Florida Hikes

Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

Grassy mowed trail in pines

Blackwater Creek Nature Preserve

A pair of loop trails provide access to wide-open pine flatwoods interspersed with a mosaic of prairie, cypress domes, oak hammocks, and a quiet spot alongside the namesake creek.

Plant City (28.128278, -82.154928)   6.5 miles  

Purchased by Hillsborough County in the late 1990s, Blackwater Creek Nature Preserve protects over 2,000 acres of diverse Florida habitats.

The system of wide trails is designated for hikers only, and the county takes extra measures to maintain the nearly pristine state of this preserve

Pond in wetlands in pine savanna Prairie pond

Resources

Resources for exploring the area
50 Hikes in Central Florida Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover Paddlers Guide Florida
 
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Overview

Location: Plant City
Length: 6.5 mile loop
Trailhead: 28.128278, -82.154928
Address: 2469 Patrinostro Rd, Plant City
Fees: Free
Restrooms: None
Land manager: Hillsborough County
Phone: 813-757-3713

Open sunrise to sunset. Dogs are allowed on a leash.

The property is known to flood regularly, which may cause closures to the public. It is best to check the website before arriving.

Directions


 
From Interstate 4 in Plant City, head north on SR 39 for 6.7 miles, turning left onto Patrinostro Rd. The road ends at the trailhead in 0.4 mile.

Hike

From the trailhead parking, head west through a gate, passing a pair of informational kiosks and a picnic bench.

Follow the service road alongside a small cypress dome for 0.2 mile, turning left at a post marked with the number one to begin the red trail loop.

Picnic bench and kiosk under moss draped oaks Trailhead kiosks

The trail takes a sweeping turn to the right, passing a marshy depression before crossing a small tributary to Blackwater Creek.

No bridge is available at the crossing, and the water may be deep depending on the season.

Slender tributary in cypress Blackwater tributary

Pine flatwoods are the predominant habitat within the preserve, offering panoramic views across a vast landscape of palmettos and longleaf pine.

At a post marked with number two, turn right, heading north down a wide grassy path.

Pine flatwoods with red tipped post marked 2 Pine flatwoods

Red-shouldered hawks soar over the expanse, their familiar cries filling the otherwise quiet atmosphere.

At 1.3 miles, a red and yellow topped post marks a junction of the trails. Turn left to begin the yellow loop.

Park bench under trees Shaded bench

Distant cypress domes rise from the prairie as the pathway traverses the wide expanses between them.

At the south end of the loop, a curious cluster of young sweetgum trees stands in a water spot alongside the trail.

Stand of sweetgum trees Sweetgum trees

Small prairie ponds border the trail as the the loop heads back eastward, crossing another potentially wet area at the three-mile mark.

Passing a post marked with the number seven, turn left to continue down the red blazed loop trail.

The trail takes a straight path northward for 0.8 mile to Blackwater Creek, passing through a pine savanna maintained by regular prescribed burns.

A bench along the creek offers a shaded spot to rest while the dark, tranquil waters flow downstream.

Rush of water down Blackwater Creek under tree tunnel Blackwater Creek

Backtracking south for 0.2 mile, turn left at a post marked with the number eight. The trail weaves along the ecotone of pine flatwoods and riverine swamp hammock for the next mile.

It then cuts across an open prairie. Golden grasses bow in the breeze alongside vibrant yellow goldenrod flowers that bloom in autumn.

A grassy road winds for the next mile alongside and through several small oak hammocks.

Completing the red loop at first numbered post, turn left for a short 0.2 mile walk back to the trailhead.

Long mowed path in open prairie Crossing the prairie

Trail Map

Blackwater Creek Nature Preserve Trail Map

Explore More!

Video

Nearby Adventures

Trail under oaks flanked by ferns Edward Medard Conservation Park Meandering over hilly terrain past numerous scenic overlooks, the Singing Bluffs Trail at Edward Medard Conservation Park provides great birding among documented nesting bird colonies.
Woodlands at Flatwoods Park Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve As the largest natural area in the Tampa Bay region, Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve is a major destination for recreation, with seven entrances across 16,000 acres.
Foreground of cypress knees with rapids beyond Hillsborough River State Park With footpaths and picnic grounds built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, this park delights with miles of scenic trails, a swinging bridge, and the froth of river rapids.
Woodland path Gator Creek Reserve A dip into a corner of the Green Swamp, Gator Creek Preserve north of Lakeland offers over 3 miles of easy loop trails for the whole family to explore.

Trail Map (PDF) Official Website

Chris Stevens
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