Pepper Creek Trail is a handicap-accessible walking and boat ride trail. It is a paved walking trail along the tram trail to the Park West entrance on Fish Bowl Drive and includes the overflow parking lot area to the north of the parking lot. It is an easy one-mile trail with mixed habitat birding opportunities.

The trail starts at the Park's Visitors Center and winds along Pepper Creek. Follow the trail back of the Visitors Center along the tram road. The area along the edges of the parking lot is a good place to start the walking portion of the trail. This area is made up of scrub, hardwood forest and cypress swamp. The return trip is on the Park's pontoon boat along beautiful Pepper Creek, basically the same habitat as the tram road.

Entrance to the Park is on US19 in Homosassa. There is plenty of free parking, both at the Visitors Center and at the west entrance of the Park on Fish Bowl Drive.

State Park fee required for entering the Park, but not for the Pepper Creek Trail.

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park by its very nature is one big bird sanctuary. Anyone birding the Pepper Creek Trail should include a visit to the Park on Fish Bowl Drive. There is an admission fee to enter the Park.

The best time to walk this trail is early in the morning around the Visitors Center Parking lot down the tram road to the west gate parking lot and the overflow parking lot. Spring and fall are the best times to bird the trail for migratory warblers, vireos, thrushes and other passerines. The overflow parking lot is usually a good place to find pileated woodpeckers, and osprey nests. Louisiana water thrush, prothonotary warbler and other warblers can be found here.

The Park proper is a year-round birding opportunity at the Gardens overlooking the Blue Waters of the Homosassa River. Look for wood ducks, waders, moor hens, coots, bald eagles and swallowtail kites. The trees along the water are a great place for migratory birds all season. In the animal exhibit area, wild birds make a home because it is easy living. Wading birds nest over the alligator pond because it provides protection from raccoons and other predators.

Photography by Al Lipman