Clearwater South Loop

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Clearwater, FL, US

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Route Overview

Dean Karlen

Road touring

67 mi.

354 ft.

This loop starts in Clearwater, follows the Fred Marquis Pinellas bike trail to Fort De Soto Beach, returns via Gulf Blvd, and provides a good base loop for exploring the area. Variations on the route are described, by adding out-and-back segments to St. Petersburg or to the Skyway fishing pier.

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Route Details

This is a great loop to explore Pinellas County south of Clearwater. Long sections of the route follow the @photo[Fred Marquis rail-to-trail](2173587), making navigation easy. Adding one or more out-and-back sections adds variety if you want to do this route more than once. The turning points and distances for these sections are:
* @point[To Fort De Soto Beach](d,40940.48): Included in the posted route (26 km / 16 mi)
* @point[To St. Petersburg](d,30865.62): See the downtown waterfront (add: 13 km / 8 mi)
* @point[To Skyview Bridge fishing pier](d,37450.71): (add: 22 km / 14 mi)

The ride is flat apart from a few bridges over roadways and water crossings. The ride starts at a @point[free parking lot](d,9.37) in downtown Clearwater. From this location there is a passenger ferry to Clearwater beach for any non-cyclists in your party not wishing to drive over the often congested bridge. It is common for afternoon winds to come from the south, so the route is shown as clockwise to avoid having a strong headwind along Gulf Blvd. The Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail is more shielded against wind.

Starting in Clearwater, the route connects immediately to the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail. While in the city, @slice[the trail has many turns](d,1720.71,3480.4), but once you cross @point[South Fort Harrison Avenue](d,3388.66) it becomes very easy to follow. Take care where the trail crosses streets. Although most drivers stop for crossing bikes, not all do. Fortunately, the trail includes several bridges that overpass the larger cross-streets.

The posted route takes a @point[right turn](d,30861.98), marked with a signpost showing it as Skyview Trail. If instead, you continue straight, the bike trail takes you past Tropicana Field (home of the Tampa Bay Rays) and into downtown St. Petersburg. There are several nice parkfront/waterfront dining options there.

After following @slice[a complicated maze](d,31203.98,33100.21) of short bike path sections, the route enters @photo[Clam Bayou Nature Preserve.](2173586) You might see @photo[Osprey nests](2173585), Blue Herrons or @photo[Manatee](2173584).

Exiting Clam Bayou, the Skyview Trail is along an extra wide sidewalk on the left side of @slice[34th Avenue](d,34858.09,35344.91) and the left side of @slice[37th Street](d,35351.59,37430.08). At the end of 37th Street @point[turn right](d,37458.17) onto the Pinellas Bayway to proceed to Fort De Soto Park. Alternatively you could turn left onto a small trail and continue to follow the signs for the Skyway Trail. This will take you close to the @photo[Skyway Bridge](2173683), ending at a fishing pier, where there is a shop to buy drinks. Unfortunately, bicycles are not allowed on the Skyway Bridge.

To go to Fort De Soto beach, @point[turn left](d,40911.38) onto the Pinellas Bayway, otherwise skip this by continuing straight. The road to Fort De Soto is wide with designated bike lanes, apart from a @point[narrow drawbridge](d,43076.98) without a bike lane. If the draw bridge is open, the local tradition is to cycle up to the front of the line of waiting cars, and once the bridge decks are back to normal, the bikes will be allowed to get a head start so that cars will not be overtaking the bicycles while on the bridge. The Fort De Soto park has extensive bike trails. The @point[turn-around point](d,54187.69) has a great place to get refreshments and relax in the shade with picnic tables.

On the way back to Clearwater, the route uses Gulf Blvd, which has bike lanes almost its entire length. There are no turns for about 34 km / 21 mi, and relatively few lights. Many places for refreshments along the way. There are public restrooms immediately after the @point[large draw bridge](d,79615.18) at John's Pass. To find them, turn right immediately after the bridge, and turn right again on a small road and you will see them on your right. If you are not stopping there, be careful on the descent as the wide shoulder disappears completely after you reach the bottom.

The Sand Key bridge takes you into Clearwater Beach. While descending, it is recommended to take the lane, as there is a left turn at the bottom, and vehicles turning left have the right-of-way for the left turn. Later, take the first exit at the Clearwater Beach traffic circle, in order to return to a bike path that takes you back to downtown Clearwater. It is important to take that path, as it includes a @point[bike bridge](d,105046.11), avoiding a small bridge without shoulders. The bike path takes you over a large bridge, and at the base there is a special @slice[circular bike ramp](d,107574.1,107801.2) that takes you back to the parking lot where the route began.

# Tolls and Park Entrance Fees

There are a few toll stations along this route. Cyclists are exempt from all of them - just proceed slowly through the right-most lane.

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Clearwater South Loop

Route Overview

Route Details

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