Boyd Hill Nature Preserve

Our first time at Raptor Fest and we thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the birds and learning more about them! The park is beautifully maintained and even has a children's play area. A wonderful spot for a family outing!

We had a wonderful visit to this nature preserve. One of the highlights was the live animal demonstrations—engaging, educational, and great for all ages. We also took the guided tram tour through the preserve (about $2), which was absolutely worth it. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable about the local plants and animals and shared so many interesting facts along the way. The preserve also features a beautiful estuary that is home to rescued birds of prey, which was both moving and educational to see. There are nice hiking trails if you prefer to explore on foot, and the education center adds even more depth to the experience. Overall, it’s a well-run preserve that clearly cares about conservation, education (they even offer kids day camp options), and connecting people with nature. Highly recommend for families, nature lovers, and anyone curious about the local ecosystem.

Great flat easy trail with pines and oak trees filled with Spanish moss. The trail was a mix of shaded by tree canopies and part open to sun. Saw a turtle laying eggs in the trails, wood peckers and hawks! We chose to walk the trail beside the lake and enjoyed the swings overlooking the lake for breaks. Parking was easy. $3 admission per person and bathrooms at start of trailhead. Dogs not allowed

Boyd Hill Park is such a gem! It’s beautifully maintained and offers a variety of walking paths and trails of different lengths. The views of Lake Maggorie and downtown St. Pete are stunning. The staff is super friendly, down to earth and knowledgeable. Their main building is currently under renovation, but still accessible with bathrooms and cooler/drink options! There are also water stations along the trails. The bird rescue/sanctuary at the park is fantastic. The staff and volunteers treat the birds like their own family. One thing to keep in mind is that dogs are not allowed, which is a bummer (and the only reason it took me so long to explore this Park in the first place). A designated dog path would be nice!

My sole intention was to come here and take a solitary stroll through the trails, but I completely forgot they had birds of prey and volunteers that were taking care of them. I had a WONDERFUL 1+ hour conversation with the volunteers and they were so kind to me. I learned so much about falcons and birds of prey, and I even got to watch them fly a few of them for enrichment. To the volunteers and staff that were working on 12/16/25, God bless you!!