Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve protects 16,000 acres of floodplain forests and uplands along the Hillsborough River.
Public lands buffer the river’s sinuous flow from the Green Swamp to the north edge of the Tampa metro.
With more than 60 miles of trails, the preserve is one of Tampa’s favorite places to get outdoors, particularly for cyclists exploring Wilderness Park and Flatwoods Park.
Resources
Resources for exploring the area
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Overview
Location: Tampa
Primary Trailhead: 28.148891, -82.278711
Address: 14302 Morris Bridge Rd, Thontosassa
Fees: $2 flat rate fee charged at most entrances. $50 individual, $100 family annual passes available online or by phone.
Restroom: At most trailheads
Land manager: Hillsborough County
Phone: 813-987-6240 (call 813-426-5583 for ranger assistance)
Trails open dawn to dusk. Leashed dogs permitted except where posted. Drones and other remote controlled vehicles are not permitted in the preserve.
User restrictions (including directional flow for cyclists) are posted on certain trails for safety’s sake.
Free permits required for primitive camping. Hunting is permitted in some parts of the preserve at different times of year. Check kiosks in advance or call ahead for dates.
About the Preserve
Originally established as the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area in the 1960s to prevent flooding in the city of Tampa, the preserve protects Tampa’s water supply.
As the largest natural area in the Tampa Bay region, Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve is also a destination for recreation. It can be accessed from seven different tracts.
Entrances are along Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Morris Bridge Rd, and US 301, providing access to hiking trails, paved bike paths, equestrian trails, and off-road bike trails.
Recreation Sites
Click on any icon to get directions and details on the recreation sites we’ve visited in Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve, or select from the destinations listed below the map.
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
John B Sargeant Park
At the scenic confluence of Flint Creek with the Hillsborough River, John B Sargeant Park provides access to the Hillsborough River State Canoe Trail amid a lush cypress floodplain, with a boardwalk and footpath showcasing the views.
Morris Bridge Park
While the gentle loop boardwalk at Morris Bridge Park is a major reason to stop and savor the Hillsborough River, the park also provides cyclists a trailhead to off-road adventure
Oak Ridge Tract
A mosaic of cypress swamps, pine flatwoods, and sandhills, the Oak Ridge Tract of Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve offers an immersive day hike destination with many hiking options
Trout Creek Park
Under a tight-knit canopy of live oaks, Trout Creek Park provides a pleasant place for a family picnic and a nature walk along the floodplain of the Hillsborough River
Explore More!
Slideshow
See our photos from trails within Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve
Nearby Adventures
More worth exploring while you’re in this area.
Lettuce Lake Park
At the north edge of Tampa, Lettuce Lake Park protects 240 acres along the Hillsborough River, with a loop trail and boardwalk that shows off cypress swamps and uplands.
Hillsborough River State Park
Water in motion: the Hillsborough rapids foam and froth over limestone boulders beneath grand cypress trees in Class II rapids. One of Florida’s oldest state parks, Hillsborough River State Park showcases this masterpiece of nature from an overlook and trail system built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Fort Foster State Historic Site
Part of Hillsborough River State Park, Fort Foster State Historic Site takes you back to the era of Florida’s earliest pioneer settlers and their clashes with the native Seminoles.
Eureka Springs
Eureka Springs Park includes what remains of a tropical botanical garden established in 1938 around springs that fed a lush floodplain forest along Six Mile Creek