Wadsworth Park

Along a cove on a tidal creek that flows out to the Intracoastal Waterway, Wadsworth Park provides a gentle introduction to the marshes.

While this 45-acre county park near Flagler Beach has the usual amenities – ball fields, tennis courts, and a “Paw Park” – it’s also a fabulous spot for birding on the edge of the estuary.

Resources

Overview

Location: Flagler Beach
Length: 0.2 mile round-trip
Trailhead: 29.480050, -81.142867
Type: round-trip
Fees: Free
Land Manager: Flagler County Parks and Recreation
Phone: 386-437-7490

Restrooms are near the ball fields.

Directions

From I-95 exit 284, Flagler Beach, drive 2.5 miles east on SR 100 to the park entrance on the left, just before the Intracoastal Waterway Bridge. Keep right at both forks along the park road to reach the soccer field area, where the boardwalk starts.

Details

On the east side of the parking lot, look for the “Boardwalk and Canoe Launch” sign. A short boardwalk drops down out of the pine flatwoods to follow a tidal creek, where the canoe launch juts out to allow put-in.

The boardwalk meanders through a palm hammock to the edge of the salt marshes, finishing at an overlook. This is a great spot for birding.

Don’t miss the other (non-contiguous) section of the boardwalk, which goes over a freshwater pond filled with lilies. It starts directly across the parking area from the estuarine boardwalk.

In addition, some unmarked trails lead through the dense forest behind the skateboarding complex.

Along the Intracoastal at Wadsworth Park

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Sandra Friend

Author of over 40 books, Sandra Friend established FloridaHikes.com in 2006 to expand on the field research she'd completed for her first six hiking guides. She has been honored with lifetime achievement awards from the Florida Trail Association and the Florida Outdoor Writers Association.