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Palmetto lined corridor

Alafia Scrub Preserve

Discover a new perspective on the Alafia River basin on this easy loop through riverside uplands with a scenic overlook at its center.

Riverview      ( 27.8609, -82.3359 )      1.4 miles

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Near where the Alafia River meets Tampa Bay, Alafia Scrub Nature Preserve offers immersion in upland habitats along a scrub ridge outside Gibsonton.

Encompassing 80 acres, this conservation property snugs up to the Alafia basin in a salt marsh. The river flows under Interstate 75, meaning a traffic hum along with your river views.

Along this gentle loop hike, which can be cut in half for younger and less agile hikers, enjoy dense oak hammocks and a jungle of palms that absorb the sound.

Salt marsh and lone palm along river Marsh with Alafia River beyond


Resources

Resources for exploring the area

50 Hikes in Central Florida Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover

Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.


Overview

Location: Gibsonton
Length: 1.4 mile loop
Trailhead: 27.8609, -82.3359
Address: 10243 Elbow Bend Rd, Riverview
Fees: Free
Restroom: None
Land manager: Hillsborough County
Phone: 813-672-7876

Open sunrise to sunset. Leashed pets permitted.

No bicycles. Limited trailhead parking.

Footpath into palms and oaks


Directions

 
From Interstate 75 south of Tampa, take exit 250, Gibsonton. Follow Gibsonton Drive east for 0.6 mile. As the curve starts to straighten out, make a left on Hagadorn Rd. Turn left after a quarter mile onto Elbow Bend Rd. The trailhead parking area is on the left.

Hike

From the trailhead adjoining the power line easement along Elbow Bend Rd, enter the gap in the fence and check the kiosk, which shows a map of the preserve.

Red markers guide you south towards a line of oaks, reaching the red-blazed outer loop at Marker 0. Turn right and follow the narrow wooded corridor.

Marker 0 post in woods Marker 0 marks the start of the loop


Palmetto fronds lean over the footpath, and sunlight glistens through streamers of Spanish moss hanging from the forest canopy.

The trail briefly joins a fence line within sight of Elbow Bend Rd before turning back into the woods, passing a cluster of sweetbay magnolia.

footbridge in forest Crossing the footbridge


Crossing a footbridge over an ephemeral waterway, the trail gains a little elevation as you reach Marker 1, tipped red and blue.

It indicates the junction with the blue-blazed Cut-Off Trail, the shortcut across the loop at 0.3 mile that cuts this hike in half. Continue straight for the longer hike.

Marker 1 First trail junction with Cut-Off Trail


The oak hammock opens into a grassy area lined with saw palmetto, where gopher tortoises graze.

Passing a bench, the trail narrows sharply as palm fronds crowd closely. You may have to push through them.

Dense palm fronds Palm hammock


The oaks are taller here, limbs curving overhead, the understory dense with cabbage palms and dwarf palmetto.

A wild citrus tree dangles orange globes above a curve. A short footbridge is soon after, among the palms.

Small footbridge Small footbridge in palm hammock


Rising onto an oak-topped ridge, the trail plunges back into palm fronds. Moss-draped vines hang low.

The first sounds of Interstate 75 carry through forest openings. Stepping over palmetto trunks, cross another footbridge.

Palmetto trunks in trail Watch out for trunks in the footpath


This is a more substantial waterway flowing towards the river. Lined with giant leather ferns, it has a primordial feel.

The trail climbs a small rise, offering peeks into the salt marsh before the observation deck at Marker 2, 0.6 mile into the hike.

Mud flats and bridge Interstate 75 bridge over the Alafia River


If the tide is out, you may see ibis and roseate spoonbills on the mud flats. If it’s in, the approach to the deck may be sticky underfoot.

After taking in the view, climb down the stairs and turn right. The trail soon turns away from the river basin to start the return loop.

Oak hammock Trail before it starts the curve east on the loop


The landscape drops off into a large basin filled with palms just before you pass Marker 3. Pines and oaks tower overhead.

Reaching a clearing where rust-colored bluestem grass waves above the saw palmetto, the trail opens onto the scrub ridge.

Scrub ridge with tall grass Climbing onto the low scrub ridge


Spagnum moss edges the footpath as it emerges at a second intersection with the blue-blazed Cut-Off Trail at Marker 4 at 1 mile.

Turn right to head towards Marker 5, which is within sight of the property boundary with an apartment complex beyond.

Marker 5 Marker 5 in the scrub forest


Make a left here to continue along the loop. Bright white sand underfoot and sand live oaks and myrtle oaks herald the scrub forest you’re walking through.

Older saw palmetto arch up on long trunks, lifting well off the forest floor.

saw palmetto with long trunks Older saw palmetto


A slab of concrete is half-hidden by leaf litter at 1.2 miles. A yellow-blazed trail peels off the loop to connect to a pedestrian entrance at the southeast corner of the preserve.

Pass it by and stay with the red blazes. The oak hammock is more dense and mature through this part of the preserve, with taller laurel oaks and water oaks.

Yellow blazes with arrows in woods The yellow trail leads to Gibsonton Dr


The understory is thick with young oaks before the saw palmetto takes over again. Close the loop on the red-blazed trail at Marker 0 after 1.4 miles.

Turn right to exit the loop, and turn left when you see the fence to return to the trailhead.

Footpath lined with saw palmetto Saw palmetto crowding in


Trail Map

Alafia Scrub Preserve Trail Map
Red: loop. Blue: Cut-Off Trail. Yellow: pedestrian connector.

Explore More!

Slideshow

See our photos of Alafia Scrub Preserve


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Prairie at Golden Aster Scrub

Golden Aster Scrub Nature Preserve

Protecting uplands immediately east of Tampa Bay, Golden Aster Scrub Nature Preserve immerses hikers within oak scrub habitat along a sandy loop trail.

Footpath in a sand pine scrub

Rhodine Scrub Nature Preserve

An island of high ground in the Alafia River basin, Rhodine Scrub Nature Preserve protects more than 400 acres of Florida scrub habitat south of Riverview

Leaf-strewn broad path in pine forest

Fishhawk Creek Preserve South

An easy-going 2.8-mile loop trail explores the south tract of Fishhawk Creek Preserve providing a glimpse of a few natural and endangered Florida habitats.

Alafia River with rugged shoreline

Fishhawk Creek Preserve North

Hike rolling sandhills and rugged terrain sloping towards scenic views of the Alafia River and Little Fishhawk Creek near Lithia Springs.

Trail Map (PDF) Official Website

Category: Central Florida, County Parks, Day Hikes, Hikes, Loop Hikes, Natural Lands, TrailsTag: Alafia River, Dog-friendly, Gibsonton, Observation Decks, Riverview, Ruskin, Tampa

Have an update? Contact us.

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Our recent park & trail updates in this region

Lengthy boardwalk heading towards mangrove flats

John R. Bonner Nature Park

John R. Bonner Nature Park
Boardwalk framed by live oaks and saw palmetto

George McGough Nature Park

George McGough Nature Park
Leaning sand pines in scrub

Balm Boyette Nature Preserve

Balm Boyette Nature Preserve
Dock edged by mangroves

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Maximo Park

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