Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail

One of Florida's most popular and unique urban pathways, the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail curves northwest from St. Petersburg and the stretches to form a rough "C" shape before ending in Tarpon Springs for a total of 46 miles.

About the Route

The ADA-compliant Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail is paved, smooth and varies from 12-to-15 feet wide depending on the section of trail.

Opened in 1996, the Pinellas Trail connects some of the most highly urbanized areas of the county with parks, scenic coastal areas, and residential neighborhoods, making it an important facility for both transportation and health on Florida’s west coast. The pathway is named after Fred Marquis, a former Pinellas County administrator whose efforts supported its early development.

In 2007, the Pinellas Trail was inducted into the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame and its importance and impact continue to grow as it is not only part of the 75-mile loop project, but also plays a role in the Florida Coast-To-Coast Trail, a developing 250-mile route across the state from the Gulf of Mexico on its west side to the Atlantic Ocean on its east end.

The northern end of the trail starts at the Pasco County Line, just west of Bellamare Trail and heads south.

At E. Lake Road S., the trail splits. One branch turns south, paralleling East Lake Road South for 4.3 miles to John Chesnut Sr. Park, where there are nature trails and a lookout tower offering views over Lake Tarpon. The other continues west towards Tarpon Springs.

In the quiet township of Palm Harbor pause on the Bayshore Boulevard pedestrian bridge at Mile Marker 29 for more Gulf scenery. From Tarpon Springs' quaint business district, the trail continues under US 19 to Keystone Road (CR 582) at Melon Street. From there, it follows Keystone Road east.

Farther south lie the towns of Largo, Clearwater and Dunedin. In downtown Clearwater, the trail merges with wide sidewalks and a newly resurfaced bicycle boulevard. Use caution through here because the trail crosses roads with heavy traffic. Dunedin offers a particularly pleasant scene, with shops, restaurants, public restrooms and parking. The Gulf of Mexico is just two blocks away, worth the brief detour for lovely coastal scenery.

The southernmost 15 miles of the Pinellas Trail, which conclude in St. Petersburg, includes crossings of dozens of pedestrian bridges with sweeping views of the urban landscape. The most scenic of these is the 0.25-mile Cross Bayou Bridge, which spans Boca Ciega Bay.