The boardwalk on the Gulfport side of Clam Bayou ends at a short pier facing Boca Ciega Bay. Behind it are mangroves, and in front of it is open water good for birdwatching. A kayaker launching from the St. Petersburg side, on 34th Avenue South, ends up on the same water. That paddler has entered a different park, run by a different city, on a different clock.
Clam Bayou is one estuary run as two parks. For anyone in Broadwater, that changes how this fall works. The St. Petersburg side is built mainly for paddling and for students. The Gulfport side is where the new trail signs, guided walks and community events are going between now and mid-November.
One Bayou, Two Park Systems
The City of St. Petersburg lists its Clam Bayou Nature Preserve at 4099 34th Ave. S. Amenities are a kayak launch, paddling access, recreation trails, restrooms and a spot on the city's Blueways Trail System. Across the line, the City of Gulfport describes its Clam Bayou Nature Park as a 10-acre estuary preserve on Miriam Street. It has boardwalk and nature trails, observation decks, docks and a canoe and kayak launch.
The two parks don't keep the same hours, and at dawn that matters.
| St. Petersburg side | Gulfport side | |
|---|---|---|
| Official name | Clam Bayou Nature Preserve | Clam Bayou Nature Park |
| Entrance | 4099 34th Ave. S. | Miriam Street, past the Gulfport Municipal Marina |
| Listed hours | 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset | One hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset |
| On the water | Kayak launch, Blueways Trail System | Canoe and kayak launch, docks |
| On foot | Recreation trails, restrooms | Boardwalks through mangroves, observation decks, pier |
By these listings, Gulfport's side opens half an hour earlier and stays open half an hour later. On a fall evening, that extra half hour can be the difference between catching the last light from the pier and walking back to the car in the dark. Neither city page shows a date, so check with the right city before planning around a specific hour.
The St. Petersburg Side Is Built for Paddlers and Students
The kayak launch and the Blueways listing make the St. Petersburg preserve a water entrance first. Its other major presence sits nearby at 4240 35th Ave. S. That's the USF College of Marine Science's Clam Bayou Marine Education Center. According to St. Pete Catalyst, the center is a historic home on four waterfront acres overlooking Boca Ciega Bay. USF has leased the property from the city since 2004.
In February 2025, the City of St. Petersburg announced a five-year agreement to give the center $100,000 a year. The city's description of the program shows who it serves. Each year, up to 750 fourth and fifth graders take guided field trips through mangroves, seagrass and oyster habitat. Up to 25 teachers complete a five-day training series. Students also do stewardship work such as habitat restoration, litter removal and removing invasive species.
USF's page for the center describes K-12 field trips, teacher development, camps and stewardship events. It hasn't posted a public fall schedule. For Broadwater households, the St. Petersburg side is the place to put in a kayak at first light. It's also the place where local fourth graders learn what an oyster bed does.
Gulfport's Side Is Getting This Fall's Upgrades
The fall activity is happening across the line, and most of it ties back to a walking trail.
In June, AARP named the Discover Gulfport Walking Trails a 2026 Flagship Grantee in its Community Challenge program. The Gabber reported that the City of Gulfport will use the money to finish the trail system. Plans include directional and trail-name signs, trailhead map boards, QR codes that link to digital maps, and handrails at key spots. The handrails are meant to help older adults, people with disabilities and first-time visitors.
Clam Bayou is already part of that trail. The city's Discover Gulfport Walking Trail map includes a Green "Explore" route. It leads walkers from the Red and Yellow loops past the Municipal Marina to Clam Bayou Nature Park, with its boardwalks, free kayak launch and pier at the south end. The Green route connects to the Red and Yellow loops at 28th Avenue South and 52nd Street South.
Sources give different lengths for the system. The Gabber's July report put it at nine miles. The event listing for this year's Mayor's Community Walk says the trail grew from four miles to more than 10. Either way, the Clam Bayou leg is on the map. The new signs and map boards will make it easier to find for walkers who have only known the bayou from the water.
Before You Walk the Green Route
The city's trail map points out a few things that matter on foot, especially for anyone coming from the St. Petersburg side for the first time.
- The sidewalk has a two-block gap. The route runs along 29th Avenue South between Tifton and Miriam streets, beside the Marina parking lot, and that stretch has no sidewalk.
- The Marina lot is mostly paid. The map suggests street parking along the route, as posted signs allow, and asks drivers in the Marina lot to follow its posted rules.
- Weather can affect the Marina and Clam Bayou areas. The map asks walkers to take extra care through that section.
- The map only shows the route reaching Gulfport's park. It shows the route ending at Clam Bayou Nature Park. It doesn't show a walking connection across to the St. Petersburg preserve on 34th Avenue South, so treat the two entrances as separate trips.
The Fall Calendar Runs Through the Gulfport Entrance
The season started on October 10 with the International Coastal Cleanup at Clam Bayou. The City of Gulfport, Gulfport Grassroots and Keep Pinellas Beautiful organized it, provided supplies, and had volunteers remove litter to protect wildlife. Two more dates follow in November.
Saturday, November 7, 9:30 to 11 a.m. Clam Bayou Environmental History Walking Tour. Gulfport Arts & Heritage hosts the tour, which meets at the Gulfport Municipal Marina, 4630 29th Ave. S. General admission is $15, and Gulfport Arts & Heritage members attend free. The tour is capped at 25 people, and the organizer lists free Marina parking for it. Registration is online. With only 25 spots, it's worth signing up before the morning of.
Saturday, November 14, 8 to 11 a.m. 2nd Annual Mayor's Community Walk. Check-in starts at 8 a.m. at Pavilion #6 on Gulfport Beach, 5500 to 5800 Shore Blvd. S., and the walk begins at 9. Mayor Karen Love leads the guided walk, and the Gulfport Amalgamated Marching Band plays for the first block. The walk is free and highlights the trail expansion. The route explores the Waterfront District, and it's a good introduction to the trail system the Green route belongs to. Details are on the City of Gulfport's community news page.
The same afternoon, the Blues, Art & Seafood Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Trolley Market Square, 4900 Tangerine Ave. S. It features live blues, local art and vendors, and seafood along the 49th Street corridor.
For a Longer Paddle
For anyone who wants to see the bayou from the water with a guide, Osprey Bay Outdoors advertises an easy guided Clam Bayou paddle. It covers about five miles in four hours through the mangroves and out into Boca Ciega Bay, with a stop for lunch at a waterfront spot. Kayaks and gear are available. Its list of upcoming trips doesn't show a fall Clam Bayou date yet, so check back.
Living this close to Clam Bayou is one of the quieter benefits of a Broadwater address. I'm glad to share what I know about the waterfront parks and launches around Boca Ciega Bay, whether you're planning a weekend on the water or thinking about how the bayou fits into your next move. When you're ready to talk it through, Aaron Hoffman is happy to listen. Let's Connect.
