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

Hiking Tampa’s Oak Ridge

February 6, 2014    Sandra Friend

It was the lack of blazes that caught my eye. Especially at intersections. Here and there, we’d find a diamond marking the route that the equestrian trails followed. But with Lenny leading the way, we simply followed. The Oak Ridge Tract of Lower Hillsborough River Wilderness Area is another in a vast patchwork of lands …

Hillsborough River State Park

Thonotosassa      ( 28.144716,-82.224621 )      

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.

Honeymoon Island State Park

Dunedin      ( 28.060108,-82.817649 )      

An offshore getaway accessible by car, bike, or paddle, Honeymoon Island State Park offers white sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, which keeps it busy on weekends. The northern portion of the island, upland pine forests fringed with mangroves, hosts colonies of ospreys and pelicans nesting.

John B Sargeant Park

Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve  |  Tampa
( 28.080717, -82.285283 )      0.6 miles

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.

John Chesnut Sr. Park

Palm Harbor      ( 28.085158, -82.702635 )      2.7 miles

With its extensive waterfront on Lake Tarpon and Brooker Creek in Oldsmar, John Chesnut Sr. Park has always been a popular natural getaway near Tampa Bay.

Lettuce Lake Park

Tampa      ( 28.0752,-82.3745 )      1.8 miles

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.

Little Manatee River State Park

Wimauma      ( 27.657607,-82.37414 )      

With sandy shores around every bend and a canopy of trees overhead, Little Manatee River State Park provides a place for a pretty paddling trip for families.

Little Manatee River Trail

Little Manatee River State Park  |  Wimauma
( 27.6754, -82.3487 )      6.5 miles

Scenery, rugged landscape, and botanical diversity are all important factors for a great Florida hike. You’ll find that on the 6.5-mile Little Manatee River Hiking Trail, one of our long-time favorites.

Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve

Tampa      ( 28.148891, -82.278711 )      

Providing plenty of recreation opportunities, Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve protects 16,000 acres of floodplain forests and uplands along the river’s sinuous flow south from the Green Swamp to the edge of Tampa.

Moccasin Lake Nature Park

Clearwater      ( 27.976233, -82.723817 )      1.0 miles

Savor a sliver of native habitats preserved in the heart of busy Clearwater under the cloak of a shady forest when you visit Moccasin Lake Nature Park and its environmental education center

Morris Bridge Park

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

Immersing you in the floodplain forest of the Hillsborough River, Morris Bridge Park has a short but beautiful boardwalk amid the deep shade of tall cypresses and oaks. Each twist and turn presents a different panorama of the swamp.