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Bridge leading over Hillsborough River to boardwalk loop

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

Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve  |  Tampa
( 28.098967, -82.312367 )      0.4 miles

On our first few visits to Morris Bridge Park, the boardwalk was why you stopped, unless the plan was to put in and paddle up or down the river.

A small picnic area at this wayside in Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve, a place to drop a line off a pier, and an easy-to-reach river bank for birding: that seemed like plenty to do.

But as off-road cycling took off in the region, a network of rugged trails grew between Flatwoods Park and Wilderness Park.

Morris Bridge Park now serves as a mid-point to join that twisting singletrack in either direction, since cyclists must use the road bridge to cross the Hillsborough River.

The hike description below outlines the Morris Bridge Boardwalk, an easy walk for all ages and abilities. Once we ride the off-road trails, they’ll be added separately.

Bend in the Hillsborough River Bend in the Hillsborough River


Resources

Resources for exploring the area

50 Hikes in Central Florida Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover Complete Guide to Florida Wildflowers 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

Location: Tampa
Length: 0.4 mile loop
Trailhead: 28.098967, -82.312367
Address: 13630 Morris Bridge Rd, Thonotosassa
Fees: $2 per vehicle
Restroom: At the trailhead
Land manager: Hillsborough County
Phone: 813-987-6240 (call 813-426-5583 for ranger assistance)

Trails open dawn to dusk. Neither dogs or bikes are not permitted on the boardwalk. Drones and other remote controlled vehicles are not permitted in the preserve.

Boardwalk under cypress trees

While the trailheads and trails are managed by Hillsborough County, Southwest Florida Water Management District is the underlying land manager.
 
Cyclists: some trails in the preserve have a one-way directional flow and should be followed as shown on signage at entrances and junctions.


Directions

 
From Interstate 75 exit 266, follow Morris Bridge Rd (CR 579) north 3.5 miles to the park entrance on the left, just before the bridge.

Hike

Walk to the far edge of the parking area and you’ll see a path leading down to the left. It makes its way to the observation deck and fishing platform.

Overlooking the sluggish Hillsborough River flow, it’s the first place that birders can scan the edges of the water for activity, or sit on a bench and enjoy the view.

Reflections in the river View of the river from the pier


Follow the path back out and around to the bridge with the “Morris Bridge Boardwalk” sign in front of it, along with a hand-routed wooden map.

Cross the bridge and turn left to follow the loop around the island clockwise. The entire loop, a little over a quarter mile long, is a boardwalk.

Long straight boardwalk The boardwalk starts out with a long straightaway


Skimming close to the river on the left as you walk beneath the shade of tall cabbage palms and ancient cypress, watch for birds on the water’s edge.

There are spots where breaks in the understory let you clearly look out across the river’s flow. After the boardwalk curves left, it faces tangled swamps.

Peeking through underbrush to river Peeking out to the river before the surroundings get swampy


The river becomes visible again after a couple of sharp turns in the boardwalk. Once it’s up higher than water level, the views down and across the river open up.

All too soon, you finish the loop. Exit over the bridge out to the parking area. If you’re birding, it’s worth a walk up the waterway to the canoe launch for another open spot.

Curve in boardwalk with river view Looking out at the river from a curve in the boardwalk


Trail Map

Morris Bridge Park Trail Map


Explore More!

Learn more about Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve

Woodlands at Flatwoods Park

Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve

As the largest natural area in the Tampa Bay region, Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve is a major destination for recreation, with seven entrances across 16,000 acres

Slideshow

See our photos from Morris Bridge Park


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

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

Lettuce Lake Park

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

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.

Eureka Springs

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

Trail Map (PDF) Official Website

Category: Central Florida, County Parks, Hikes, Loop Hikes, Nature Trails, Parks, Trails, Water Management AreasTag: Accessible, Big Trees, Birding, Easy Hikes, Hillsborough River, Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve, Tampa, Wildlife Viewing, Zephyrhills

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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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