Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park — Attraction in Port Richey

Visited this park and couldn't be more happy.

Great walking trails (very flat and nicely groomed) and interpretive signs to read and learn about the property.

You can rent kayaks/lifejackets (seasonally...it was closed when I visited) at the park with excellent launching/landing area. You can bring your own kayak/canoes. Looks like a great time could be had if your a paddling enthusiast!

There is a great boardwalk access for wheelchair visitors and I believe the other trails are flat enough for powered wheel chairs or very powerful people that love to push!

Very well kept and excellent bathroom facilities. Handicapped accessible too!

Met a park ranger. He was very professional and highly knowledgeable, and he told me where to see an active eagles nest and active great horned owls nest. You can get close enough to see them but not to close to disturb them.

Keep your eyes open when viewing the waters edges for the otters that live in the park. I did catch a glimpse of the crazy playful animals. With their tails they are 3'-4' long...actually quite large.

Try to time your visit at low tide so you can really see the up flowing of the springs. You will be amazed at the volume of water they produce. If you go at high tide it looks very slow and won't experience the natural waterfalls that occur.

But at high tides at Cauldron Spring you will see many mullet (fish) jumping and milling around as they feed in the current...its actually really cool.

Plenty of different flora and fauna to see and enjoy. I actually got my best pics...with a phone cam...of a Pileated Woodpecker feeding on a tree...see the pics and short video. Wished I had my Nikon...pics would have been even better.

Park fees are $3/person (unless you have a FL State Park Pass) which is very cheap for this kind of nature interaction.

This is a very worthwhile area to visit do not miss out; take the kids there is a small playground for them to enjoy as well as the interaction...

This 3999 acre park has been in the State Park system for a long time, with few amenities the park is attractive to those who truly enjoy a natural experience. With development costs high and environmental sensitivity for the resource essential, access has been limited, but sensitive. There is a nominal fee, because of the lack of much development, but payment is an way to express support for the facility development and send the message that we like it! There is a beautiful trail into the marshes off of Hwy 52, with no facilities. The Scenic Drive trail edges a scrubby flatwoods, a bay head and a hydric hammock with canopy height magnolia trees. with a composting toilet and a picnic shelter. The main entrance just north of the Richey Road Walmart, opened in January and has a parking lot with port-a-johns. The trail access at Scenic and the Main entrance is well worth the $3 admission, especially when you visit both areas in the same day...and the sunset from the primitive kayak launch with picnic tables offers views of eagles, roseate spoonbills, wood storks, wild turkey & abundant flocks of migratory bird species. There are annual state park passes available online and the park will grow on you with time and repeated opportunities to see it's wildlife up close. Dogs are welcome on a leash, no swimming is allowed, but enjoying the nature is!! The staff takes of the limited facilities in a conscientious manner. The toilets are primitive but clean, doggy bags are offered at the scenic trail and those of us who visit wild places often know that you carry in and take out our trash...which we all should do in such a beautiful...

I live less than 1 mile from the park. There's a really nice kayak launch here. It's a bit of a walk to the launch site, you walk down a long boardwalk to a nice shaded picnic area near the padded & carpeted launch site. You need two people to carry your yaks or you'll need a cart because it's a ways down. Some nice short nature trails leads you around the park to see scrubs, mangroves bits of the Gulf and of course the salt springs. Although it is one continuous park it is divided into two sections. The northern most section is easily accessable by using the Scenic Drive entrance which is north of the Gulf View Mall. The main entrance is south near the Walmart. Bring your own kayaks or rent them here at the southern section. A nice little bonus is they have a little free library there at the beginning of one of the trails. So after a day paddling out to the gulf or walking the trails and enjoying the natural beauty, you can grab a free book so you can head home for a nice relaxing evening on the couch reading your new book Just remember when you come back (and you know you will) bring some of YOUR old unwanted books so we can carry on this most lovely and neighborly tradition!!...