Top shaded hikes in Hillsborough County
It's rainy season in Hillsborough County. That means slogging wet roads and lots of mosquitoes on many of our Hillsborough County Nature Preserves. However, don’t put away your boots and binoculars yet – check out this list of dry and shady county hikes, and you won’t miss the spectacular wildflowers and wildlife!
Top 7 Shady Hikes
Alafia River Corridor Nature Preserve - North 9256 South County Rd. 39, Plant City, 33567
The Alafia River Corridor Nature Preserve is a 4,070 acre preserve encompassing lands along the Alafia River east of the Bell Shoals Bridge, extending upstream along the North Prong into Polk County, and along the South Prong to Jameson Road. The preserve contains many different habitat types and also includes areas that were formerly mined for phosphate. The site is home to some listed species including gopher tortoises, eastern indigo snake, American alligator as well as many others. Hike the red trail to take advantage of the shade!
Alafia Scrub Nature Preserve 10243 Elbow Bend Road, Riverview, FL 33578
This 80-acre nature preserve includes diverse habitats, including hammock, scrub, creeks, ravines, shoreline and tidal marsh. Marked hiking trails include a 0.8-mile loop and a 1.3-mile loop. A scenic overlook on the Alafia River is a half-mile from the trailhead. Alafia Scrub Nature Preserve was purchased by Hillsborough County through the Jan K. Platt Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program (ELAPP) in 1998 with funding assistance from the Florida Communities Trust.
Cypress Creek Nature Preserve 18000 Lizard's Tail Road, Tampa, FL 33647
The 2500-acre Cypress Creek Nature Preserve is part of a vast wildlife corridor which extends into Pasco and Polk Counties. Cypress Creek drains into the Hillsborough River and thus provides important water quality benefits to the region. Natural habitats within the preserve include hardwood forests and swamps, pine flatwoods, wet prairies, cypress stands and freshwater marshes.
Triple Creek Nature Preserve
Triple Creek Preserve is a 969-acre preserve located in south Hillsborough County. This preserve provides a critical link between existing preserved ELAPP lands and contributes to a contiguous wildlife corridor that includes a creek system, hardwood wetlands, and upland habitats. Its acquisition connects the Rhodine Scrub and Balm-Boyette Scrub Preserves, creating an extended recreational trail system.
Violet Cury Nature Preserve
This 160-acre sanctuary contains examples of natural habitats such as pine flatwoods, sandhill, marshes, oak hammock, and Lake Flynn, a freshwater lake, all of which are unique in the community. The 2.25 mile-long hiking trail is an excellent non-strenuous hike.
Camp Bayou Nature Preserve
The Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center is a 160 acre nature preserve run entirely by volunteers. It is operated in partnership with the non-profit Bayou Outdoor Learning and Discovery, Inc. (BOLD) and our Conservation and Environmental Lands Management department.
Alderman's Ford Nature Preserve
Alderman’s Ford Preserve is 985 acres that serves as a portion of the South Hillsborough Wildlife Corridor, and provides a connection between other publicly owned lands along the Alafia River.
Top 7 Dry Hikes
Cockroach Bay Nature Preserve 3839 Gulf City Road, Ruskin, 33570
Parking and a short walk to a high mound with a view of the surrounding restored habitats and Cockroach Bay.
Golden Aster Scrub Nature Preserve 12181 East Bay Road, Gibsonton, 33534
MapLess than half a mile from the parking lot to the picnic pavilion and lake through dry pine flatwoods and scrub. More ambitious hikers can continue south another mile or so to the borrow pit on the sandy interior road.
Bell Creek Nature Preserve 10940 McMullen Road, Riverview, 33569
MapGreat diversity of habitats including sand pine scrub, dry flatwoods, freshwater marsh, open fields, sandhill, seepage slopes, creeks, a small lake, and a habitat restoration area can all be seen in a couple of hours; marked hiking trail.
Fred & Idah Schultz Nature Preserve 5906 Kracker Avenue, Gibsonton, 33534
MapParking and an upland hiking trail through restored habitats that lead to coastal mangrove islands and open water at the mouth of Hillsborough Bay.
Rocky Creek Trails Nature Preserve 7415 Manhattan Drive, Tampa, 33625
Short circle of less than half a mile goes over a bridge and through oak and pine woods. Doubles back to the parking lot via the Upper Tampa Bay Trail.
Camp Bayou Nature Preserve 4140 24th St SE, Ruskin, 33570
MapHiking trail, butterfly garden and exhibits along the Little Manatee River.
Remember: Weather in Florida is unpredictable and the condition of these trails can change. There may be wet areas on portions of the trails described above; however, these sites are generally drier than many of the other nature preserves in Hillsborough County.
Click the links above to download the trail maps - see you out there!
