PALMETTO, Fla. — From the top of the observation tower down to the glittering bay waters, Emerson Point Preserve in northern Manatee County offers an escape from development.

What You Need To Know

  • There is water access for canoeing and kayaking, fishing and swimming

  • Open daily from sunrise to sunset, at 5801 17th St. W., Palmetto

The 461-acre preserve sits where the Manatee River meets Tampa Bay.

It was once part of a home for indigenous people, and a temple mound remains.

The settler home that was on the top of the mound is no longer there.

There is water access for canoeing and kayaking, fishing and swimming.

Rangers like Jared Deblecourt from Manatee County’s Department of Natural Resources work to keep nature accessible to guests — with a minimal footprint.

Though he’s been here for two-and-a-half-years, he’s been a fan of the preserve much longer — since he was a 10-year-old riding his bike here while visiting his Snowbird grandparents in Palmetto.

“I used to ride my bike down all these trails as a kid — just fell in love with it and knew I wanted to pursue a career in natural resources,” Deblecourt said.

An observation tower offers views from Anna Maria Island to St. Petersburg.

Multiple hiking trails offer a look at different coastal ecosystems — on foot and on bicycles.