A peaceful 26-acre nature preserve just minutes from our vacation rental where you can feed turtles, meet rescued birds of prey, and explore Florida’s natural beauty—all for free.
Why We Love This Place
Officially known as George C. McGough Nature Park, locals affectionately call this hidden gem “Turtle Park” or “the Narrows” for good reason—dozens of aquatic turtles call the central pond home, and watching them bask in the Florida sun is endlessly entertaining for visitors of all ages. But the turtles are just the beginning.
Nestled along the Intracoastal Waterway, this tranquil nature preserve offers shady oak hammocks, a butterfly garden, rescued birds of prey (including Sarge the bald eagle!), and nature trails that wind through mangroves and wetlands. It’s the perfect escape when you need a break from the beach—or a shaded activity on a hot afternoon.
At a Glance
| 📍 Address | 11901 146th Street North, Largo, FL 33774 |
| 💰 Admission | FREE |
| 🕐 Park Hours | Sunrise to Sunset, daily |
| 🏛️ Nature Center Hours | Mon–Sat: 9am–5pm / Sun: 10am–4pm |
| 🅿️ Parking | Free parking lot at entrance |
| ⏱️ Time Needed | 1–2 hours |
| 🚗 Distance from Rental | ~4 miles (10 minutes) |
Things to Do at Turtle Park
🐢 Feed the Turtles
The star attraction! The turtle pond near the park entrance is home to dozens of freshwater turtles who spend their days sunbathing on logs and swimming in the clear water. You can purchase small cups of turtle food at the Nature Center for just $0.50—watching them scramble for the food is a highlight for kids and adults alike. The viewing deck provides excellent photo opportunities.
🦅 Meet the Birds of Prey
The park serves as a sanctuary for rescued, non-releasable raptors cared for by the Friends of Largo Nature. The outdoor enclosures house over 20 birds, including:
- Sarge – A magnificent bald eagle and park favorite
- Great horned owls
- Barred owls
- Screech owls
- Red-shouldered hawks
- Red-tailed hawks
- American kestrels
Pro tip: If you’re lucky enough to visit during feeding time, you’ll get an up-close look at these incredible birds in action. Ask the volunteers about feeding schedules!
🚶 Explore the Nature Trails
About 1 mile of trails wind through the park, with additional side trails extending the exploration. The main trail is made from recycled tires—soft, comfortable, and eco-friendly! Elevated boardwalks lead toward the mangrove wetlands and the Intracoastal Waterway. Please note: the boardwalk section has been closed since the 2024 hurricane season for repairs, with reopening anticipated in 2027. Everything else is open as normal — the turtle pond and viewing deck, the Nature Center, the birds of prey, the butterfly garden and the playground. Keep an eye out for:
- Gopher tortoises
- Armadillos
- Great blue herons
- Various wading birds
- Occasional alligators (from a safe distance!)
| ⚠️ Update: the boardwalk is currently closed. The wooden boardwalk that runs out to the Intracoastal Waterway was damaged in the 2024 hurricane season and is closed for repair. The City of Largo has been awarded a state grant to rebuild it, and signs posted at the park indicate a reopening in 2027. This removes roughly half the trail loop and the open-water views. Everything else is open and unaffected — the turtle pond and deck, the Nature Center, the birds of prey, the butterfly garden, the playground and zipline, and the picnic areas. The turtles, which are why most people come, are entirely unbothered. But if the boardwalk was your main reason for visiting, check the park’s status first. Current status from the City of Largo. |
🦋 Stroll the Butterfly Garden
A colorful oasis filled with native Florida plants designed to attract local butterfly species. The garden also features a sensory element with aromatic plants and textured foliage—perfect for a mindful moment in nature.
🏛️ Visit the Narrows Nature Center
Inside the Nature Center, you’ll find:
- Live animal exhibits featuring snakes, frogs, lizards, and tortoises
- Interactive displays about local ecosystems
- Educational materials about Florida wildlife
- Helpful volunteers ready to answer questions
- Turtle food for purchase
- Park maps (snap a photo for the trails!)
🛝 Let the Kids Play
A shaded playground near the Nature Center features swings, slides, and a popular zipline that kids absolutely love. It’s one of the longer ziplines in local parks and provides a fun break between nature exploration.
🛶 Launch a Canoe or Kayak
The park has a canoe launch providing access to the Intracoastal Waterway. If you have your own kayak or canoe, this is a peaceful spot to paddle and explore the mangrove-lined shores.
Park Map
Perfect For Families
This park consistently ranks as a favorite among families visiting the area, and it’s easy to see why:
✓ Completely free – No admission, no parking fees
✓ Shaded throughout – A welcome relief from the Florida sun
✓ Interactive experiences – Feeding turtles engages kids of all ages
✓ Educational – Learn about wildlife conservation and local ecosystems
✓ Playground with zipline – Burns off energy while parents relax
✓ Manageable size – Easy to explore in 1-2 hours without exhausting little legs
✓ Picnic areas – Pack a lunch and make an afternoon of it
✓ Accessible paths – Main trails accommodate strollers (though some boardwalks are narrower)
Guest Tip: “We stopped here after a tiring day at the beach and it was SO worth it! The kids were amazed by all the turtles and the zipline was a huge hit. We spent about an hour and it was the perfect low-key activity.” – Recent visitor
Which turtles are you actually looking at?
Most of the big ones basking on the logs are Florida red-bellied cooters — a large, heavily armoured turtle native to Florida and southern Georgia, and one of the easiest to identify once you know what to look for. Two giveaways: a red-tinged belly, and two small cusps like teeth on the upper beak. They’re mainly plant eaters, they’re active all year round, and they spend a big chunk of every day basking, which is exactly what you’ll see them doing here.
You’ll also spot sliders and softshells in the pond, and gopher tortoises on the dry upland parts of the trail — a completely different animal, protected in Florida, and one you should never handle or feed.
A nice detail to tell children: red-bellied cooters sometimes lay their eggs in alligator nest mounds, and whether a hatchling turns out male or female depends on how warm the nest is — cooler eggs become males, warmer eggs become females.
Time your visit for the birds
Visitors report that volunteers often bring birds out of the enclosures between about 10am and noon for close-up viewing. That’s the single best window if seeing a raptor up close is the point of your trip — and it’s worth asking at the Nature Center desk as soon as you arrive.
The birds are cared for by Friends of Largo Nature, a volunteer group, and 100% of donations go to food and veterinary care for them. There’s no admission charge anywhere in this park, so the donation box is how the raptors get fed. Worth a few dollars.
👉 See our birding guide for the county’s other raptor and seabird sites, including a free seabird sanctuary on Gulf Blvd.
Also on site, and easy to miss
- A community vegetable garden — small, and a good five minutes with children.
- Rentable spaces — the park has scenic rental facilities used for parties, field trips and group gatherings. If you’re here with a large family group, worth asking the city about.
- Picnic pavilions — there are no food vendors in the park at all, so bringing lunch is the move.
The park is known to some locals as “the Narrows” rather than Turtle Park — that’s the name of this stretch of the Intracoastal, and it’s why the Nature Center is called the Narrows Environmental Education Center.
Turtle Park FAQ
Is it really called Turtle Park?
Not officially. The official name is George C. McGough Nature Park, and the City of Largo’s own pages acknowledge that it’s “known locally as the Turtle Park.” Some locals also call it the Narrows. All three names refer to the same 26 acres at 11901 146th Street North.
How much does it cost?
Nothing. No admission, no parking charge. Turtle food from the Nature Center is a few cents a cup, and donations to the raptor programme are voluntary.
Can I feed the turtles?
Yes — but only with food bought at the Nature Center, and only from the turtle deck. Don’t bring bread or anything from home; it isn’t good for them. Bring Quarters/cash for turtle food ($0.50 per cup)
Can I bring my dog?
🚫 No dogs allowed . Dogs are not permitted anywhere at McGough Nature Park, to protect the resident wildlife. This is strictly enforced and it catches a lot of people out. There are plenty of dog-friendly alternatives close by.
👉 Our dog parks guide — including one about a mile from Indian Rocks Beach.
How long do I need?
One to two hours covers it comfortably. With the boardwalk closed, the walking loop is short — well under a mile — so if you’re mainly here for the turtles, the birds and the playground, an hour is enough.
Is it stroller and wheelchair friendly?
The main recycled-tire trail is smooth and accessible, and the Nature Center and turtle viewing areas are too. Some side paths are unpaved. The narrow boardwalk sections that had limited turning room are the part currently closed.
Are there alligators?
Occasionally, at a distance, in the wetland areas — this is the Florida Intracoastal. Stay on the trail, keep children close, and don’t approach the water’s edge. The turtle pond itself is a viewing area and perfectly safe.
Are there restrooms?
Yes, at the Nature Center. There are no food vendors, so pack a lunch for the picnic pavilions.
Can I kayak from the park?
There’s a canoe and kayak launch giving access to the Intracoastal. Given the boardwalk works, confirm launch access before you arrive with a boat on the roof.
👉 Our kayaking and paddleboarding guide covers the county’s other launches and the Pinellas Blueways trail system.
Can I buy food in the park?
🍽️ No food vendors – There are no restaurants or snack bars in the park. Picnic shelters are available if you’d like to bring your own food.
What’s the best time of day?
Mid-morning: turtles are basking and active, and it’s the window when volunteers often bring the birds out. Late afternoon is best for photographs.
Is there anything else nearby?
Yes — a great deal, and most of it also free. See the section below.
Best Times to Visit
Morning (9am–11am) – Cooler temperatures, turtles are active, fewer crowds
Late Afternoon (3pm–5pm) – Great lighting for photos, turtles often feeding
Weekdays – Quieter than weekends, more personal attention from volunteers
After the Beach – Perfect shaded activity to cool down after a morning at Indian Rocks Beach or Clearwater Beach
Make a Day of It — What Else Is Close
🌺 Right next door: Pinewood Cultural Park
- Florida Botanical Gardens — free, 182 acres, and immediately adjacent. The obvious pairing, and together they make a full free morning.
- Heritage Village — free open-air museum of relocated pioneer buildings.
- The Gallery at Creative Pinellas — contemporary art, also on the same site.
🐢 Other free wildlife spots within fifteen minutes
- John R. Bonner Nature Park — an official Great Florida Birding Trail stop, also on the Intracoastal, also free, and almost always empty.
- Largo Central Park Nature Preserve — 31 acres and over 130 bird species, in the middle of the city.
- Eagle Lake Park — three miles of shaded paved loops, boardwalks, catch-and-release fishing piers, and a playground. Our pick if you want a longer walk than the closed boardwalk now allows.
- Boca Ciega Millennium Park — a 35-foot observation tower over the bay, and 175+ bird species.
🏖️ Pair it with the beach
Turtle Park is minutes from the beach, and the classic local plan is beach in the morning, Turtle Park in the shaded afternoon.
- Indian Rocks Beach — the closest sand, and the quieter local choice.
- All the beaches — which one suits which kind of day, plus the parking rules that catch people out.
- Pass-a-Grille — old-Florida village at the south end, worth the drive.
🚲 Getting here without a car
The Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail and Walsingham Park are both close, and Walsingham Road has bike access. If you’ve hired bikes for the week, this is an easy ride rather than a drive.
👉 Our cycling guide, including bike rental and delivery.
☔ If the weather turns
The Nature Center is indoors, but it’s small. For a proper wet-weather plan, see our rainy day guide — there’s a dine-in cinema and a retro arcade both within fifteen minutes.
🥬 Saturday morning?
The Largo Evening Market and the county’s other farmers markets pair well with a park morning.
Official Information
We keep this page current as best we can, but hours, closures and programmes change. Check the source before you set out:
- McGough Nature Park — City of Largo (official) — hours, amenities and the dogs policy.
- Largo Narrows — Narrows Environmental Education Center — the animal list and education programmes.
- Largo Recreation, Parks & Arts — Education Center — current boardwalk closure status.
- McGough Nature Park on Facebook — the fastest source for events, feeding times and closures.
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service — Florida red-bellied cooter — the species you’ll be feeding.
- Florida Fish and Wildlife — reptile profiles — including gopher tortoises, which are protected.
We are not affiliated with the City of Largo, Friends of Largo Nature, or any agency listed here.
Driving Directions from Our Largo Vacation Rental
From: 1731 Clearwater Harbor Dr, Largo, FL
To: McGough Nature Park, 11901 146th St N, Largo, FL 33774
Distance: Approximately 4 miles
Drive Time: About 10 minutes
Turn-by-Turn Directions:
- Head east on Clearwater Harbor Dr toward the mainland
- Turn right (south) onto Hamlin Blvd
- Continue straight as Hamlin Blvd becomes Walsingham Rd
- Continue on Walsingham Rd for approximately 2.5 miles
- Turn right (south) onto 146th St N
- McGough Nature Park will be on your left at the end of the road
📱 Google Maps: Click here for GPS direction
From our Seminole rental
From: 13189 87th Ave N, Seminole, FL
Distance: Approximately 5 miles — about 13 minutes
Head north on Seminole Blvd, west on Walsingham Rd, then south on 146th St N. The park is at the end of the road on your left.
Visiting the area?
Turtle Park is about ten minutes from our five-bedroom heated-pool home in Largo and about thirteen from our place in Seminole. Both have full kitchens, and both are minutes from Indian Rocks Beach — which makes the beach-then-shade routine very easy to pull off.
If you’re planning a family trip and want a hand working out what to do with a week, just ask. We live here.
