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Tunnel under oaks

Jeanie and Pete Johnson Nature Preserve

Showcasing an impressive variety of habitats within a relatively small preserve, a mile long loop trail provides exceptional natural scenery along an easy, well-maintained path.

Gibsonton      ( 27.839469, -82.365054 )      1.0 miles

Named after long-time residents of Bullfrog Creek, Jeanie and Pete Johnson Nature Preserve protects over 84 acres of land adjacent to Hillsborough Bay.

Portions of the property were previously used for agriculture, including a large fish farm and pine plantation.

A hiking-only loop traverses the properties’ diverse landscapes currently undergoing habitat restoration.

Path under an oak canopy The oak hammock is a highlight of the preserve


Resources

Resources for exploring the area

Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover 50 Hikes in Central Florida Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover The Hiking Trails of Floridas National Forests Parks Preserves 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 mile loop
Trailhead: 27.839469, -82.365054
Address: 11002 Ekker Rd, Gibsonton
Fees: Free
Restrooms: No
Land manager: Hillsborough County
Phone: 813-672-7876

Open Sunrise – Sunset. Dogs are allowed on a leash.

Path through oak hammock


Directions

 
From Interstate 75, head west on Gibsonton Rd for 0.2 mile, then turn left onto New East Bay Rd. At a traffic circle in a quarter mile, take the second left to continue straight onto East Bay Rd. In 0.8 mile, turn right onto Symmes Rd. Turn right onto Ekker Rd in 0.7 mile, and the trailhead will be at the end of the road after a quarter mile.

Hike

Starting at the trailhead, pass through a gap in the fence, stopping first at a kiosk with information and maps on display.

The trail begins along an access road bordered by a mix of cabbage palms and oaks covered with Spanish moss.

Brown entrance sign next to sand trail Sign at the entrance


Yellow blazes mark the path as mixed woodlands slowly transition to a dry habitat accented with slash pines.

Multiple gopher tortoise burrows border the trail, indicative of a healthy ecosystem for this keystone species.

Burrow deep in a sand mound Gopher tortoise burrow


Continue along the sandy forest road as it snakes northward through scrubby flatwoods. Shade is limited, though the trail soon enters a dense oak hammock.

Yellow blaze on pine adjoining trail Yellow blazed pine


Vibrant blooms of narrowleaf silkgrass border a grassy corridor alongside beautyberry and clusters of muscadine grapevines.

At a quarter mile, turn right to begin a counterclockwise loop as the trail opens to a clearing with a yellow topped post in the middle.

Yellow blooms on grassy vegetation Narrowleaf silkgrass


Entering a dense oak hammock, continue towards the north end of the property, bordering Bullfrog Creek.

The waterway is never visible from the trail, though standing water and thick vegetation suggest the proximity to a watershed.

Tunnel of moss-covered oaks Spanish moss-covered oaks


Shade is plentiful as the trail enters a subtropical jungle of mixed oak and palm hammock.

Columns of cabbage palms lined the sides of the path, many of which still hold remainders of past fronds, commonly referred to as bootjacks.

Richly textures tunnel under oaks Oak and palm hammock


The rich soils provide a suitable environment for terrestrial orchids to thrive, and groups of toothpetal false reinorchids proliferate on the forest floor alongside the trail.

Red maple trees reach high above the canopy, another indicator of the wet nature of this habitat.

Spiky tall bloom of ground orchid Toothpetal false reinorchid


As the trail circles back southward, it borders a power line easement that doubles as a cattle pasture, with a new neighborhood on the opposite side.

Turn right as the loop concludes at 0.8 mile, following yellow blazes for another 0.2 mile to the trailhead.

Houses at the edge of a pasture Cow pasture and neighborhood


Trail Map

Jeanie and Pete Johnson Nature Preserve Trail Map


Explore More!

Video

A virtual walk in the woods at Jeanie and Pete Johnson Nature Preserve


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

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.

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.

Red Trail Golden Aster Scrub

Golden Aster Scrub Western Loop

Creating a 5.2 mile loop on the west side of Golden Aster Scrub Nature Preserve, the Red and Yellow Trails reveal a diversity of habitats.

Trail through oak hammock

Bell Creek Nature Preserve

Weaving through scrubby habitats on an oasis of natural land surrounded by development, Bell Creek Nature Preserve provides a window to Florida’s vanishing landscapes.

Trail Map (PDF) Official Website

Category: Central Florida, County Parks, Hikes, Loop Hikes, Natural Lands, Nature Trails, TrailsTag: Apollo Beach, Brandon, Dog-friendly, Family-Friendly, Gibsonton, Riverview, Ruskin, Tampa

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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

Maximo Park

Maximo Park

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