John Chesnut Sr. Park

This was my first visit to the John Chestnut park and what a wonderful surprise it was. A beautiful clean wide boardwalk borders Tarpon lake where we immediately saw a gator. There is also a lookout tower. The squirrels must be used to being fed because they followed us all along the boardwalk. The park is lush, green, and very clean (even the restrooms). Lots of wildlife and nice playground areas. Also a paid parking boat ramp $6. The park is huge with many trails not all paved but definitely walkable or useable with a stroller. We didn’t encounter bike riders which can sometimes sneak up on you without warning. I’m looking forward to a return visit!

I recently visited John Chestnut Sr. Park, and I was blown away by its beauty and amenities. This state park is truly a nature lover's paradise! The park is impeccably clean, and the lush greenery adds to its charm. The two playgrounds are perfect for families with kids, offering a safe and enjoyable space for them to play and have fun.

One of the highlights for me was the dog park. It's spacious and well-maintained, allowing our furry friends to run around and socialize freely. The hiking trails offer breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, and I enjoyed every moment exploring them. Whether you're an avid hiker or just looking for a leisurely stroll, there's a trail for everyone.

The BBQ party shelters are fantastic for hosting gatherings and celebrations. With ample space, picnic tables, and BBQ grills, it's the ideal spot for a fun-filled day with family and friends. Plus, the availability of shelters ensures that you can enjoy your outdoor BBQ even if the weather isn't perfect.

Overall, I highly recommend John Chestnut Sr. Park to anyone looking for a beautiful and well-equipped outdoor destination. Whether you want to relax, play, hike, or have a BBQ party, this park has it all. I can't wait to visit again soon!

Definitely one of my favorite parks. It's beautiful and there is so much wildlife to see. I've seen well over a dozen species of birds, white tailed deer, alligators, raccoons, turtles, tortoises, and other people have even seen river otters here. If you don't see wildlife on your walk, it's probably because you're not looking.

There are 13 picnic shelters, two playgrounds, a fenced in dog park, and at least 3 miles of trails here. Some of the trails are wheelchair and stroller friendly.

Wonderful little park, with tons of wildlife to enjoy and photograph. Nice boardwalks, trails, lookouts. Park is very well maintained and has a boat ramp access. Nice place to spend the day hiking, grilling, and enjoying nature.

This park is so peaceful and is thrumming with wildlife. We saw several gators, different lizard species, woodpeckers, cardinals, a bunch of deer, and lots of squirrels. It's nice a shaded with a light breeze with plenty of places to park and wander in your own company or in the company of a loved one.

What a great Park on Lake Tarpon. Easy access. Boat ramp available. Lots of available shelters, with picnic tables and barbecue area. See lots of local wildlife. I go there often. Lots of walking trails and see a few deer while you're there

This park is amazing. So many different aspects of it. Its quiet, peaceful, walkways that go on forever. Nature, that is amazing! If you need a walk with nature, and want an inexpensive day out, pack a lunch, the park is free and Enjoy!!

Nice park with many walking paths. Also a boat launch. A big boardwalk that leads to a 5 story lookout tower with a beautiful view of the lake. You'll see a lot of birds, squirrels, we saw a giant frog, and a small gator.

This is a great park. Nice trails, picnic areas ,and a dog park. We've been twice in the last three weeks. We saw deer, a couple of alligators, and lots of beautiful birds.

Love this park. Wild life, deer, alagators,birds, etc. Nice trails, boardwalks, and a tower to climb to look over lake Tarpon. My favorite. Please do not feed any of the animals or birds.

Great park for casual hikes along the lake and through the woods. Lots of deer and baby gators to see. Several parks for kids with shelters and toilets for parties.

This is one of the most beautiful parks in Florida. Lots of wildlife. Great picnic area's and lots of trails to walk.

Afternoon picnic with friends. Great locations with availability of benches/parking. Walked lunch off with a hike, saw tons of wildlife.

This park is amazing! Nicely shaded, which is a must for Florida's climate, full of wildlife, shelters and playgrounds. We went here to celebrate Easter and had a fantastic time.

Love this park! We enjoy the playgrounds and then walk around, enjoying the magical nature of Florida. There are many viewing areas throughout the park, including a lookout tower where you can enjoy the water, trees, and animal sounds. Look carefully and you will probably catch a glimpse of a gator or 2.

In addition to being a great park to visit any day of the week, it also makes an epic venue for birthday parties and hangouts.

This is my favorite place I visit here at least 2 to 3 times a week. I love it. Nice trail walks and bridges. I get to see Deers, squirrels, birds, owls, raccoons, and alligators. And the best part is that it is all free. It's such an amazing park. I highly recommend it.

Beautiful views from the observation tower, the picnic shelters along the board walk provide a view to the aquatic plants and wildlife - saw limpkins, apple snails, moorhens -black ducks with red beaks and alligators

Lovely shaded boardwalks, Lots of birds watch out for the squirrels they are semi aggressive it's apparently a thing to feed them nuts. They get really close.

Beautiful park with an area for small and large dogs. Plenty of parking and boat launch. Don’t forget to pay for parking! It’s $2 for the day. There were deer all over the place! Great place to take a walk in the morning. The board walk was shaded which kept us cool in the Florida heat. There is a 3 story watch tower overlooking the lake.

It was incredible to see alligators without having to pay for a tour! Tarpon Lake is beautiful. If you have friends from out of town visiting, this is where you want to take them.

The only thing I did not like was that dogs were not allowed on *most* of the boardwalks. Children are more disruptive to wildlife than dogs.

This park is free to visit, free parking, a few playgrounds, restrooms, and many shelters to have picnics or parties. There's also a fairly large dog park, but I don't trust other people's dogs off leash.

I truly did enjoy my visit here and will visit again.