anclote key preserve state park

pier to fish. Manatees at powerplant. Board walk between this park and Key Vista to north. Boat ramp and beach.

There were birds I had never seen hiding amongst the trees here. Great swimming hole, can see the gulf access, so lots of boats going by.

I take the boat out there to the sandbar every week. it is beautiful and the sand on the west side of the sandbar is beautiful. The weekend in the summer is a lot of fun but I love the quiet weekdays. great place to take the boat and go for a walk and have lunch! Good fishing all around the island too!

My wife and have kayaked out to Anclote Key on multiple occasions. From Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs on a calm day (winds under 10-12 mph) it usually takes us about an hour and 15 minutes to paddle out and about 40 minutes to paddle back. There are hundreds of shorebirds on the south side of the island (near the lighthouse). There is a channel where you can paddle that cuts through part of the island, running north/south. Better to paddle here when the tide is high or you can easily find yourself running aground. There are no facilities so bring your own supplies. While paddling to and from Anclote, we have seen dolphins swimming alongside us, but no manatees yet.

We saw dolphins on the way (our first time seeing wild ones!!!) to the key and spent about 30 min on Anclote Key. We had an amazing time!!! The sand on the beach is powdery and there were a lot of beautiful shells.

We're out here nearly every weekend. If you're into a party scene with loud music and dogs, head to the north sandbar, if you want peace & solitude head to the main island. We'll often see snook & manatees along the beach. Watch the tides as the sandbars can get very shallow on the west side during low tide. The north side has stronger currents and the wakes from passing boats make this area less ideal for swimming. If exploring off the beach, bring shoes as there a ton of sand spurs. There are no facilities so bring what you need. Also please pack all of your trash, and pick up a few extra pieces to help anclote looking her best.

Great day sailing trip to Anclote sand bar, be aware of tides if anchored close to shore. No amenities, bring your lunch and drinks. No trash can, what you bring is what you take back. Make sure you have good beach shoes , because of the beach sandspurs

One of the children at Church was celebrating her 4th birthday and invited us to spend the day with them at Anclote. It was our first trip to the Park and we had a wonderful time. The children enjoyed the play areas and the adults enjoyed the shade provided by the shelters.

Just a few miles away from Howard Park, Anclote Key is AMAZING. Shelling, boating, snorkeling, or simply just laying out and relaxing.

The island is a great get away spot. The island is undeveloped and the fishing and nature views great.

Make sure to bring a umbrella, sunscreen, water shoes ( so the millions of shells don't cut your feet) plenty of food, we brought portable grill. We went around to the back side of the island were the waves pull you in. Make sure to anchor your boat far enough out, so when the tide goes out you don't get stuck. No bathroom on the island just the ocean.

We visited Anclote Key on Sunday, June 29th. We had hoped to find a boat or ferry service that would take you to and from the island and allow you to spend several hours on the key. But, from asking around in Tarpon Springs, it seemed that the only way to get there was on the Spongeorama tour boat.The key was a very nice quiet island with white sand and some tidal flats around the sand bar. If you're looking to enjoy the pleasure of visiting a quiet, island with good beaches it is worth the time. We only had 30 minutes on the key and so weren't able to explore the main part of the 3 mile long key, we only had time to explore the very southern tip which is covered with beaches. There are no concessionaires or bathroom facilities on the key nor is there a park usage fee. It is worth discussing how to get there. The Spongeorama leaves the Tarpon Springs sponge docks several times a day. It is normally a two hour cruise with 30 minutes on the key. It takes 45 minutes to get to the key, 30 minutes on the key, and 45 minutes to get back. The cruise is promoted as a dolphin cruise and we were treated to 15 - 20 minutes of two pods circling the boat off the key. The Spongeorama has a minimum requirement of 15 or so passengers (the boat's capacity is around 50), so some trips may be cancelled due to insufficient passengers. (The Spongeorama also does a sunset cruise which doesn't allow you to go ashore on the island. We were told that the sunset cruise is often cancelled due to low passenger load, but that it always goes on Saturdays.) Spongeorama will refund your money if your cruise is cancelled. The Spongeorama boat has a bathroom and sells drinks and snacks.

Anclote is a beautiful and peaceful place to visit. No crowds since getting there is by boat access only! Beware of sudden changes in water depth when anchoring near the island. It would be easy to get your boat beached there. There are no restrooms or dining facilities on the island, so come prepared. Also, be aware that being surrounded by water, the sun is INTENSE, so bring sunscree! Tip...if docking for lunch is on your agenda, Miss Vickie's is superb. You can find it right next to Anclote swim beach/park.

Anclote Island sets about five miles out in the gulf from Tarpon Springs. Boat is the only way there, and there are boating excursions from the sponge docks in Tarpon Springs. A light house sets on the island that is still lit. The island is secluded with no facilities, but on the south end of the island is a sand bar with the best shelling as the sandbar catches the shells that are being carried by the current. Because the island is deserted with no facilities, the only way to stay over night is with a boat with facilities on board. My experiences have been day trips heading out in the morning, taking along picnic items, enjoying swimming, boating, skiing, and shelling, and returning to the mainland in the early evening.

You can beach your small boat and do a BBQ and swim and fish and just have a great time ..There is nothing to dislike at all