Hiking McIntosh Preserve

Acquired by Hillsborough County in 1998, McIntosh Preserve was granted to Plant City for management as conservation area.

Portions of the property have undergone transformation to help filter large volumes of water flowing towards the Hillsborough River.

A network of crushed shell pathways leads through various habitats, home to natural plant communities and dozens of bird species.

Crushed shell path in climax sandhill forest

Following the red blazes

Resources

Resources for exploring the area

Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover

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Overview

Location: Plant City
Length: 2.4 mile loop
Trailhead: 28.074377, -82.125100
Address: 775 Knights Griffin Rd, Plant City, FL 33565
Fees: Free
Restrooms: No
Land manager: Plant City
Phone: 813-659-4255

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

Directions

From Interstate 4 and Paul Buchman Hwy, head north on Paul Buchman Hwy for 2 miles, then turn right onto SR 39 N. In 0.9 mile, turn right onto Knights Griffin Rd. The entrance is located on the right in 0.9 miles, marked with a large sign.

Hike

Starting at the trailhead adjacent to an information kiosk with maps, follow a wide pathway as it turns towards a shaded canopy.

Blue blazed posts lead the way, winding through an assortment of pine and oak.

Junction of crushed paths under pines and oaks

Crushed shell path

Clusters of pine saplings flank the trail as it opens to a wide clearing before taking a wide turn to the west.

Tall golden grasses sway in the breeze alongside wispy bunches of bright green dogfennel.

Pine saplings

Benches offer resting spots alongside the path as it curves in the direction of a wooded area.

At the half-mile mark, a red-blazed post indicates an intersection with the blue trail. Turn right, beginning a counterclockwise loop on the red trail.

Trailside bench and trash can

Stately oaks border the walkway with large, arching branches covered in Christmas lichens and air plants.

Saw palmettos dots the forest floor, accompanied by various shrubs covered in thick tangles of muscadine grapevines.

Live oak

Two connector trails intersect the red-blazed Live Oak Loop.

The white and orange-blazed paths offer a variety of options, shortening the hike by connecting to the south end of the red loop.

Trail junctions with multiple signs on posts

White cross trail

Continue forward on the red trail. Huge southern magnolia trees reach high into the upper canopy, sporting large white flowers in the late spring.

Terrestrial orchids sprout along the path, preferring the same damp soils as magnolias and water oaks.

Toothpetal false reinorchids

At 1.2 miles, turn right at an intersection of four trails, taking the green-blazed Loblolly Loop to the western edge of the property.

At the far end, a perfectly situated picnic table sits underneath a majestic live oak covered in Spanish moss.

Picnic table under a live oak near a prairie

Picnic spot

Near the end of the green trail, a tall observation tower emerges from the surrounding forest.

This impressive structure offers two platforms with benches overlooking nearby wetlands, complete with electronic screens displaying information about the area.

From the tower, a 0.8-mile stroll along the blue trail leads back to the parking area.