There are covered picnic
tables along the trail, and the
rangers occasionally lead
turtle walks and beach nature
walks by appointment. There
are approximately 40 parking
spaces, and restroom and
shower facilities.
Over the years Stump Pass
has changed dramatically,
as it is one of the least stable
passes in this area. There
were many times, for years
at a time, when you couldn’t
A GASPARILLA MAGAZINE • July/August • 2020
even get through the Pass
from the Gulf of Mexico.
Storms would wash the sand
in and out, and in recent
years it has stayed open
(though its width is always
in fl ux). Between the 1930s
and 1950s several hurricanes
came close enough to our
area to make some drastic
changes in the landscape.
The Pass has been dredged
several times, and most boats
can make it through without
too much trouble. Even so,
care should be used when
the tide is low.
When you’re on the waters
of Ski Alley, you can see a
bit of what “Old Florida”
looked like. While the
majestic Australian pines
aren’t anywhere near as
prolifi c as they used to be,
the underbrush is thick and
jungle-like.