Trail Snapshot

Trail:

4.5 miles with additional connections at Bayshore Greenway and Progress Energy Trails

Surface:

Mixed - Paved surface

Difficulty:

Easy

Outdoor Travels Rating:

4 out of 5 Scenery, fun and pubs!

Thumbs Up

The facilities, landscaping and general care of this trail is top notch.

Scenery – small town, palm trees, ocean, oak trees, strip malls, whatever, you name it!

The Whistle Stop in Safety Harbor is a great place to imbibe some “refreshments”

Connects many park facilities

Thumbs Down

Not a high RPM fitness ride (if that’s what you are looking for)

Relative shortness

Nuts & Bolts

Location:

Clearwater to Safety Harbor, Florida

Directions:

See trail map for multiple access points

Trailheads / Access:

There are many places to park and easily access the trail. Our favorite is the Long Center on the western terminus. This allows a mid-point stop in Safety Harbor before returning back.

(East to West)

Cooper's Bayou Park

Del Oro Park

Eddie C. Moore Recreation Complex

Cliff Stephens Park

Moccasin Lake Nature Park

Community Sports Complex

Northeast Coachman Park

Coachman Ridge Park

Long Center

Activities:

Biking, walking, jogging

Admission:

Free

Contact:

For a brochure, please contact: Felicia Leonard, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator 727-562-4852

Bicycle and Pedestrian Site

Maps and Stuff

Trail photos

Lots of great photos to give you a good idea of what riding here is like!

Along the connecting Bay to Bay Greenway

Beers and goofyness at the Whistle Stop

Biking

Ream Wilson Clearwater Multi-use Trail

Clearwater to Safety Harbor, Florida

A short multi-use trail with more “pictures per mile” than you can count

11/2008 – Dana Farnsworth, Outdoor Travels

The Ream Wilson Trail is currently less than five miles long. But what it lacks in distance, it more than makes up for it in enjoyment. The Ream Wilson Trail was built as a part of a plan for interconnecting several multi-use trails in Pinellas County. The plan is to connect with the Progress Energy Trail (see review here) and then to the planned Druid Trail, connecting with the Pinellas Trail (reviewed here) and then continuing to Clearwater Beach via the Memorial Causeway. It’s a great plan, and will eventually make many of the most desired areas in Pinellas County connected by multi-use trails.

I have ridden the Ream Wilson trail several times at this point and can say that it is a very fun and interesting trail. If you are looking for long stretches of trail to hone your budding tri-athlete biking skills, you’ll probably need to take your Speedo-clad bike-riding bottom somewhere else. The Ream Wilson Trail serves up less than five miles of twisty shaded and believe it or not, hilly (for Florida) trail that is ideal for a leisurely afternoon cruise adventure. Along the way you’ll pass under tall Spanish moss covered oaks and along palm tree studded shoreline. I mentioned to my wife that I was “taking more pictures per mile than any other trail I’ve ridden”.

What make this well maintained and landscaped trail even better is the opportunities for trailside activities. A favorite of mine on this trail is a stop at the Whistle Stop Station Grill in Safety Harbor. Once the Ream Wilson Trail ends (just west of Safety Harbor) you can continue on the Bayshore Greenway (sidewalk) a short distance into Safety Harbor. Here you can visit the dock, check out the pier and then head north on Main Street about a mile or less. Cold beer and good pub food are a great reward for a nice day of riding. There are many other choices in Safety Harbor for food and beverage. On the way back, I like to ride the Progress Energy Trail south a block or so to Drew Street. There are several pubs and restaurants there as well for refreshments of the chilled and hop-laden variety.

I can’t emphasize how cool this little trail is. For it’s short distance, it has so much character and so many fun possibilities. For instance, you could access the trail in one of the many parks it connects. Ride the trail, make some “beverage” stops and then have a picnic under a giant shady oak when you return.

As I mentioned before, you can also add on a several miles from the connecting Progress Energy Trail if you would like a longer adventure. Give this trail a spin. You’ll not only take more pictures per mile, but I’m willing to bet you’ll have more smiles (and beers) per mile too.

Official Description

The Ream Wilson Clearwater Trail will ultimately provide a safe, enjoyable and educational off-road trail connecting the Gulf of Mexico at Clearwater Beach to Tampa Bay at Safety Harbor. This multiple use trail also serves as the linking trail between the Pinellas Trail and the proposed Florida Progress Trail to be constructed within the Progress Energy transmission line right-of-way just to the west of US 19.

The trail is designed to take advantage of publicly owned property, easements and rights-of-way to provide this safe, off-road, cross-country multiple use trail. After the trail is complete, it will connect many area neighborhoods containing over 20 parks, recreation and educational facilities. Many opportunities exist for nature walks, photography, picnicking, fishing, or just plain relaxing.

The Ream Wilson Clearwater Trail is rapidly becoming both a popular leisure time facility enjoyed by residents and tourists alike, and a valuable commuter route for many students and employees in the central Clearwater area.