Sawgrass Lake Park

The 400 acres of peaceful walks and exploration holds one of the largest maple swamps on the Gulf Coast, perfect for wildlife photos! There is also a natural hiking trail. Many areas wheelchair accessible. There's plenty of parking. Fishing is NOT ALLOWED. The observation tower offers a fantastic view of Pinellas county.

This is REALLY a great park and wildlife preservation with lots of information on the nearby animals in the area, indigenous animals of Florida! The boardwalks that are here provide ample spaces for walks into the park over the lakes and streams that are here, also we were able to see live alligators in there natural habitat only several feet from us. It's a great place for family outings or just to take a walk alone or for healthy afternoon exercise. There are plenty of benches set up around the park and trail to provide rest and relaxation if you just want to sit and take in nature that's all around you!

Beautiful housing area before getting to the park. Love the wooden nature trails that are shielded by the trees. We got to see a baby alligator among other things. The wind was blowing. I loved getting my steps in while being outside enjoying nature. The bathrooms and trails are well kept.

I got here late in the day but the place is beautiful. I would recommend anyone wanting to get out and walm on a trail or just a picnic with the family or friends.

Wow, nice park with great boardwalk trails. We saw Gators, turtles, fish, birds, lizards. Have free parking and nice restrooms. Picnic areas and lots of area to wander.

Visited 8/10/25 walked the trail some of which is closed due to hurricane 🌀 damage. Saw an alligator as well! Beautiful park 🌳🐿️🐾

This is probably the best and most well-maintained nature-centered boardwalk I've ever been on! It's so well-labeled to keep pedestrians on the right path, and I love that you can run/walk in so many loops (vs one way in/one way out) I made this a 3.2 mile run, but you can really make this as short or long as you'd like. I'll definitely be back for my regularly <5 mile runs Key words: running, walking, jog, jogging, stroll

Beautiful boardwalk. The restrooms are under repair so portables are available. Picnic shelters are spacious.

Sawgrass Lake Park is a great space to get out and walk around. We are always trying to find new places to walk with our pup. The park has plenty of areas to walk, public bathrooms and a few areas if you'd like to throw a party. There's also a long boardwalk to walk around the water. There's also a little double stair at the end where you can go to the second floor to see the water. Great park that I didn't think would be as big as it seemed for the area. It would also be the perfect location to take photos with lots of nice trees.

I really loved this park! It was clean and had quite a bit of activity from hikers and animal life. There were multiple paths to choose from, I loved the wooden paths the most and felt safest there. The lookout tower was awesome and allowed a bird eyes view of the park which I also loved. Plenty of beautiful flowers and much ferns tucked along the walkways and big and little alligators which were fun to see. I also saw quite a few turtles and some beautiful birds. The bathrooms were stocked and unlocked which was nice. I gave four stars because there were some shady characters in a few locations that made me feel uncomfortable as a solo hiker. A few of the trails lead you to the freeway which was very loud and took away from the charm of being in nature, but all in all it was beautiful and had many benches and resting spots throughout the park.

Such a peaceful place in the middle of a ciry... so exciting to go around the next corner to see what naturally appears. A great place if you need to clear your head to be surrounded by safe walkways and the natural beauties of florida. If you have time take s stroll and enjoy the nature if your really fortunate you will find a few gators on the banks.

We stumbled upon this hidden gem while visiting the Tampa area. It was a pretty walk through the swamp on a raised boardwalk. We got to see an alligator even though it was chilly.

Sawgrass Lake Park Trail review. It was a nice walk overall with a mix of boardwalk and trails with shade. There are shelters and benches along the way for those needing a rest. However, I just didn't enjoy the white noise of traffic rushing past on I-275 as much on the eastern leg. It took away from the nature walk seeing the stream of cars whizzing by. The Overlook Tower trail was quieter with a promontory over the lake. Relatively easy access but I think there are other nicer trails.

WOW. Super cute park. I was lucky to see one baby alligator. I enjoyed the boardwalk trails and there are benches to sit on also while walking these trails. I would deff come back again.

This park is not that bad. Pretty small. Only saw 1 baby alligator during our visit. There was also the loud banging sound going off the entire time we were there. Which bothered me a lot during our walk. Make sure to bring mosquito/bug spray!!

While we didn't take a ton of photos we really enjoyed Sawgrass Lake Park. It's well shaded and has a few walking paths: some longer than others. The overlook tower has a beautiful view and reminds us of some other local parks. If you're a turtle lover; this park is for you. Lots of tortoises and turtles throughout the park. Good amount of bird watching. Beware, lord of mosquitos, as expected. The park took us about two hours to walk all trials; so it's about medium sized if you choose to walk every path. If you want to walk less, you can easily finish one trail and head out. Great park!

Hidden gem in Saint Pete. Tucked away near 275, this deep wooded trail offers plenty of windy boardwalk trails, shelters, benches, wildlife and two story lookout tower. Great signage and layout. We were able to explore every trail and return to the car without backtracking. Felt like an escape from the city except for the portions closest to the highway. We saw tortoises and plenty of birds. Free to park and easy access to restrooms from the lot. Ideal for hiking enthusiasts.

Although somewhat small, the Park is very nice. Virtually every trail is a loop and they are well marked. The trails are well maintained and are accessible for all ages. There was a decent of wildlife. We did spy an alligator from one of the lookout areas. There also were a bunch of birds of different types, as well as turtles. There is a fair amount of shade for those hotter, sunnier days.

This is a nice little park with a boardwalk and some sandy paths. The trails are all marked well with named paths. The trees are beautiful and there were some nice flowering plants all around. We saw lots of birds, an alligator, and several turtles and fish. It only took us about an hour to walk the entire park. There are benches all around for you to rest and enjoy the scenery. So sad that people throw their trash into the water and woods.

Sawgrass lake is a park located in St Petersburg, FL. It is a great area for wildlife viewing! I have seen a variety of birds, turtles, fish, and even gators! I visit Sawgrass lake every time I am in town and after 25 years it never gets old.

A very nice park that has quite a lot of trails to walk through. There's an extensive boardwalk that goes through the forest. You can definitely get a good run in here but it's also excellent for a pleasant walk. Don't bring your dog though as they're not allowed on the boardwalk. On the trails there's a great view of a few small ponds and the surrounding foliage. All the trees provide a good amount of shade. At the end of one of the trails there's also a two story tower that overlooks a much bigger lake. We were able to see some fish and a turtle which was nice. We saw a fair amount of other humans but I wouldn't say it was overly crowded, especially for a Saturday afternoon. The boardwalk is showing a bit of age but still holds up. The park has a large amount of parking spots, so parking shouldn't be a problem. There's a few picnic benches that also have a checkers and connect 4 board attached. There's also a facility with bathrooms at the entrance. Overall a good park to stop by to if you're looking to get away from all the hustle and bustle of modern living.

Absolutely love sawgrass lake! The boardwalks are shaded and lead to an overlook of the lake or a dirt trail. So pretty and so much wildlife to see!

I'm making it a point to visit parks I've never known existed. So I spun Yelp and landed on Sawgrass lake park. I loaded up my rocks and headed out. The park is beautiful, it's hard to pinpoint my favorite "ecosystem" or area of it. Is it the Manicured area that you can picnic on or sit near the river and watch the water birds and dragon flies? Is it the boardwalk through the swamp during the golden hours that highlights the gossamer webs of spiders, capturing rays of sunlight making the depths of the swamp look magical. Maybe it's the Mangrove area with it's sandy walking path and stage area... It's got such diversity of areas. I love it all. Its certainly going to be a place I come back to.

We've been trying to hit different parks around Tampa Bay because there's more than just beaches! Especially with red tide abound, walking around this park was great without the stench of dead marine life. They have plenty of parking, clean bathrooms and the signage is easy to follow. All of the trails and boardwalks loop back to each other and are extremely easy to navigate. We saw baby gators, bunnies, gopher tortoises, large lubber grasshoppers as well as heron, gallinule, red bellied woodpeckers and ibis. Saw a ton of wildlife and if you know anything about plants, this ecosystem is a lot different than other parks nearby like Weedon Island. You'll see more cypress and oak and plants meant to attract butterflies, where as Weedon is mostly mangrove. Great park, easy trails. We did all of them for a total of about 3 miles. It's pretty busy so you should feel safe walking through the trails and on the boardwalk.

My goal is to find as many boardwalks as possible on the weekend - this really is the best social distancing activity in 2020 and I LOVE being in nature. The swamp is inhospitable, but the boardwalk that's been built makes it fun to explore it - definitely interesting and pretty! The weather has been amazing recently with low temps around 70s - great for a brisk walk! There's one trail that veers to the left and takes you to the overlook. We saw two different turtles - a softshell & a box turtle, so def. keep your eyes open in the murky waters. Also, they have an education center - great for kiddos! Best of all, I can't believe it's FREE! Parking is spacious & the park is open until sunset.

The trails here are gorgeous and worth the trip every time. I love to walk out here or just sit and enjoy the trails on a quilt. It's a great spot to stop and enjoy the tranquil views. It's also pretty vast! You can explore new trails every time! You'll even see a few pavilions here and there with stunning scenery. Great for a park trail date or just an afternoon with a book on a bench. There's something for everyone here.

Beautiful and serene natural park. Went here based on a recommendation and a guarantee that I would see gators. Plenty of parking and picnic areas. Almost the whole trail is a boardwalk so you are walking a little above nature. There are several lookout points to see the water and wildlife. There is also a 2 story tower to observe the lake, nature, and wildlife. Very beautiful and peaceful.

A beautiful park to see the Florida wildlife! The trail is a little under 2 miles so pretty doable for beginners ! The turtles, tortoises, armadillos, butterflies, fish, rabbits, and, of course, alligators are all over the place. Make sure if you want to do the trail that you don't bring food or pets as though are not permitted (re: alligator). I could sit here and just watch everything going on around me for hours.

Great park. It's a safe place to walk or park your car. It has clean bathrooms. If you are looking for a nice park to walk through then check this place out.

Very easy to walk park, lots to see! Keep a look out for alligators! Definitely a must to see at the end with the wooden building is pretty awesome sight to see

Great place for a family walk. We saw baby gators and lots of birds. The paths are well maintained and easy to walk on.

Sawgrass Lake Park is a beautiful preserve situated on Sawgrass Lake adjacent to a residential area in St. Petersburg. Sawgrass Lake Park affords you the opportunity to see native wildlife and plans in their natural environment/habitats...all for FREE! On any given trip there may be a plethora of wildlife you are able to view. There is an educational resource area which houses some taxidermy in a display box, a display of various types of bird eggs, as well as maps of the area and other information pertaining to the environment. There are also lavatory facilities housed here. There is an expanse of wooden boardwalk with a lookout or two which winds around to a two-story observation tower (there is also a diversion point which is marked that both ways, left and right, lead to the observation tower). You can take another trail which goes off into the brush (to the left) if you want a true trail experience and to get to an education pavilion however when we took that way on one occasion we felt the trail wasn't clearly marked and we had a bit of an issue returning to the beginning. There is also pavilion where you could have picnics or family or party gatherings. In addition, there is a paved section of road which can be used for running, biking, in line skating, etc. although I have not explored that area in depth. There are benches for taking in the sights/resting along this path also. It is a bit upsetting that dogs aren't allowed in most of the park area but I do understand that dogs on the premises cannot be kept safe from wildlife. Better safe than have an animal/pet incident I suppose. I did see a guy wielding a leashed cat last time I was here. Yes, you read that correctly. Whaaaa? On our trips here we have seen some great wildlife including an otter, moorhens, various other birds, a huge female alligator and about twenty five young alligators, herons just to name a few. I find this park to be peaceful and there are many great nature photo opportunities. Also, where else can you see an alligator chilling right beneath the boardwalk? My out-of-state guests certainly were impressed as was I. If you are a nature lover you should st least check this place out and see if you like it :)

Great place to get your steps in. Easy parking, clean, well-maintained, easy to read signage, and tons to see. Interacted with friendly people along the trails and even got to see my first alligator at the lookout tower, along with a snapping turtle, a regular(?) turtle, and a gopher tortoise burrow. Beautiful trees and foliage.

Great park to stroll by yourself or with the family. They have restrooms right when you park. 2 different trails and a tower to overlook a pond. Seen many wildlife animals including alligators, raccoons, birds, and nests. Picnic tables along the front with a couple kids games like checkers and connect 4. Hammock trail will take you on about a mile loop and it is a dirt trail. Maple trail is all along the wood boardwalk. It goes a long way on the trails but nice scenery. Benches periodically but not too often. No garbage cans anywhere along the trail. Water fountain at the front by the bathrooms only. Mostly shaded with a few parts in the sun. Beautiful park!

This free park is a real gem. We were on our way back to Tampa after a week in Florida and had some time to kill. After seeing the nice reviews we stopped here for an hour or so. Most of the paths are boardwalks which makes it a good way to spot wildlife. We saw a few gators, many birds, two armadillos, and a gopher tortoise! Pretty cool. The dirt path in the back section was not as nice and a bit confusing - I'd stick to the boardwalks. Worth a detour!

This park is 5 stars for humans. However, it is two stars for dogs. While there is still a long stretch along the parking areas/ roads that you can walk your dogs, most of the park is not dog friendly. The majority of Sawgrass consist of boardwalks and dogs are not allowed. We carried our dog out pretty far to see what was out there and hoping it would end at a grass area. Nope. For humans, it is awesome. A lot of walking and things to look at. We saw ducks, tons of turtles and alligators. There were baby ducklings and gators. The boardwalks are pretty cool and there are lookout towers. I was able to take a lot of beautiful photos. I enjoy this park, but I will have to leave my pup at home next time. 95% of the time if I am going to the park, so is he. For that reason, I don't know when I will be back.

A nice little park for walkers but not for anyone with a pet, a bike, or a short attention span. This review is more from a pet owner's perspective. Pets are not allowed on the boardwalk which Makes up about half of the walking area of the park. Pets and their owners are left with half a mile of dirt trail that only goes part way around a lake. So we spent about 20 minutes here and were done. For those without pets or bikes, this park provides some nice shady areas to walk. The facilities are clean. There's no park fee. You can still hear noise from the cars along the highway while in the park, so you don't quite feel like you're 'getting away.'

Best thing about Sawgrass Lake Park? It is freeeeeeeeeeeee !!! Also, it is right in the middle of the city* so there is cell phone reception. Every time I visit, I always see; baby alligators sunning on the banks, one big momma alligator, birds, and a crazy armadillo that does not know the difference between day and night. There are large shaded boardwalks as well as actual ground trails to walk, with many benches to stop and take a rest along the way and enjoy the views. Just walking around, you can get 3-5 miles of exercise. Love that most of the park is under a canopy, so no worries about sunburn or heat stroke. You will see many local photographers here pointing their cameras all over the place. Especially around the two story deck/building structure on the NW side of the park. There is always plenty of parking and different picnic areas to relax. My favorite area of the park is the eastern boardwalk portion, where all of the cypress marsh is covered in a mint green layer of algae on top. It feels like a fairy wonderland. * Well, between St Petersburg and Pinellas Park.

This is one of my all-time favorite parks! It is so peaceful and shady. The crowd level is usually pretty low and it's the perfect place to relax and take a walk.

Perfect park to get those steps! I went when it was drizzling so it is slippery if you jog or run. Multiple lakes, really nice, quiet, and relaxing place. So far the best park that I have seen since I moved a month ago!

I came here after dinner one night for an enjoyable nature walk and to take in the beautiful Florida sunset. I was between 4 or 5 stars because how can you complain about a free activity? I had a ton of fun trying to spot gator and turtles. I only saw one baby gator under the first bridge and was a little disappointed. We returned because my brother told us about a huge alligator that was staying near the same spot. We figured she was guarding her eggs. When we got there- that specific section of the trail was sectioned off. We were a little disappointed. We saw plenty of turtles and birds. I want to go back soon so that I can try and spot more alligators! The park is dog friendly, but you cannot take pets on the boardwalk.

Passed by, new to living in the area and went exploring stumbled upon this park. It wasn't too busy, it was neatly kept up. Very cute and clean.

This is a really cool park to wander around!! SUPER torn on 3 or 4 stars for this park... I can't stand that they don't allow dogs as 80% of my reasoning for going on long walks is exercise for my pup... The first time we visited we had my dog with us, so we could only walk along the parking lot area which was cool, but very limited. If I didn't have a dog then I would do 4 stars! Second visit was without my dog so we could go explore more! The boardwalks are so beautiful!! The Spanish moss, ferns, and winding boardwalks through the green was so magical!! There are little huts/seating areas throughout the preserve that are nice to stop and sit and enjoy the surroundings! This was also the first time I got to see an alligator!! We saw a younger/smaller one swimming under the boardwalk and then a HUGE one with a bunch of babies over by the lake/overlook area!! It was pretty cool and also kinda scary... don't want to run into that big one in a dark alley... haha The turtles all over are really cute and the educational building has some great info (though there was an interesting lookin' fella sleeping in there when we visited so we skipped most of it). There is a nice mix of both sun and shaded areas which makes the experience enjoyable along the boardwalks. If you venture along the "dog-friendly" area by the entrance you'll notice the freeway gets fairly noisy and is harder to enjoy the park. BEWARE OF BUGS!!! The trees insulate the area from wind and there's a lot of standing water throughout so the bugs were out IN MASS both visits so I wore long pants and put on plenty of bug spray! There's also plenty of parking (even when there is an RV blocking 7 parking spots...)

Sawgrass Lake Park, you have a special place in my heart. This mile+ boardwalk park is constructed of wood and allows you to easily stroll through while viewing beautiful wildlife including, but not limited to: alligators, egrets, Spanish moss, lizards, curlews, and much more! Admission is free and the area is very stroller friendly as far as boardwalks go. However, dogs are not allowed unfortunately on the boardwalk, and understandably so since the gators swim up so close ! Breathtaking views and definitely take your family here

Gorgeous trails, tons of beautiful foliage, spotted tons of different wildlife, has shorter and longer trails, plenty of tree cover for shade and benches with shade as well. Beautiful areas for picnics, and lots of educational material near the entrance.

Beautiful oak canopy shades your drive into park. Free entry, ample parking, restrooms. Bring your mosquito repellant especially if you take the sandy, off boards hammock trail. Easy stroll or leisurely run on raised boardwalk where you can see lots of flora (oaks, magnolia, ferns, moss, etc) and fauna (armadillo, gator, fish, birds, turtles, tortoise and more). You can bike off trail, but not on boardwalks. Small display and education case near restrooms. Picnic pavilions. Mostly shaded. Lookout towers, too. Pretty and enjoyable for all ages. Benches and shaded areas for relaxing and people/nature watching. Dogs allowed, but not on boardwalks. Great place to bring the kids to find, hide and re-hide St Pete rocks!

If you are in the St. Petersburg area, this is a very cool park to go to. Unfortunately, I did not get to see a lot of animals but I saw different types of birds. I saw a lot of people taking pictures of the birds and the park surroundings as well. I am giving this park a 4 out of 5 stars: +2 stars - chill park vibe. You can walk, people watch, unwind and run around this park. Just keep walking around and you'll see a sign that says watch tower. Definitely go there! It's nice and and cool especially if there is breeze coming in. +2 stars - no parking fee and lots of room for parking. I am not -1 star - for not cleaning it. I saw a lot of garbage so this park needs more cleaning. Overall, it's a nice park within the city of St. Petersburg and I'd still come to this park.

Sawgrass Lake Park is a 333 acre park in Pinellas County. There is plenty to do here; there is a road for in-line skating and biking, and several boardwalks, in addition to nature trails, picnic tables, and shelters, so you could have a picnic and take a walk afterwards, or have a birthday party here as well. There are plenty of photo opportunities, including alligators, birds, squirrels, and by the way, don't get scared if you hear a bustle coming from the bushes. It is not Bigfoot, but if you're brave enough to stick around, you may find yourself face to face with a busy armadillo foraging for food! My friend almost clung to me out of fear that an alligator or a poisonous snake was lurking and ready to attack. I guess you could say he was quite relieved to see it was in fact a cute armadillo making all that noise. I was able to get some spectacular dragonfly pictures here, as I saw some huge, vibrant Scarlet Skimmers, as well as a powdery blue Eastern Pondhawk. I had never seen such photogenic, large dragonflies, as they're usually quite skittish. You will enjoy the maple swamps, tree canopies, and believe it or not, the mosquito activity is quite low (at least compared to the vampiric mosquitoes you come across in Miami). Speaking of maple swamps, this is one of the largest ones on the Gulf Coast, so keep that in mind as you walk through, and enjoy the scenery. Sawgrass Lake Park is mentioned by the Great Florida Birding Trail and the National Audubon Society as one of the premier birding sites in Florida, so you'd be wise in deciding to bring your camera. Although there are plenty of signs throughout the park that state "do not feed squirrels," it seems people either don't care enough to follow the rules, or simply cannot read. We observed a woman that pulled out a lot of food for the squirrels, as well as the alligators. She kept following me and my friend around the park, at times speaking to herself, and I believe I may have passively-aggressively made a comment to my friend about how people cannot read signs, but it was lost on her. To make matters worse, she said she comes here and feeds them "all the time." While we enjoyed the sight of the baby alligators, we all know what happens when you start feeding alligators -- it's only a matter of time before they lose their fear of humans. Luckily, they're in the swamp below you as you walk around on a boardwalk, but you never know if they might venture out into the dirt trail. There is also an overlook tower that provides panoramic views of the lake, an opportunity to watch a beautiful sunset, and just a way to rest your legs. This is usually a hot spot for many wading birds to rest for the evening, so again, have your camera ready! As my friend and I were driving away, we encountered a turtle on the road, with white swastikas painted all over its shell. The poor turtle cringed when we approached, and I grabbed it and put it on the other side of the path, so no one would run it over. I could hear it breathing deeply and it made me wonder how long this poor animal was held against its will so someone could deface it for fun. To say I was upset was an understatement. Why can't idiots like this draw swastikas on their face so we can see who they are, instead of picking on an innocent animal? Not funny. Please respect the wildlife.

This is right near my house. Most people don't think to stop by. There is plenty of trees and my go to place to walk my dogs. I have seen lots of photography being done out here. If you are lucky, you will see the really big alligator.

This park is a sanctuary. Easy escape close to st Pete. Lovely trails and nature to explore!

I stopped here to enjoy my coffee and breakfast bagel in a peaceful setting prior to the start of a busy day after driving a few hours from the east coast. I was very surprised to find such an expansive green space filled with aquatic plants and wildlife in the midst of the city, although I shouldn't be since this is one of the many benefits of living here in beautiful Florida. After finishing my breakfast I found I still had time to do a little exploring and took a long walk around the park. This is a beautifully managed park and it's apparent that a lot of the locals take full advantage of this, there were numerous people taking their early morning stroll on the well manicured trails and wooden boardwalk.

I love this place. There's about 1.5 half of hiking on the boardwalk, and the rest is on a dirt path. There is so much to see! When I was there yesterday, I saw a gator, some awesome birds, a raccoon, AND AN ARMADILLO. It is truly serene here, and the lookout point is beautiful. This is an easy family friendly hike.

This place is flat out awesome! I could come here everyday. It has over a mile of walking bridges through the woods as well as lookout areas that you can stop and relax. Ive been living down the street from this place for awhile now and cant believe I just found it. The wildlife scene is fantastic. You will see Gators almost everyday as well as armadillos and a ton of cool birds. There are a number of other paths to ride your buke or take a run. You are not allowed to bring your dogs on the walking bridges so be aware of that. Plenty of lakes in the area as well that are super relaxing. If your in town and want to see some cool wildlife stop here. If you live here then just enjoy the perks of the Florida life!

4 Stars for the location and size- It's kind of sad that I've lived in Pinellas for 25 years and have never been to this park because it's gigantic and beautiful. Long wooden boardwalks, tree-lined paths, and waterways are just a few unique aspects of the park which, is situated right in the heart of bustling Pinellas/Park and the Interstate. In fact, you can see the cars zipping by as you walk along the most eastern path in the park. Of course, I visited in February when the trees have dropped a lot of leaves so I doubt you would see the interstate in the summer time. Wildlife - there are many gators/crocs, armadillos, birds, snakes, and they are used to seeing people so they aren't shy. Also, I am sure there are ALOT of mosquitoes in the warmer months so I suggest going in the winter. Great place to bring your lunch and sit at one of the pavilions.

This is a hidden park but it's beautiful. The walking trail is too beautiful we literally stop every few steps to take pictures. There's a picnic area for family or large group bbq. It's on a first come first serve only. Plenty of parking and again so many to look at.

Splendor in the Sawgrass - Lake Park! A piece of natural Florida that is close to the highway and free to the public, why wouldn't you go?! Pull into parking lot and find ample parking, clean bathrooms and picnic areas. I would suggest using the bathroom when you arrive, it is convenient to the parking lot only. There is a mile-long wooden overpass to take you over the wetlands to where you should be able to see an alligator or two like we did. It depends on the season. We happen to see a 7 foot momma gator and her babies. The babies were hand-size to about 2 1/2 feet. There were, we think, about 22 of them. Breeding season, from a sign we saw said June. We found out later by reading, "Courtship typically is in April, followed by mating in May and June, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. There's more. "Females then seek out appropriate nesting habitats in which to build their nests and lay their eggs," says Kent Vliet, an alligator expert at the University of Florida." With over 300 acres you can normally you can see snakes, turtles, butterflies, ladybugs and birds. It is pretty quiet once you get there, just off of I-275 South. It is a bit of "real" Florida. It is free. One of the paths we walked along had old wooden birdhouses, nice to take photos of. Also nice to take a longer walk in the woods and be almost by ourselves. Everyone seems to stay on the wooden overpass (by the gators). You can even take a stroller, if you wanted, the dirt path was pretty well maintained. Dogs are allowed everywhere, except on the wooden overpass (I am assuming because of the gators). Enjoy! https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g34607-d1100074-r462983478-Sawgrass_Lake_Park-St_Petersburg_Florida.html#

Loveeee this park! It was gorgeous and the shade coverage is great. It was perfect for what I was looking for and another park I didn't even think to stop at. It's beautiful.