Florida Hikes

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

Man climbing steep stairs in tropical forest

Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site

One among many intentional high points constructed by ancient peoples along the edges of Tampa Bay, this protected shell mound and adjacent burial site are what remain of a much larger complex at Terra Ceia.

One of Florida’s smallest state parks, Madira Bickel Mound nonetheless holds a great deal of significance. And height.

The flat-topped mound is twenty feet above its now-forested surroundings near Terra Ceia Bay.

Man looking at trees at top of staircase in woods At the top of the Madira Bickel Mound

Notable as Florida’s first state archaeological site, it was donated by the Bickel family in 1948.

The park protects and interprets a temple mound used by pre-Spanish contact cultures up to two millennia ago. A separate burial mound sits close to its base.

Picnic table mound and pathway This may be Florida’s smallest state park

Resources

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

Location: Terra Ceia
Length: 0.2 mile
Trailhead: 27.565955, -82.592884
Address: 955 Bayshore Dr, Terra Ceia
Fees: Free
Restroom: None
Land Manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 941-723-4536

Open 8 AM to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome. An accessible sidewalk leads from the parking area to the interpretive kiosk at the base of the mound.

Directions


 
From Interstate 275 south of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, exit onto US 19 at Terra Ceia. After 1.1 miles, turn right onto Bayshore Dr. Continue 1.3 miles to the parking area on the left.

Hike

From the small parking lot, an accessible sidewalk winds by a picnic table and passes the first of the two mounds visible on this ten acre site, a burial mound.

Follow the winding path between the palms to the large interpretive sign explaining the importance of this archaeological site.

Interpretive sign along concrete path Path to the mound

A map shows the full Terra Ceia Archaeological Complex, this temple mound one of the smallest features found, as shown at the bottom of the map.

As is the case with so many ancient cultural sites in America, much of the complex was destroyed by development and road building.

A spill of shells among leaves Shells found in ancient mounds were crushed for early roadbuilding in Florida

This pair of mounds was gifted to the state before it, too, disappeared. Pottery fragments and tools date the site to the late Woodland culture.

It was known in Florida as the Weeden Island and Safety Harbor periods due to more in-depth investigations of sites along other edges of Tampa Bay.

Stairs with shell material Staircase up the mound

Climb the staircase. The steps are broad and filled with the shell material the midden is made of, but the ascent is quite steep.

A rich growth of semi-tropical forest climbs the sides of the mound and swarms across the top except for the area specifically cleared on its crest.

Steep hillside with tropical forest Looking down a slope of tropical forest

Mature gumbo-limbo are among the largest trees atop the mound. Walking the perimeter of the fence, peer over it to see how the mound slopes down at different angles.

This insinuates the mound once had a much larger, flatter top. When built, the views would have been in every direction.

Flat area with fence and trees beyond Flat fenced area atop the mound

Was it an ancient watchtower near the mouth of Tampa Bay, a signal tower to the other mounds on nearby islands and peninsulas, or a place of worship?

All anyone can do now is guess at its purpose. The forest obscures any views of the surrounding waterways.

Tropical foliage Large tropical trees block any views

Descend carefully; it feels steeper on the downhill pitch than climbing up to the top. Follow the winding path back to the parking area.

The round-trip is slightly less than two tenths of a mile, but the climb and descent make it feel like more.

Low grassy mound within fence Burial mound near the parking area

Trail Map

Madira Bickel Mound Archaeological State Park Trail Map

Explore More!

Video

A walk through Madira Bickel Mound Archaeological State Park

Slideshow

See our photos from Madira Bickel Mound

Nearby Adventures

Mangroves in brownish water Terra Ceia Preserve State Park Home to many wading birds, Terra Ceia Preserve State Park is an aquatic preserve protecting the ragged northern shoreline of the island of Terra Ceia.
Ramp descending through jungle-like growth Emerson Point Preserve Where the Manatee River meets Tampa Bay, Emerson Point Preserve has a network of trails around a complex centered on one of Florida's most ancient temple mounds, the Portavant Mound, near Bradenton.

Official Website

Sandra Friend & John Keatley
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