Little Manatee River Corridor Nature Preserve

I finally visited the LMRCNP (LMCP sounds better) in February of 2024. The adventure began in trying to find the place. The parking lot is hard to find. It is hidden by trees and looks so much like so many of the private driveways and farm access gates in the area. There is a covered plaque by the start of the trail, but no sign by the road. Apple’s map app shows the entry point much further south where there is a closed (and unmarked) gate. I almost gave up.

I spent three hours walking the mowed trails among the palmetto. I did not see much. It was nice, but boring. It was quiet and sunny. There were some yellow flowers. I kept smelling hot wax. Someone was burning something somewhere. In the third photo, there is a very distant structure that might be a silo or crane. I didn’t bring binoculars, unfortunately.

The signs encourage people to travel in one direction around the loops and at the entry and exit points. Why? Does this limit the spread of viruses, or is the park management dabbling in widdershins?

There are also side trails (both marked and unmarked) not on the map. I didn’t have time for these. Where do they go?

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