very casual with plenty of tables, both shaded and not shaded, scattered throughout the beach area, with water access. While the servers were polite, the service was not speedy. Plan on running on island time.
What I loved about this trail was how it perfectly encapsulates the Florida vibe. Every day is a perfect day for a little sun, sand, sea, and biking!
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