The Skyway Trail is a great extension that’s been added to the Pinellas Trail. The two trails connect in central St Petersburg just North of Childs Park, between 43rd Street S and 40th Street S. The Skyway Trail heads South through a somewhat confusing and poorly marked path, but is also a very scenic and satisfying ride with areas through Childs Park, Twin Brooks Golf Course, Clam Bayou, and finally Skyway Fishing Pier State Park.
The total length of the Skyway Trail is between 11 and 12 miles, depending on the route taken through some of the neighborhoods, but can easily be combined with additional miles on the Pinellas Trail or the Bayway Trail which leads to Fort DeSoto beach or the Treasure Island Trail.
Childs Park is a small St Petersburg city park which features a recreation center, pool, indoor fitness center, athletic courts and fields, walking trails and a playground.
Twin Brooks Golf Course is a Par 3 golf course with a long narrow body of water along the West side that follows the Skyway Trail and empties into Clam Bayou. The golf course and the creek area make a nice start to the scenic greenery that gets even better when you reach Clam Bayou.
View of Clam Bayou
Clam Bayou Nature Preserve is a 10 acre city park which connects St Petersburg on the East to Gulfport in the West. It offers a variety of walking trails, boardwalks, and observation decks along the brackish estuary, and includes a canoe and kayak launch.
Boardwalk into Clam Bayou
Heading South from Clam Bayou, you reach the start of the Dick Misener Bridge. This is a nice little climb and features a scenic overlook of the Skyway Bridge from the top of it’s 65′ waterway clearance. Note: There is a pretty good little hotel tiki bar on the water in the back of the Marina Cove Resort called the Nepa Hut Beach Bar that makes a pretty good stop along the trail.
View of the Skyway Bridge
After the bridge you enter Skyway Fishing Pier State Park, a long narrow park that follows the edge of I-275 until you reach the entrance to the North Fishing Pier. The fishing piers were created when the old bridge span was collapsed to be replaced by the Skyway Bridge. The remaining Fishing Piers are reputed to be the world’s longest fishing pier, and are open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, for some of the Bay Area’s finest fishing. There is a small concession stand at the end of the fishing pier which offers cold drinks and other items, as well as restrooms.
