Accomplished paddlers will finish the trail in two hours but plan for three if you want to stop and enjoy the sights. Weedon's new Paul Getting Memorial Trail is 1.27 miles of boardwalk that takes hikers deep into the mangroves to observation platforms and a tower. But to keep the preserve pristine, access is limited. No more than 282 people are allowed inside at a time, and no more than 1,128 people can use the park during any given day. The park opens at 7 a.m. and closes at sunset.
Admission is free.
To access the canoe trail, launch next to the fishing pier at the end of Weedon Drive, the dirt road leading into the preserve. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen and a hat because it can get hot. Insect repellent also is recommended. Every fall, Tampa BayWatch sponsors a canoe and kayak race through the preserve called the Weedon Island Power Paddle. The event is scheduled for Oct. 21.