HomeFloridaPort Charlotte › Audubon-Pennington Nature Park

Audubon-Pennington Nature Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 346 Google reviews · Running trail in Port Charlotte, Florida · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Distance
4 mi
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Audubon-Pennington Nature Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Paved4 miShadedScenicDog-friendlyStroller / ADARestroomsTrailhead parkingQuiet

Quiet 9-acre nature park featuring marked trails, birds and wildlife.

What runners say about Audubon-Pennington Nature Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (346 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 8 mentions

“I wanted to give a quick thank you to the volunteers that take time to keep this park beautiful”

🌳 shaded & cool 5 mentions

“Most of the walk is under heavy canopy so it’s a good place to escape the Florida sun and walk in the shade for 30 min or so.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 7 mentions

“)🦋 - Free parking space - Quiet and relaxing 🌞 Cons: - Didn't see a bathroom 😕 - Parking lot seems busier than the trails .”

This is a short 3/4 mile dog walker but is really excellent for what it is for. Most of the walk is under heavy canopy so it’s a good place to escape the Florida sun and walk in the shade for 30 min or so. There are many access points to see the water and the vegetation is excellent.

★★★★★ — Brad , Mar 2022

Audubon-Pennington Nature Park is a little island in the middle of a a neighborhood. The main trail is pretty wide, but just dirt. There are many trees down from the many hurricanes we’ve had over the last few years.

★★★★★ — Charles , Jan 2025

I absolutely loved the walk. There were many birds singing. It was very peaceful. There's multiple water ways, many trail heads so you can go a different way each time. This place is definitely a hidden gem. I'll be back for sure.

★★★★★ — Brandon , May 2021

I'm from out if town and always looking for places to walk/hike. This little piece of paradise was recommended to me and only .5 mi from where I'm staying. I hooked up with the Audobon work party this morning, planning to help. I didn't expect the education I got on the flora from the members.

★★★★★ — Suzanne , Oct 2018

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 346 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 8 mentions

“I wanted to give a quick thank you to the volunteers that take time to keep this park beautiful”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 7 mentions

“)🦋 - Free parking space - Quiet and relaxing 🌞 Cons: - Didn't see a bathroom 😕 - Parking lot seems busier than the trails .”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 7 mentions

“)🦋 - Free parking space - Quiet and relaxing 🌞 Cons: - Didn't see a bathroom 😕 - Parking lot seems busier than the trails .”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 5 mentions

“Most of the walk is under heavy canopy so it’s a good place to escape the Florida sun and walk in the shade for 30 min or so.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 4 mentions

“The path is partially paved then turns into a dirt/sand path”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 3 mentions

“Leashed dogs are permitted on the trails, which are naturally carved into the landscape of the island.”

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🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions

“)🦋 - Free parking space - Quiet and relaxing 🌞 Cons: - Didn't see a bathroom 😕 - Parking lot seems busier than the trails .”

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Stroller / ADA accessible 2 mentions

“Nice place to go for a stroll my only complaint is that the trail could be a bit wider for my wheelchair.”

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Plan your run at Audubon-Pennington Nature Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
  • Distance4 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websitecharlottecountyfl.gov
  • Phone(941) 625-7529
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 7 AM–7 PM
Tuesday 7 AM–7 PM
Wednesday 7 AM–7 PM
Thursday 7 AM–7 PM
Friday 7 AM–7 PM
Saturday 7 AM–7 PM
Sunday 7 AM–7 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Audubon-Pennington Nature Park

1153 Alton Rd, Port Charlotte, FL 33952

Get directions

Running trails near Port Charlotte

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

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Waterfront path featuring boardwalks, picnic tables, tennis courts and pickleball courts.

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All running trails in Port Charlotte, FL →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.