Robert Crown Wilderness Area is comprised of 347 acres of protected and
undeveloped land west of New Port Richey and the Gulf Harbors Sea Forest
subdivision. Owned and controlled by the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection, the area - consisting mostly of wetlands - has historically had more
bird species observed than any other site in Pasco County. Well over 200 species
of common, rare, and endangered species have been reported.
You will find no signs directing you
to the Robert Crown Wilderness Area. It is an area only accessible by
watercraft. Although there are some areas of high ground, they are not
accessible and there are no hiing trails. This is an area of interest only to
kayakers and fisherman. Bounded on the north by Green Key Road, on the south by
the Flor-A-Mar canal, on the west by the Gulf of Mexico, and on the east by the
Crown canal, it is an area almost entirely surrounded by water. At the north
side of the area, there is a small preserve owned by Pasco County Environmental
Lands known as the "Boy Scout Preserve". However there is no access available
into the Robert Crown Wilderness Area from that site.
Kayakers will find that the easiest way to access the Robert Crown Wilderness
Area is along Green Key Road, where there are several possible launch points.
Parking is permitted along Green Key Road. It would also be possible to launch
from the nearby Robert K. Rees Memorial Park on Green Key. For those wanting to
rent a kayak to explore the area, there is a kayak rental facility at the east
end of the Flor-A-Mar canal, which is just off Highway 19 at Marine Parkway.
Paddling along the creeks within Robert Crown Wilderness Area is a real treat.
But you'll need at least two feet of tide because the waters are shallow in
places. The north creek is narrow and windy ... and the south creek is wider,
but has large limestone outcroppings to watch out for. The south creek, in
particular, generally has clear water, and is particularly impressive at tide
changes. In addition to lots of fish, look for blue crab, horseshoe crab, and
rays - all of which are common in this area. Check the links below for a map of
a 2.1 mile kayak trail that makes for a pleasant afternoon paddle.
Activities & Facilities
Open gulf kayaking
Fishing