The Trailblazer

We love hiking all summer long, but we also love not being  dive-bombed by nature's most irritating (and itchy) little creatures  along the trail. Here are 5 simple tips to help you avoid becoming a mosquito's lunch while you hike the trails of    Hillsborough County's Nature Preserves and Conservation Parks this summer.

  Here are some of the gorgeous native wildflowers you'll see when hiking through a Hillsborough County Conservation Park or Nature Preserve this month!  Trumpet Creeper Found throughout the southeastern U.S., trumpet creeper ( Campsis radicans ) can be easily recognized by its showy red trumpet-shaped flowers. This beautiful and fast-growing vine is found in woodlands, hammock areas, and thickets and thrives in both sun and shade. Trumpet creeper's bright flowers attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. Look for these colorful blooms along the trails of Camp Bayou Nature Preserve in Ruskin and Cypress Creek Nature Preserve in Tampa. Alligator Lily Bob Peterson, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Alligator lily ( Hymenocallus palmeri ) is endemic to Florida, meaning it's found nowhere else in the world! This lovely lily can be found in ditches, wet roadsides and meadows, and the edges of cypress swamps and wetlands. Look for its delicate white blooms and spidery yello...

Recreation and Open Space Comprehensive Plan Update Sign Up to Receive More Info and Register for the Virtual Public Outreach Kickoff Meeting on June 2   Draft updates to the Recreation & Open Space Section of the Hillsborough County Comprehensive Plan are coming soon! This is a long-range planning document that provides high-level policy direction for the future of recreation and conservation parks in Hillsborough County. The Hillsborough County Planning Commission is working collaboratively with the Conservation & Environmental Lands Department and Parks & Recreation Department to develop new language for the Section, which was last updated in 2008.    We want your input and feedback – please sign up here to receive email updates on the project and be notified when the draft is available. You can also register here to attend the June 2 virtual public outreach kickoff meeting to learn more about the update and make comments.

Know before you go!  Do you know the difference between a Conservation Park and a Nature Preserve? On Hillsborough County-managed lands, the distinction is very important to note before you begin your adventures! Some similarities the two share: Dogs must always be leashed on any Hillsborough County property. Wildlife, other hikers' dogs, and dog-shy visitors may not enjoy your pet's enthusiastic greetings as much as others. All Rules and Expectations must be followed while visiting. Each site has its own web page where you can find any information needed prior to your visit. Hillsborough County provides monthly educational programming such as night hikes and guided paddles. Subscribe to the Trailblazer Newsletter to discover your next guided adventure! Conservation Parks:  Find a Conservation Park Conservation Parks are perfect for a family outing. Between primitive camping, paved trails, kayaking, fishing, nature centers, playgrounds, pavilions, and so much more, ther...

Month of May: Featured Family Hikes May showers and May flowers mean summer is shaping up to be a beautiful time for early morning hikes! If you're looking to get your family out in nature for any upcoming holidays, look no further. We've compiled a list of our favorite shady hikes for this month: *Visiting each site's Hillsborough County web page - individually linked below - before your visit is heavily encouraged. Alafia Scrub Nature Preserve Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: Free 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...