• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Florida Hikes logo

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

  • Trails
  • Maps
  • Guidebooks
  • Search
  • Hike
    • Scenic Hikes
    • Loop Trails
    • Dog-friendly Hikes
    • Hikes for Kids
    • National Parks in Florida
    • Florida State Parks
  • Bike
    • Major Bike Trails
    • Paved Bike Trails
    • Off Road Biking
    • Biking Articles
  • Paddle
    • Canoe & Kayak Rentals
    • Paddling Destinations
    • Paddling Articles
  • Camp
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Car Camping
    • Primitive Camping
  • Florida Trail
    • Plan your Hike
    • Best Scenic Hikes
    • Best Backpacking
    • Section Hiking
    • Thru-Hiking
    • Trail Updates
  • Travel
  • Hike
    • Scenic Hikes
    • Loop Trails
    • Dog-friendly Hikes
    • Hikes for Kids
    • National Parks in Florida
    • Florida State Parks
  • Bike
    • Major Bike Trails
    • Paved Bike Trails
    • Off Road Biking
    • Biking Articles
  • Paddle
    • Canoe & Kayak Rentals
    • Paddling Destinations
    • Paddling Articles
  • Camp
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Car Camping
    • Primitive Camping
  • Florida Trail
    • Plan your Hike
    • Best Scenic Hikes
    • Best Backpacking
    • Section Hiking
    • Thru-Hiking
    • Trail Updates
  • Travel
Open marshy plain with blue skies

Lower Green Swamp Preserve

Miles of mixed-use trail loops traverses riverine forests and pine savanna, offering views of vast wet prairies and cypress swamps.

Plant City      ( 28.080805, -82.076424 )      5.9 miles

Once a large agricultural area known as the Cone Ranch, Lower Green Swamp Nature Preserve spans over 12,000 acres of the Hillsborough River watershed.

Although various methods of development were proposed, the county designated the property as protected land in 2010.

Of the five well-maintained loop trails on the property, the red and orange- blazed trails are the most accessible for a scenic day hike.

Grassy trail Grassy trail in the preserve


Resources

Resources for exploring the area

Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover 50 Hikes in Central Florida Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State 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

Length: 5.9 mile loop
Trailhead: 28.080929, -82.076409
Address: 3540 East Knights Griffin Road, Plant City
Fees: Free
Restrooms: Portable toilet next to ranger’s office
Land manager: Hillsborough County
Phone: 813-757-3713

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


Directions

 
From Interstate 4, head northwest on Kathleen Rd for 0.6 mile, then turn left onto Knights Station Rd. In 3.8 miles, continue straight as the road becomes Knights Griffin Rd. The trailhead is located on the right side of the road in 1.2 miles.

Hike

Staring at the parking area, be sure to stop at the trailhead kiosk for information and a map of the preserve.

Pass through a latched gate onto a wide, mowed path bordered by tall golden grasses and slash pines.

Green kiosk and fence Kiosk at trailhead


Follow red blazes northward for 0.4 mile, then turn right onto the orange blazed Central Loop.

The trail swoops to the left while passing the ranger’s office, before crossing Itchepackesassa Creek on a sturdy wooden bridge.

Road bridge on forest road under oaks Itchepackesassa Creek bridge


On the opposite side of the creek, the pathway opens to an expansive former agricultural pasture that is undergoing a restoration effort.

Where cattle had grazed for dozens of years, a pine savanna is slowly reclaiming the land.

Pines Pines repopulating a former cattle pasture


Turn right in a half mile, follow the orange blazes as the trail skirts along the edge of a large wet prairie.

In a few hundred feet, a covered picnic bench sits atop an earthen mound, offering a spot to rest while providing panoramic views of this spectacular landscape.

Covered picnic shelter on grassy mound Trailside shelter


Strands of Spanish moss-covered cypress trees line the edge of the prairie in the distance as numerous waterfowl chirp and call, hidden within the tall grasses.

Continue following the orange trail as it passes an intersection with the white trail, then southward towards the main loop.

Open prairie with marshes and cypresses Wet prairie


At the two-mile mark, turn right, passing the edge of one of several cypress swamps on the west side of the property.

Reaching an intersection with the blue trail in 0.6 mile, be sure to stay on the east side of the fence, following the orange blazes.

Orange tipped post along fenceline Orange Trail marker


While tracing along an edge of a wetland that surrounds Itchepackesassa Creek, the terrain becomes muddier.

Stands of sweetgum trees border the trail, alongside cypress trees surrounded by countless knees protruding from the dark soils.

Towering cypress tree Ancient cypress


The pathway leads southward, alongside a dense hammock of oaks bordering a channelized waterway.

In a half mile, the trail takes a sharp left, following the creek towards the beginning of the loop.

Live oaks draped with moss Oak hammock


Cross the bridge and continue following orange blazes for 0.3 mile before reaching the red-blazed Southeast Loop.

Turning left at this intersection leads back to the trailhead in 0.4 mile. Turn right to add more distance to the hike.

To do so, follow the red loop along a wide pathway popular with equestrians before reaching the trailhead after another 1.2 miles.

Red blaze on tree in front of treeline Southeast Loop


Trail Map

Lower Green Swamp Nature Preserve Trail Map


Explore More!

Video


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

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.

Fishing pier on lake

Colt Creek State Park

Camping beneath the twinkling stars at Colt Creek State Park, enjoy a getaway from the busy bustle of the Interstate 4 corridor between Lakeland and Tampa

Upper-Hillsborough-Hiking-Trail

Upper Hillsborough River Hiking Trail

A linear trail, the Upper Hillsborough River Hiking Trail meanders through pine flatwoods, oak hammocks, and floodplain forests along the edge of the Hillsborough River basin.

Cyclist on paved Flatwoods Loop

Flatwoods Park

In addition to the 6.9 mile paved bike path loop at its core, Flatwoods Park at Lower Hillsborough Wilderness provides many different routes for outdoor exploration

Trail Map (PDF) Official Website

Category: Biking, Central Florida, Day Hikes, Equestrian, Hikes, Loop Hikes, Natural Lands, Off Road Biking, TrailsTag: Big Trees, Dog-friendly, Green Swamp, Lakeland, Picnic, Plant City, Tampa, Zephyrhills

Have an update? Contact us.

Primary Sidebar

CENTRAL FLORIDA

CENTRAL FLORIDA OVERVIEW
East Coast Greenway. Florida Trail

Brooksville. Coast to Coast Trail. Cocoa Beach. Cross Florida Greenway. Crystal River. Dade City. Daytona Beach. Kissimmee. Lakeland. Leesburg. Ocala. Ocala National Forest. Orlando. Sanford. St. Petersburg. Tampa.

Our Newest Books

The Florida Trail Guide

The Florida Trail GuideOur definitive guidebook to planning backpacking trips on the Florida National Scenic Trail, now in its fourth edition. Full data charts and maps. B&W, 356 pages. $19.95 + tax & shipping.

Order Now


Florida Trail Hikes

Florida Trail Hikes 2nd edition coverFifty of the best day hikes, overnights, and weekend trips on the Florida Trail. Full hike descriptions and maps, full color. 376 pages. $24.95 + tax & shipping.

Order Now


Discovering the Florida Trail

Florida Trail mini coffee table book cover of trail into palm hammock
A visual journey the length of the Florida Trail, covering more than 1,500 miles from the Everglades to Pensacola Beach. Hardcover, 196 pages. $24.95 + tax & shipping.
Order Now


50 Hikes in Central Florida 3rd edition
Five Star Trails Orlando guidebook
Explorer's Guide North Florida & The Panhandle guidebook

Florida Trail Apps

Farout GuidesFarout Guides Comprehensive logistics and offline maps for the
Florida National Scenic Trail (1,500 miles), the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail (108 miles), and the ECT Florida Connector (92 miles).

Explore More

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

Footer

FIND A TRAIL OR PARK

NORTHWEST FLORIDA
Apalachicola. Apalachicola National Forest. Blackwater River State Forest. Blountstown. Bonifay. Bristol. Cape San Blas. Carrabelle. Chattahoochee. Chipley. Crawfordville. Crestview. DeFuniak Springs. Destin. Ebro. Eglin Air Force Base. Fort Walton Beach. Freeport. Gulf Islands National Seashore. Madison. Marianna. Milton. Monticello. Mossy Head. Navarre Beach . Niceville. Panama City Beach. Pensacola. Ponce De Leon. Port St. Joe. Quincy. Sopchoppy. South Walton. St. Marks. St. Marks NWR. Tallahassee. Vernon. Wakulla. Wewahitchka

NORTH FLORIDA
Alachua. Amelia Island. Baldwin. Branford. Bunnell. Cedar Key. Chiefland. Crescent City. Dowling Park. Ellaville. Fernandina Beach. Flagler Beach. Gainesville. Green Cove Springs. High Springs. Jacksonville. Keystone Heights. Lake Butler.Lake City. Live Oak. Mayo. Macclenny. Micanopy. Olustee. Orange Park. Osceola National Forest. Palatka. Palatka-Lake Butler Trail. Palm Coast. Perry. Salt Springs. St. Augustine. Starke. Steinhatchee. Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. Suwannee Springs. Talbot Islands. Timucuan Preserve. Trenton. Welaka. White Springs. Williston

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo

MULTI-REGION
Big Cypress Swamp. East Coast Greenway. Everglades National Park. Florida National Scenic Trail

CENTRAL FLORIDA
Apopka. Belleview. Brandon. Brooksville. Bushnell. Canaveral National Seashore. Christmas. Chuluota. Clearwater Beach. Clermont. Coast to Coast Trail. Cocoa Beach. Cross Florida Greenway. Crystal River. Dade City. Daytona Beach. De Leon Springs. DeBary. Deland. Deltona. Dunedin. Dunnellon. Frostproof. Geneva. Inverness. Kenansville. Kissimmee. Lake Mary. Lake Wales. Lakeland. Largo. Leesburg. Longwood. Melbourne. Melbourne Beach. Merritt Island. Merritt Island NWR. Mims. Mount Dora. New Port Richey. New Smyrna Beach. Ocala. Ocala National Forest. Ocklawaha. Orlando. Ormond Beach. Osteen. Oviedo. Palm Bay. Ridge Manor. Sanford. Silver Springs. Spring Hill. St. Cloud. St. Petersburg. Tampa. Tarpon Springs. Titusville . Walt Disney World. Weeki Wachee. Winter Springs. Withlacoochee State Forest. Withlacoochee State Trail. Yeehaw Junction

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Bradenton . Charlotte Harbor. Ding Darling NWR. Englewood. Estero. Fort Myers. Immokalee. Naples. Pine Island. Port Charlotte. Punta Gorda. Sanibel Island. Sarasota. Venice

SOUTH FLORIDA
Arcadia. Basinger. Big Cypress National Preserve. Big Cypress Seminole Reservation. Clewiston. Everglades City. Fisheating Creek. Lake Okeechobee. Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail. Lake Placid. LaBelle. Lakeport. Moore Haven. Okeechobee. Pahokee. Port Mayaca. Sebring. South Bay

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA
Big Pine Key. Biscayne Bay. Biscayne National Park. Boca Raton. Boynton Beach. Coral Gables. Davie. Delray Beach. Northeast Everglades Natural Area. Florida Keys. Fort Lauderdale. Fort Pierce. Hobe Sound. Hollywood. Homestead. Islamorada. Jensen Beach. Jupiter. Juno Beach. Key Biscayne. Key Largo. Key West. Marathon. Miami. Ocean to Lake Greenway. Overseas Heritage Trail. Palm Beach. Port St. Lucie. Redland. Sebastian. Stuart. Vero Beach. West Palm Beach

  • Trails
  • Parks
  • Beaches
  • Gardens
  • Springs
  • Ecotours
  • Attractions
©2006-2023, Sandra Friend & John Keatley | Disclosure | Site Index | Work with Us | Advertise with Us
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy | Florida Hikes PO Box 93 Mims FL 32754| Contact