Florida Hikes

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

Hollis Garden Lakeland

Lakeland

With an array of parks and natural lands and a network of bike trails, Lakeland is a hub for outdoor recreation

INTERACTIVE MAP

Colt Creek Flatwoods Trail

Lakeland   10.0 miles

Miles of beautifully managed pine forests and cypress domes are on display alongside large areas of habitat restoration on the Colt Creek State Park Flatwoods Trail.

Colt Creek State Park

For a getaway from the busy bustle of the Interstate 4 corridor between Lakeland and Tampa, wander an extensive trail system and camp beneath the twinkling stars at Colt Creek State Park.

Colt Creek Yellow Trail

Lakeland   6.8 miles

At the south end of Colt Creek State Park, the Yellow Trail circumnavigates mesic flatwoods and cypress domes surrounding a primitive group campground.

Flatwoods Park

Thonotosassa   13.4 miles

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.

Florida Trail, Green Swamp West

Green Swamp West   7.4 miles

Traversing scenic oak hammock, sandhills, and pine flatwood habitats, the southernmost six miles of the Florida Trail in Green Swamp West offers spectacular day hike and backpacking experiences.

Fort Foster State Historic Site

Thonotosassa   1.0 miles

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.

Fort Fraser Trail

Lakeland   7.7 miles

Paralleling US 98 between Bartow and Lakeland, the Fort Fraser Trail is along an urban greenway with connectivity to Circle B Bar Reserve.

Gator Creek Reserve

Lakeland   2.5 miles

A dip into a corner of the Green Swamp, Gator Creek Preserve north of Lakeland offers over 3 miles of easy loop trails for the whole family to explore.

Green Swamp East Weekend Loop

Polk City   15.5 miles

Connect the Florida Trail with a side loop through vast pine savannas, floodplain swamps, and cypress domes for a 15.5 mile loop to camp at Tillman Hammock in Green Swamp East.

Hiking Tampa’s Oak Ridge

The Oak Ridge Tract of Lower Hillsborough River Wilderness Area is a beautiful area for a hike. We joined the Suncoast Chapter of the FTA for an exploration while in the region for a talk.

Hillsborough River State Park

Thonotosassa   13.4 miles

With footpaths and picnic grounds built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, this park delights with miles of scenic trails, a swinging bridge, and the froth of river rapids.

Hollis Garden

A beauty spot along Lake Mirror in downtown Lakeland, Hollis Garden is a collection of themed garden rooms on terraces above the walking trail around the lake.