Fort De Soto County Park Letterbox - St. Petersburg, Florida.  Placed on February 22, 2001 by Craig and Jann of Kaukauna, Wisconsin and Jeff of St. Petersburg, Florida

Rated:  Easy walking

Time: 1 hour or less

Located in the Fort De Soto County Park south of St. Petersburg, Florida.  There are tollways to get on Pinellas Bayway and then to go into the park.

After entering the park, go to the south stairway of the ruins of Fort De Soto.  Walk up the stairway, counting the number of stairs as you go -- remember that number.

Then go to the Arrowhead Picnic Grounds within the park, where you will find the self-guided nature trail.

Walk to marker number 4.  Standing in front of the marker, face due north and walk into the woods the same number of paces (a pace equals 24") as the number of steps on the south stairway at Fort De Soto.

Stop -- face due east and you see a multi-trunked live oak tree.  Go to the trunk and you will find what you seek in a "keyhole" in the base of the tree.  (Be wary of the poison ivy that may be abundant in the area)